The safety pin that is known as English one in Russia and Russian pin in China was invented by American engineer Walter Hunt. In this very case, it was poverty which acted as engine of progress. Pondering over the way to return $15 debt, he fumbled a piece of wire in his hands. He might have remembered the fibula clasp of ancient Romans that he had seen in a museum or copied the antique invention by pure chance, but the fact remains. The well-overlooked old thing came into wide use on the planet. It is good for hooking and unhooking garments, taking stones out of cherries and warding off the evil eye. By the way, Hamlet’ words “My life is cheaper than a pin” have nothing to do with the safety pin. There were no such items in Shakespearean time.