Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1860-02-18
25O9 4469 35iS 722S i27i5 1892 I32j

Isaytt CO.. IS 2i7 155 a55 1856 IS Is 2is rs iif5 if
zillsll HI other. lyon. :o.: ssS ssS
25O9 4469 35l8 7225 l27l3 ITjJ2 432I3 9564s
1t will be seen from the above statistics
that there have been sold during the'past
seven years prior to Nov. l, 1859, more
than $4,000 sewing machines, and that
nearly one half of this number were sold
during the year 1859 alone. Notwithstand-
ing their sales have been so extensive, the
demand increases as the knowledge of their
real vane becomes known. The greatest
and widest usefulness of this invention
seems to have just commenced. During
the year 1858 only $500 of these machines
were disposed of, yet six years later up
wards of 46,OOO or nearly twenty times
as many were sold in one year.
The tribute paid to Mr.. Howe is arrang-
ed upon what is termed sliding scale"
so that the fee for each machine diminished
in proportion as the number sold for the
year increases. In 1858, Wheeler & Will
son paid fee of about $l3 for each ma
chine, but, in accordance with this scale.
they pay now only So each Supposing
Mr.. Howe to receive fees from each manu-
facturer, at this lowest rate, the income
from his patent for 1859 would be about
$l43,O0O-a comfortable salary to say the
least but it has been attained by years of
patient toiling and great expense.
Although Mr.. Howe's patent was OBJ
tanned in l846, he did not receive from it
enough money to pay the patent office fee,
before 1858 Up to that time it had been
a continual expense.
The cost OF manufacturing the sewing
machines has been less than the expense at
tending their sale, and it was cnly by the
high prices demanded that their extensive
and rapid introduction has been accom-
plshed. Agents have been sent into new
localities and sustained at an outlay, often
far exceeding any immediate returns, to in
troduce the machines and further the utter
estS Of the manufacturers. Notwithstand-
ing these apparently high prices, the pur-
chaser has found his investment profitable,
and in the aggregate millions have been
added to the productive industry of the
country.
The use Of the sewing machine has al
ready become far more extensive than the
most sanguine anticipated They are COM
mon in the family, and fully supply the
wants of the needle in the household, and
have become indispensable to the dressma-
ker, tailor, seamstress, and manufacturers
of ready-made clothing, shirts and collars,
skirts, hats, caps, ladies CATERS, boots, shoes
harnesses, and upholistry aud every 9TH
er mandatory where the needle and thread
are used has been benefited by this inven-
ton. Many new branches of industry have
been created, and their pursuit rendered
highly remuneratve A shirt manufactory
in New Haven, Ct, uses 500 of lockstitch
machines. In Troy, n. Y, and vicinity,
upwards of 5000 of the same class of ma
chimes are employed in making shirts and
collars.
The time saved in manufacturing differ |
ent articles of clothing is an important |
item. The sewing upon gentleman's shirt
can be accomplished with ease in one hour
upon frst-class sewing machine. 1t would !
take fourteen hours of close and severe ap-
plication to do the same by hand. A pair
Of pantaloons can be made in one hour by
the machine, that would takea smart seam
stress five hours to make. A frock-coat
seventeen hours of constant work
Dy udHu, Cdu DC nduo Win u uhcnlle IN
three hours. Seams of considerable length
are ordinarily sewed with the best machines,
at the rate of yard minute, aud that
too in a manner far superior to hand-sew
ing, besides being more healthy for those
Saving of time, superiority in
work and healthfulness, are these strong
concentrations.
Contrary to the predictions of many on
the first introduction Of sewing machines,
the sewing girs-those whom necessity
compels to earn their livelihood by the use
of the needle--haVe been greatly benefited |
by this invention. Thousands Of them !
have found better remuneration and lighter
toll. 1t is no uncommon thing for those
who, toiling night and day, could earn one
or two dollars per week, to now receive I
from three to ten dollars per week for OPP
Grating sewing machine two-thirds as
many hours, aad with lighter labor In
deed, many girls who own their machines |
have earned more than ten dollars per
week