The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1868-08-18 00:00:00

GRAND TRIAL

SEWING MACHINES.

111311 manner In which the decision, were
made at the ;ri.4 Trial of Seidl:it; Mashie's,
bold at Island Park, New York, In 1865, distinguishes,
it as the only trial ever held in which the vezdict
depended, beyond all doubt, solely upon the capabilities
of tho competing loachmes.

The udge. were peculiarly competent, two of them
being engineers, and one a collar manufacturer, one of
the engineers luid the manufacturer being also sewing
machine expert.. They tested the competing machines
in respect to_gagit of all the itesaa that togethe• op.-
'Mute the CleiNglgh and utility of a sowing machine,
making immediate award of superiority in respect to each
Item, in the presence of a large concourse of spectators
to the trial.

The character of the tests employed iii exhibited in
the report from which we quote:

"In regard to the decimions of the judges upon the
several points, it may be remarked that during the
entire trial there was scarcely an inetance of difference
of opinion—as, indeed, it was hardly possible there
could be, for the plan adopted was itself a surety both
of unanimity and a just decision ; the latter being, in
such a plan, neither more nor less than the practical
solution of a mathematical problem. For, by separat-
ing the reepeetive merits of each machine into element.,
or " poitite, and enlijecting each point separatily to
the teat of practical work done on each machine in
presence of the judges, their decision upon each point
was reduced to the simple act of recording the facts
developed.

"For instance: each contestant claims the most
elastic stitch. Than each is required to sew a seam,
side by side, on the bias of a piece of elastic cloth ;
and the judge takes the piece and stretches it length.
ways of the seams, till one seam breaks ; he stall con-
tinues the stretching, but the other seam refuses to
break at all. However disappointed his expectatiens
the judge will hardly enter on the record that the bract;d
seam is the more elastic.

" Such were the tests, end such the inevitable de-
cisions"

After a contest of nearly seven hours, the Willcox
and Gibbs was declared to be the best Sewing Machine.
The importance of this trial to the public is doe to
the facts that the questions decided were such ma admit
of absolute determination, and that the decisions were
approved bv a multitude of disinterested witnesses.

The following is a summary of the decisions in favour
of the WiLteo2 and GIBBS :
•
1. It is the simplest.
2. It is the least liable to get out of order.
3. It is the best made machine.
4. It is the cheapest.
5. It is strictly noiseless.
6. It works the easiest.
7. It works the fastest.
& It cannot be turned backward.
9. It requires the least mechanical skill to operate it.
10. It requires the least time and instruction to kern
to use It.
11. It is the most certain and reliable in operation.

iti for the CO. an

RETURNS FOR 1868.
Fire Department —65 per Cent of the Premiums paid
on First-class !Wm
Life Dopartment-55 per Cent, of the Premiums on all
Policies of above 5 years' standing.
Accumulated Capita (26th Den 1887)- t 1,191,968.
The Directors are willing to appoint ea Agents
penens of good position and character.

K

'AMES CRYSTAL CARTRIDO E. —Best
. and Cheapest. In bozo,. only. Price on box.

'AMES POWDER and CARTRIDGE.—
. Sold everywhere.

Wholesale Agents :—MACt LLCM awl CO.
4, Great Winehester-street lttildirrp, Loudon, E.C.

rATERLOO WINE STORES, WATERLOO
TERMINUS, LONDON, S.

XXI H. CLARK and Co. beg to submit, and
V V • anos:r reminisced. the following selected list
of WINES SPIRITS : _