The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1857-05-28
Women VS.. Sewing Machines.


the Improvement attempted in tie sewing
machine has exerted an important influence
upon her social state. Besides, this ma
chine, though Of but five years existence.
has effected great mechanical results. As
an invention, it has arrived at a tSre degree
of success, and this fact, in connection with
the circumstance that but small capital is
required, while the machines are sold at n
profit Of 100 to 200 per cent, has been the
occasion of fierce competition and protract.
ed litigation, in which the financial resour.
ces of many have been severely tyied. Not
few, either from want of tact and energy.
or on account Of the worihlessness of their
inventions, have entirely disappeared from
the arena of trade, leaving no trace be.
hind" save the wreck Of fortune
The sewing machine is being introduced
into general use with rapidlly of which
few have any conception. We have mum
Der OF large factories in operation, exclusive
" engaged in the manufacture, each en-
ploying several hundred men, aud, in sew
eral instances, are unable To dill the orders
pressing upon them. This circumstance
may be peculiar to this season of the wear.
when preparation for winter requires the
garments: yet the demand is of such char
acte: that all the principal establishments
are either erecting enlarged buildings or
adopting other eXpedients for the extension
o. their work. The sewing machine has
aIreaiy been introduced TO such an extent
that some calculation may be made of its
effect, as n social element. 1t was predicted
:hat its use would bear with peculiar had
ship upon the sewing girl, whose oppressed
condition has long excited the sympa,hies
of the phiIanthropic, but it is evident this
has not been the result, and the strong pre-
Judice which for several years resisted the
introduction of the sewing machine has
been gradually overcome. The following
incident, which occurred about four years
ago, is related by Singer, and shows the
nature of the resistance experienced: ave
were sitting in our Office one pleasant after.
noon when a tail lady, dressed in black. en-
tered, and with rapid step advanced to the
sewing machine on exhibition. Are vou.'
she asked, the inventor of this machine?"
4 am was the reply. Then, she rcioined,
with II fierce exp ession, you ought to be
hung Having delivered herself of this
opinion, she abruptly left the Office" Hard
snip may result IN some instances from the
substitution of this instrument FOR hand
labor, but II Is no doubt destined to confer
a lasting benefit; its advantage are ci,cum.
scrlbed 10 no particular class, aud are un-
limited IN Their application. With occa
sional slight notifications, with a view TO
more complete adaptation, the machine
works lis way among different classes of
tradesmen.
There aIe now three firms which manu-
laclure on an average 1000 machines in y
year, and eight OF ten, in ALL that are well
established Many other parties are experi
menung, with various success Singer is
the only fun which manufactures in this
city. lie employs about 200 men. Whee
Ter " Wilson manufacture in Bridgeport
on AN extensive scale, having recently re
moved from Watertown, New York, and
purchased Jerome's clock factory for almost
$4,000, which Is being fitted up with ma
chinery for the employment of at least 100
hands. Grover & Baker, another G,n &C
some note, ale erecting a building in Bos
zen 200 feet IN length aud five stories high
which will employ about 200 men, with
room Tor expansion, as business increases
The system OF making the several parts IN
each instrument exactly correspond with
similar parts ih any other, so prevalent in
gun-making, is being initiated in this de-
parIment OF mechanics.
Sewing machines are very extensively
used by manufacturers Douglass Il Sher-
wood, manufacturers Of ladies skirts. in
Broadway, have no less than $50 machines,
costing $4,000, which is believed TO be
the largest number anywhere employed by
= single hrm. Each one Is calculated TO 90
the Work OF ten ordinary sewers. The uses
10 winch they are employed is exceedingly
curious, and persons OF an inqusiliye dispo-
SItIon, who are not satisfied to Judge simply
by external appearances, may derive much
satisfaction from The opportunity mere afford
cd ior minute investigation and scientific
research. Three hundred hands are EN-.
ployed, and the execution done ruay be in.
ierred from the following statistics: There
are cut up weekly 275 pieces Of muslin. or
$4,000 per year; dIIlo 1000 pounds iule
cord, or 100000 per year; COO dozen of
spool cotton per week, or $1,000 dozen
per year. For the single item of round
wha!ebone, (buIlcd IN oil aud perfectly ilcxi
Ole,) The enormous sum Of $4,000 Is paid
every week. Besides, there are twenty five
looms IN the city constantly employed in
The manufacture OF hair cloth for the infa
uon OF ladies' garments, making 5000
yards per week, aud 90 looms engaged on
other fabrics. With these facilities the
force employed turn out three thousand
skirts per day, exclusive Of woven goods!
Piled up IN the lofts of the factory, they
form barrcade as formidable, for dimtn
sIons, as General Jackson's cotton bales. Ii
Is to be hoped that this department OF en-
terPn>e may meet with such encouragement
that the cumbrous materials formerly IN
use, with such destructive physical effects,
according TO medical lestImony) NAV be
come obsolete. The neS skirt. for which
the sewing machine Is doing such wonders,
weighs but four ounces and half