Pointe Coupee Democrat. [volume] (False River [i.e. New Roads], Parish of Pointe Coupee [La.]) 1858-1862, 1858-12-18
"reminiscences Of Sewing Machine In
ventors.

ventors.
We have often thought, says the Sci
entific American, that "reminiscences
touching the mental operations and the
rights and wrongs of inventors if they
could be brought under the graphic pen
Iof Charles Dickens, would form most
Instructive and amusing volume. From
Iap experience of more than thirteen
years with the order of persons usually
denominated "geniuscs," many facts of
an interesting nature suggest them
selves to our mind. In the present in
stance, we venture to say few words
bearing only upon one class.
Elias Howe, Jr. of Cambridge, Mass,
obtained patent for the first practically
useful sewing machine in 1916 For
several years it was source of annoy
ance and expense to him, with little or
no pucuniary profit. Since that time
many improvements have been patented,
and the manufacturing Of sewing ma
chimes is now one of the most extensive
businesses in the United States and
thousands are sold annually. Elias
Howe, Jr., once a poor inventor, with
few friends, now receives, from the most
prominent makers of sewing machines,
a tribute that will make him, before the
first term of his patent expires (186O),
one OF the Wealthiest men in the country.
We do not speak from any positive
knowledge Of the facts, but his present
annual income cannot be calculated at
less than 800, 900; certain it is, that, in
the course of single month, he must
have received from one establishment no
less than $1,000, Judging from the num-
ber Of machines sold by that concern.
On almost any pleasant day portly
man with flowing hair, white cravat, and
broad-brimmed Kossuth hat, may be seen
on Broadway, dashing along behind a
splendid pair Of fancy horses, fit for the
stud of an emperor, and with all the ease
and independence of millionaire. That
man is Elias Howe, Jr, once the poor
and humble inventor. We rejoice in the
good fortune of our old friend, and can
only say to him that he is entitled to all
that he has received.
In the year Is4e, there came to our
office spare-looking, humble man, hail
ing from Pittsf4d, Mass. After taking
a cursory survey of the modest premises
which we then tenanted, and feeling a
degree of security that he could trust to
our integrity and honor, he carefully un-
tied a handkerchief, and brought out two
models-one sewing machine, the 9th,
er rotary steam engine He was al
poor inventor, and had not the means to
take patents for both of his darling pro-
jects; and upon our advice he gave us
an order to proceed to secure his right
on the sewing machine, which we accor-
dinghy did. Subsequently, his Letters
Patent issued, and he unsuspectingly in
trusted his affairs in the. hands of un-
principled men, and he was cheated
Nothing daunted, he set his prolific ge-
MUS at work, and as the result, A. B. |
Wilson soon produced an almost perfect
sewing machine, which, under the good
business management of Nathaniel
Wheeler 1--WE wish every inventor could
secure such an efficient and honest CO
operator) is now triumph~ Should
any of our readers chance TO visit the |
neat village of Watertown, Conn, they
will find that the occupant of one of its
most beautiful mansions is no less a per-
sonage than our once poor client with
his cotton handkerchief full Of inven-
tionsl
In the same year l1s49l, young
with q small capital but an
honorable ambition, opened a small shop
at No. 33 Gold street, within stones
throw Of our office With a considera-
Bile stock of ingenuity, and the adyant-
age of ready hands, he applied himself
to render the sewing machine available
to various arts, and did much towards
this result; bat, possibly acting under