Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-04-21
Sewing Machines.

The extent of the business in our city is
remarkable. Less than four years since the
sewing machine was almost unknown in Gin
cinnati. Garments OF all kinds and descrip-
tons were manufactured by the slow and la
borious process of hand-labOr Now. millions
of coats, pants, vests. indeed everything in the
clothing, as we'll as in many other branches OF
business, are manufactured by this ingenious
and useful machine. 1t has become indis-
pensable to the manufacturer OF clothing, the
dress maker, cap maker, stitching and bind
ing of CATERS, boot and shoe MAKERS saddle
and harness makers, carriage trimmers-in-
deed. in all business where any considerable
amount of sewing is required. OF one make
alone, we are informed, oyor one thousand
are employed. Each machine requires on an
average. six persons to work it successfully.
that is, in propelIing the machine, basting,
&c. This would employ six thousand per-
sons. principally taken from the female pOr-
tion of the community. One machine will
do as much in one day as ten persons
can perform by hand in the same time.
In the stitching of leather, for instance,
are credibly Informed that $50. and even
$50 profit per week, has been realized from
the performance of single machine. On
the first introduction of the sewing machine,
il was anticipated that it would be the means
of causing great distress among that class of
community who relied on the needle as their
means of support. This was at first the case.
But we believe the result will be beneficial
instead of detrimental to that class. The fa-
ciilty of rapidly and cheaply manufacturing
clothing alone, will serve to not only equal
iZe. but absolutely to increase the numbers of
employees. In 1852, the value OF this branch
Of manufactures in Cincinnati reached the
sum of six millions of dollars. We learn
from those wei informed in this matter,
that the last year, over fifteen millions Of dol
lars north Of clothing was manufactured and
sold in the Cincinnati market. In many
branches of industrial mechanics, success
would now be impossible, without the employ
ment of sewing machines.
This season is a very busy one. There
has never been a greater demand for
labor in this line. Vast numbers of females
find employment. Those who prepare work
are paid by the piece, and earn from 81 to 81
per week much larger sum than they real
lied for their labor before the introduction OF
the machine. Those who own machine
after paying good wages, can realize n fair
profit tor themselves-say from $40 10 $50
per week. . F
We do kot know of more interesting aud
busy scene than room full of operatives,
plying the machines, preparing the work, etc.
We visited one yesterday, on Fourth street,
where some seventy or eighty females were
actively employed, tending aud operating 25
or 80 machines. We also visited an establish
ment in the West Eud " where "a machines
are in operation and two hundred girls Gun
ployed IN the manufacture of pants, vests,
etc. Many of the Wholesale houses have from
fifty to one hundred machines in their employ.
We could relate many interesting incidents
connected with the first Introduction OF the
Sewing Machine. Their advent created a
wide extended panic among that class of female
operatives who depended wholly on their
needles for support. The compensation they
received for their toilsome occupation afford
ed them Mt best but a meagre and precarious
subsistence. To be deprived at once of all
employment, was almost equal to death
Many cases of extreme suffering grew out of
this state of things. But they struggled on
the poor widow, the portionless orphan.
aud Others who depended on the clothing trade
for their support, managed somehow to sub
sist. A brighter day began TO dawn-em-
ployment was easily procured-the machine
proved a blessing instead Of blight.
We know of several instances where wild
ows, with families of children, have managed
TO purchase sewing machines - procured
plenty of work, bought lots, aud built them
selves comfortable homes. A German, over
the Rhine, was the owner OF a machine. A
friend visiting him the other day was sur
prised to find him occupying and acting the
landlord over a fine three-story brick tene-
ment. He had, bat quite lately, known him
to be very poor, His friend asked him how
be bad managed TO become 50 we'll OF. The
German pointed 90 sewing-maehine and
said: Il have made every dollar am worth
with that instrument, and within the last two
years." Other instances OF the same kind
conld be related.
The different makes sold in this market
are the Singer HINT 4 Wehsieris Sioatfs
Laddy, Webster 4 Co. :. Howr's, Wheeler Il
Harris Boudolr, Grover Il Bakers,
the Merodrn, &c.
There are seven manufactures In Cincin-
natl, which turn out, We are informed. some
SO machines per week, and hnd a ready sale
for all Of them. Some idea may BE- obtained
Of the magnitude OF this business from this
In q Nsw York paper that the
Empire Machine Company. VI Sorwaik, Coan.,
have contracted Tor building 5000 machines
Zoe one New York Company Ola. Gaszfle.