New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-07-22
SCIENCE, INDUSTRY AND INTENTION
THE SEWING MACHINE.

THE SEWING MACHINE.
Though there had previously been used in Englan
a machine in respects similar for eDbroderiog
| it is believed that the first invention of sew
ingmachine originated in this country, and
resulted in an inpracticabie plan for sewing the
common hand, or through through stitch in
leather, which was patented February IL, 1872, by
John V. Greenough Of Washington ID. G., but it is
! said 10 machines were made. March 4, 1913, Benz
w. Bean Of Ntw-York City patented a machine fol
| sewing with the common needle and making the
hand-sttoh by crimpbg, or coTugating tue cloth.
| Never used George X. Coilis, Greenwich, n. y,
patented machine Dec 81 lS43, which was similar
| to Mr.. Greenoughs, and share the same fate.
After some experiments By Walter Hunt OF New.
York in adapting the eye-pointed needle and shuttle
| Of the embroidery machines to sewing scam, in
which he was unsuccessful in perfeotirg device for
nsuring the accurate and timely passage Of the shut
tie through the loop formed by the needle Eliss Howe,
| it,, of Cambridge, Mas applied his genius to the
idea AMI Ike many other successful inventors, by
merely charging some simple mechanical devices,
produced the desired effect, making the original &C.
sign useful and thus procured patent, dated Sept.
10, 1876 covering all the practical ground, which at
once placed in his hauds the means of aocumulang
large Torture while Mr.. Hunt. in this as well as in all
the other products of his original genius, ast missed
the requisite for pecuniary benefit aud lived aud died
nearly pennless.
In this machine the eye-point of the needle passes
through the CLOTH carrying the double thread with 1t,
forming loop on the opposite side, through which
the shuttle passes another thread when the loop Is
drawn back firmly against the CLOTH forming per-
fecy strong lock stitch as little liable to break or
ravel as the hand-stitch and is called the lock or
shuttle stitch.
| Though the original devices in this machine were
nearly perfect in principle, like most other new things
it required time and diversity of talent to perfect the
details Of its operation, such as simplifying and I'M
proving the mechanical devices to produce the accu
rate and timely movements Of the needle shuttle
feed for the cloth &c, all Of which have been the
subjects of different patents, by other parties; bu'
all machines using two threads, with the reedle and
shuttle or other wise making the lock stitch are sub
iect to Mr.. Howes original claim. And we are in
formed by three Of the leading manufacturers, Me'srs
Wheeler y Wilson, Grover Il Baker and l. NJ. Singer
4 Co. that they are each now selling at the rate OF
from 5000 to $4,000 machines per annum, for each OF
which these enterprsing firms pay Mr.. Howe large
tribute. One of the above manufacturers informs us
that within this year they shall have completed their
arrangements for making about 200 machines per day
or from 30 900 to OOo per year. As were unable
| TO get the exact number from Mr.. Howes books, we
were obliged TO take the assertion of the Interested
parties themselves and cannot vouch for its exact
core yness In addition 10 these there now work
ing under this patent many smaller manufacturers
whose combined production greatly enhances the
above figures.
We think it is due to the three firms above named
to saw that whoever may claim the original design o
the Sewing Machine we are maioy irdebted to theiI
enterprise ard perseverance,, as pioneer impro'ers
uapufacu ard nroducsrs for the benefits we are
now reaping from its general use.
| The next patent granted for an uuimportaut
Improvement on tie shuttle machine 10 1876 after
which Nov. %, 1913, John A. Bradshaw OF Lowell
| Mass patented siDgle-thread machine, which mace
| the tambour or lain stitch, by meals OF an eye
pointed needle and hook working in combination the
hook catches and holds the loop IN such position that
the needle passes the next loop through It, when th'
second loop IS held in Ike manner, and so on, making
a continuous chain of iuterlocked loops This makes
a strong scam until one stitch gives way, when, unless
hume dately discovered and fastened the whole seau
will rave' out ike knitting. For sewing garments Of
other work requiring strong seam, this machine
far inferior to those using two threads being muci
more simple of construction however, 1t Is afforded
for about one quarter the price OF the latter, anC
those who cannot buy the best may think this better
! than none. q.
From the date of this patent up TO Dec IL, la1o AZ
! the patents issued were for improvements on ms
| shuttle and chain-stch machines, when r. H. h 'oIn
son OF Boston Mass, patented hand-sttch machine
which makes many kinds Of stitches, by drawing tn'
reedls and thread entirely through tie elotd as b!
hand sc wing making good, strong seam but IT. Cd
iecticnable features, which have prevented Il iron
coming into general use, complication, slow acton
and using thread in neeolefulls, instead OF taxing
from the spool. But very few have been made.
February IL, 1851 Messrs. Grover Baker OF Bo'
ton, Mass. patented machine for making the douol
loco or Grover Baker stitch, il IS called, BY tn
use of two threads aud an ingenious device whic
masses the loop of thread through the loop ct tn
o,her in such manner as TO form q continuous, hfi
lo,l..,i,ch sesm, without the use Of the sauttit
Tbouch somewhat similar TO the singiethresd Chair
stitch II is not subject TO tbs same fault While
REQUIRES larger quantity Of thread for given lengt
If seam. it is more simple in construction aud oper
ton than the shuttle machine. This IS good mi
chine and has large and rapidly-incressins sale.
We have now mentioned all the important origin
inventions of machines, and will re 'aptnate, p1aei'
each in lie order of comparative merit;
I. The Shuttle ard Grover & Baker m'caine
double thread.
IL. Hand stitch machines: single thread.