Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-02-01

| and ID was considered Indispensable 20 its sue,
eessiul working. In is49, Mr.! Blodgett, Of Bos-
ton, invented a "rotary shuttle" which, in com.
binatiOn with an "eye-pOnted needle" was an-
other step forward In 1885, Mr., A. B. Wilson,
now Of the firm Of Wheeler Il Wilson, obtained
patent for q disappointed shuttle" which
would take q stitch in the backward, as well as
in the forward motion. This Improvement did
not make the machine all that could be desired.
In the following year We first find the name Of
|. NJ. Singer in the Patent-ofiioe records in con-
uection with sewing machines. In August, 1851
he obtained patent for giving the shuttle an
additional forward notion"
Thus far all the sewing mhch9es had serious
disadvantages. Among their prominent defects,
was the inability TO increase theft speed without
increasing the size of the thread. This rendered
them worthless for fine sewing. Indeed, it was
not only necessary that the thread should be
! large, in order to increase the speed without
! breaking the thread, but the machinery itself
must be made heavier to work the shuttle, thus
excluding them from use in the family, and rem
dering them fit only for the heaviest kind Of
work. in factories, &c. For a long time the pro-
prietOrs directed their attention chiefly to in
Producing their machines into establishments
where coarse goods and heavy garments were
made. The motion Of the shuttle so strained
upon the thread, that one fine enough for sewing
muslin could not be used. How 70 improve the
machines, so TO make the lock-stiteh rapidly and
perfectly, and at the same time to adapt them
to the use of thread fine enough for the use Of
! thread fine enough for the most delicate fabric,
was the great problem to be solved in the accom-
plishment Of a complete family sewing machine.
Much thought, time, labor and money were
spent in efforts and experiments TO achieve the
desideratum. It was finally reachedfn the Sum
mer Of 1851 by Mr.. A. B. Wilson, who invented
the frotary hook" which seizes the loop of the
thread when it is thrust through the cloth, and
passes it around a stationary bobbin containing
the lower thread, in the same manner that the
| school girl passes her skipping-rope under her
feet. The use Of this ''rOtary hook" rendered
it practicable TO make the machines much lighter
than previously, and secured the long desired
object of making the lock stitch in a perfect
manner with rapidity, even while using the finest
thread on the most delicate material. At once it
became family sewing machine. This imprave
ment is one of the most important features in the
sewing machines Of to-day. The shuttle ma
chine, however, has subsequently been made
lighter, and so improved as TO carry fine thread,
but it will not work with that rapidity which is
attained by using the "rotary hook"
While several individuals we're laboring to per-
feet the "lock-stitch," others were engaged upon
the "chain-stitch." The first patent granted in
England, was in 1850, and for a single-thread
'ehain-stitch."
Some five or six patents were granted for diff
ferent modes of making the "chain stitch" but
this class of machines did not assume practical
form until the year 1851, when Grover i Baker
obtained o patent for forming a double loop
stitce, by means of two needles one working
vertically and the other horizontally. Various
improvements have been added to this machine
and now it is one of the most quiet and simple
ones in use. 1t is adapted to both the finest and
cOarsest thread, and to sewing the hghtest as
well as the heaviest of goods. This dOuble-loop
stitch requires more thread for a seam than the
lock stitch, and the loop being formed on the
under side of the cloth, it leaves a ridge along
the seam on that side. Owing to these facts
manufacturers of clothing object to machines
that make this stitch; yet some persons prefer it
for garments that require washing, because of
the elasticity of the seam.
Since the perfection of these stitches many
other inventions have been added, some of which
ere quite important to the successful operation
Of the machines. Among them are deYiees for
regulating the supply of the thread, the motion,
&c. But from three hundred patents, only about
twenty-five distinct aud different sewing ma
chimes have been produced and less than one-half
Ofthese have thus far proved sufficiently practical
10 meet with general appreciation from the pub
lie while four or FIVE only have sold more than
three thousand each. The machines WHICH are
uoHt extensively employed for manufaetnFing
purposes are those Of Wheeler & Wilson, cad Of
]. NJ Singer Co.
The introduction Of the sewing machine into
general use has been more rapid than that of any
other invention. They began to attract attention
eboHt 1858, and during the seven years since,
their sales have been rapidly increasing. About
81, SOC, 900 of capital is invested in their manu-
facture, and more than three thousand men are
employed, besides an army of agents stationed
in every important city of the Union, for selling
them. One company pays to their mechanics
employed in the mandatory, upwards Of S400,
600, besides the salaries of their numerous
agents. It is estimated that more than 81 ,OOO,-
900 is paid annually by the sewing machine com
panies to their mechanics alone Their manu-
featuring establishments are among the most eX-
tensive workshops in the country. l. NJ. Singer
& Co. have large mAnqf8etory in Centre street,
New York, and Grover 4 Baker at Boston. Tho
latter company employs from four to five hun
dred workmen. Wheeler 4 Wilson's immense
mandatory occupies nearly four acres, at
Bridgeport, Conn, embracing what was former
ly the great Jerome Glock establishment which
clicked" away the fortunes Of barnum,
The sewing machines led to the invention Of
other machinery for their manufacture and now
nearly every part of these household labor-savers
is made BY labor saving machinery. Their sue
cess has drawn to and engaged in the sewing
machine trade some of the best mechanical and
commercial talent in the country. Superior
locksmiths have found better remuneration here
than at their own trades, because of the demand
for first class workmen; hence, it has been diff
cult to obtain supply Of good mechanics for the
mandatory of locks.
AS all parties manufacturing sewing machines
are obliged to pay Mr.. Howe fee for each ma
chine sold, and are also compelled to make quar-
terly returns to him, stating under oath the num-
Der sold, his books give a correct statement of
the actual number of machines sold by the differ
ent manufacturers. From this reliable source
we have obtained the following statistics, show
ing the number of sewing machines reported as
disposed OF during the past seven years, ending
with Nov. /, 1859, except that Of !. NJ, Singer 4
Co., whose quarterly report was to Oct. /, 1859