Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1860-02-18

| "N''N WIN ihaChlh6Iy AOl oo'i"B i"NN' 80
cheapening the cost of manufactures, seen
ed to regard man as the only laborer, prio
to the invention of the sewing machine
The carpenter, with bis planning, matching
and other machinery, was relieved from tn
drudgery of his trade, but on returning
home at night found no labor-saylng ma
chinery TO relieve his wife in her toll Wit
the needle. The farmer, with bis respe
and threshing machine, gathers his haryes
and prepares his grain for market with ter
times the rapidity and ease that ne coult
before these were invented but his com
panion and helpmeet found no machinery
to speed her labor and ease her toll, unit
the advent of the sewing machine. For
long time has machinery been employed ii
the different walks of life to emancipatC
man from exhaustng toll, to quicken the
wheels of commerce over land and sea; anc
instead of depriving the laborer of work, II
has opened new fields of enterprise and led
thousands into the road to wealth.
The first record in the Patent Office Re
ports of the invention of sewing machines
is under the date of February, 1912. This
patent was granted for making what is
termed the 'shoemaker's stitch in leather
The material to be sewed was placed in
clamps, provided with feeding apparatus.
1t used needle, pointed at each end, with
an eye in the middle, and pncers to alter
nately draw the. needle back and FORTH
This crude machine was scarcely heard of
outside the Patent Office, and We presume
the inventor never received in return for it
one dollar of the money which he expend-
ed to secure the patent. However, nm
profitable as it was to him, and unpromis-
ing for the purposes intended, it suggested
to other minds the further application of
machinery to sewing.
A little more than a year after the first
sewing machine patent was granted, Mr.
Bean, of New York, obtained patent for
using the common sewing needle with ma
chinery. This invention employed small
geared wheels to corrugate the cloth, and
through the folds thus produced it thrust a
long needle. This machine, like the form
er, proved to be useless for manufacturing
clothing, but it is employed in making small
bags for grocers. An improvement on this
machine was made for sewing umbrellas,
but it has never been successfully introduc-
ed. Still, as these served to suggest new
ideas on this subject, it was a step forward
toward the development Of this class of ma
chinery. Numerous experiments succeed
ed this invention, but they failed to produce
anything practical until the Autumn of
l846. In September of that year, Elias
Howe, jr., to whom, in the language of the
courts, lis alone due the honor of giving
to the world practical sewing machine"
obtained patent "for forming seam by
combination of the eye pointed needle
and shuttle, in connection with bastef-
plate for feeding also a clipping-piecc for
governing the delivery of thread from the
shuttle"
Elias Howe, Jr., is a native of Spencer,
Mass, but was residing at Cambridge,
Mass, when he projected and patented his
sewing machine-a nucleus around which
has grown up an extensive and lucrative
business. For years he struggled with his
invention, spending large sums Of money in
improving it, aud in trying to convince the
public of its utility. Like other new in
ventions, its Introduction into use by the
people was matter of great difficulty
The increduIous public were slow to under
stand and appreciate its merits. Some tried
to uSe-it while in its crude state, but soon
abandoned it as worthless. For years Mr..
Howe struggled in doubt and uncertainty
as to the future fate of his invention
Through all his trials, though often despond-
ing yet never despairing, he toiled on. Hop
ing to meet with better success in his en-
terprise, he went to Europe, for the purpose
of securing its patent there, and of enlist
ing capitalists in its manufacture. While
endeavoring to procure a public recognition
of bis invention in England, he discovered
harpies ready to seize and appropriate the
fruits Of his labors. After two years of
struggle, disappointment and failure, he de-
cided to return to his native country. Hav-
ing exhausted his means. he embarked as
a steerage passenger, and paid for his pas
sage by acting as cook during the voyage.
Thus, with his invention by his side, he
found his way home again, without money
to extend his experiments, or to defend him
self against the infringements upon bis
patent which had been developed during his
absence. Full Of that hope for the future
and confidence in his ultimate success. which
only those who have bestowed great inven
tions upon the world fully understand. he
sought employment in one of the New Eng
land machine shops, and there remained un-
til be had earned enough to commence suit
against those who had infringed upon his
rights. His own means not proving suffi.
cient to carry through his suits, his father
his farm and obtained money to
assist him. BY this means aud the aid of
friends, he was enabled to establish his claim
so completely that since that time, all who
sewing machines using the eve
pointed needle and two threads, are obliged
to pay him tribute
The patent of Elias Howe, Jr., covers
The mode of making the stitch termed the
'lock.stit&h," used in the various sewing
and the use of the eye-pointed
needle. The several machines now manu-
actured use the principle secured to Mr.
Howe, by permission aud the payment of
l specified fee, but in addition to this each
las distinct patent upon some improve
gent, or minor part. These miuJr patents
consist chiefly of different modes of holding !
md feeding the cloth, alterations in the |
huttie and the mode Of moving it, new
Methods for holding the spools, and similar |