Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-10-13
For the Spy.
The Sewing Machine.


are now not far from three hundred patents held
by United States inventors on this machine.
In 1876 there was one patent granted TO Z.
Howe, Jr., Of Cambridge, Mass, and from that
time to 1901, only eleven patents were issued.
Hence the history Of the sewing machine enter
prise is chiefly embraced within the last eight
years.
From this array of three hundred patents, we
can make out only six distinct sewing machines,
which possess characteristics sufficiently promi-
nent, one from each of the Others to entite it to
the appelston Of another kind. This number
may be reduced to still narrower limits, if the
stitch is taken criterion, for these six ma
chimes make only four different stitches.
Most at the patents therefore, relate TO minor
details or slight modi6cations-a little different
way 10 do the same thing.
In its dealings with sewing machine inventors,
the Patent Office seems to be, to say the least iu
conscience and accommodation, sufficiently elias
tic.
The six machines referred to are, first the we'll
known "shuttle machine" or the Howe princi-
Pile second. the rotary hook machine" or the
Wheeler and Wilson principle; third, the clock
loop stitch machine" or the Grover and Baker
principle fourth and fifth, the "hand stitch
machine" one by Roper and one by Smith and,
sixth, the "Landfere machine"
The two first viz : the shuttle" and the ''ro-
tary hook machines" make precisely the same
stitch. The needle with its thread descends
through the cloth. and, as it commences its as
sufficient to start the thread out from the needle
SO that the shuttle's point enter between the
needle and its thread, and pass through, and the
continuation Of the needles ascent draws the
shuttle thread close to the under side of the
cloth, thus interlocking two thaeads into the
cloth. On the Wheeler and Wilson machine, the
rotary hook catches the thread that is thrown out
from the side of the needle, and carries it around
QUOT shaped bobbin, which fits loosely in the
face of the revolving hook, thus interlocking the
nd rvpffh fhn fhraa 10 . 81 eel.
machine.
This is beautiful machine, works very quietly
and rapidly, and makes the finest work. These
two machines, and all those that interlock two
single threads in the formation of their stitch,
require the lower thread to be wound on a bob.
bin adapted to the machine, while the upper or
needle thread can be used from the original
spool.
The "Grover and Baker, or lock loop stitch
machine" has the advantage of using both the
upper and under thread from the original spool
but, instead OF interlocking the two threads sim
gly, in the other two thread machines it in
terlocks loop of the lower thread into loop of
the needle thread The lower thread is passed
through the eye of a vibrating hook or Chopper"
as it is designated this topper, with its two
branches of thread, thrusts itself through or into
the loop Of the needle thread, and remains there
until the needle again dsscends for another
stitch when it passes into a loop of the lower
thread formed on one side of the looper. This
loop is retained on the needle while the locper
withdraws and makes another thrust through the
needle loop, thus alternately interocking loop in
TO loop at rapid rate" and in a very subatan-
tial manner This stitch has the disadvantage of
a ridge of three threads on one side of the CLOTH
II you wish to be astonished, Messrs. Editors, at
the rapidity of this interlocking operation, lust
step into Pratts, on Main street, and you will
be satisfied that stitch can be made much
quicker than l can describe the process thereof
This machine, like the "rotary hook" one, works
very rapidly, and makes little noise.
The Roper and the Smith machines make
the common stitch, they use a single thread
in lengths Of two or three feet each as in hand
work, and pass the thread entirely through the
cloth, back and forth The Roper machine works
two needles exactly alike, one upon each side O
the cloth. These needles peculiar in their
construction and operation they require no
threading by the operator, but thread and I'M
thread themselves at each stitch, their eyes are
made to open and close, to receive and discharge
their thread, and they give significant wink and
make quite an extensive bow pretty often when
in operation. This machine is quite complex and
is an ingenious affair, but its slow movements
(from one fourth to One.eghth the speed of the
other kinds,) may render it rather tardy. in pe-
cTniary way, to the ingenious inventor.
The Smith machine, like the last one, and for
the same reasons, may be slow to reward the in
ventor. This machine one needle with a
point at each end, and eye in the middle
which requires tie be threaded by hand. The nee
die, with its thread Of two three feet in lenet
is passed through the cloth back and forth by two
pair of nicely adjusted fingers, which seize and
let go, and push and pull alternately the needle
through the cloth. The needle and the fingers
have nothing to do with drawing up the stitch
this is done by a revolving arm beneath the
cloth, with spring finger in its end /; this finger
passes setween the point of the needle and the
CLOTH seizes the thread and carries il around I'M
til the stitch is drawn up ; the strength of the
10 IN anFin fha Gpr NJ
gage itself, as the arm continues its revolution
for the next stitch.
The Landfere is new "chan stitch machine"
the simplest we have ever seen. Ii uses hook
needle, that threads and unthreads itself at each
stitch. The needle carrier is worked directly bV
small crank under the cloth plate, thus giving
the nsedle vibIatory, reciprocating movement.
The needle comes up through the cloth from be-
meath, seizes the thread, (which is supplied from
the original spool,) draws loop through the
cloth, and the needle then again comes up for
another stitch, seizes another loop. and draws it
through the cloth, and also through the
first loop. The needle now leaves the
first loop locked TO the second, but holds on to
the second loop until it again ascends and draws
third loop through the second, and so on lock.
ing loop into loop, making the chain stitch in an
extremely simple and rapid manner
This machine, in principle, is the best we have
ever SEEM inasmuch as the needle is always in
the loop through which the succeeding loop is TO
De QIaWnt neuce b hooper Is not required, and it
cannot miss stitch. The machines we saw in
operation, however, were sadly deficient in mate.
rial and workmanship.
A word now, for the benefit of those who de-
sign purchasing sewing machine. The move
ments Of abe sewing machine, though few and
simple, require to be performed with the greatest
accuracy. Therefore, the best of workmanship
is indispensable; and, as these movements must
be made with great rardity, none but the best of
material will ensure this accuracy of movement,
for much length Of time. Material and workman
ship Of the first quality are therefore indispensa-
BILE in the production Of a good sewing machine
Highly finished tempered steel is the only mate
rial fit for all of the rapidly moving points, bear
ings, adjusting screws, &c.
Ali the low priced machines we have seen are
| quite deficient in these respects. Our recon-.
mendations, therefore, cannot be very favorable
TO the manufacturer Of such machines Although
they may work well for short time, they will
soon be a source Of about as much trouble as ben
eft.
A machine of the very best quality requires, on
the part Of the OPERATOR considerable patience
and time,to become master OF its several peculiar.
tiles and wants, 80 as to derive the greatest ben
eft from it's use. 1t is beyond the reach of skill
and good workmanship to produce a machine that
will work we'll with poor thread, or with rough.
eyed or badly-adjusted needle; neither can iDee.
nuity invent any device that will always give the
right tension to every kind Of thread and work.
without being adjusted by the experience of the
operator, to the work to be performed. Neither
| will a machine work long without oil Of the best
quality. All of these little wants and adjust.
ments depend entirely upon the vigilance and
care OF the operator.
would say, therefore. to all such as design
| using sewing machine-frst, resolve that you
will become entire master Of IL. and attend care
fully to each little adjustment and want and use
none but the best of thread IInlesa vou ran A n