The hobby of collecting hatpins has been termed "hatpinology." Generally speaking, collectors consider the era to be 1850-1920 and extended through pre World War II.

During the late 1820's, a machine was developed for making and heading pins. It was patented in the United States in 1831 and in England and France in the two years following. A team of 10 men could produce 48,000 pins a day with the aid of the machine. Prior to the machine, a skilled pinner could hand wrought 20 pins a day.

It is interesting to note that the term "pin money" goes back centuries to the handmade, expensive pins, and to the custom of giving a lady a gift of money for the purchase of pins.