Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-01-27
GQurtestrr Daily SPY.
THE STORY OF THE SEWING MACHINE,

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granted tor making what is termed the "shoe.
makers stitch in leather" The material to be
sewed was placed in clamps, provided with
feeling apparatus. 1t used a needle, point.
ed ut each end, with an eye in the middle. and
pincers to alternately draw the needle back
and forth.
A little more than year after, Mr.. Bean of
New York, obtained a,patent for using the
common sewing needle with machinery. This
invention employed small geared wheels to
corrugate the cloth, and through the folds thus
pro luced 1t thrust long needle. This ma
chine, like the former, proved to be nearly
useless. Numerous experiments succeeded
this invention, but they failed to produce any
thing practical until the autumn OF 1916. 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 prac-
tica sewing machine" obtained patent for
forming a seam with two threads by the use
of an eye pointed needle.
Elias Howe, Jr., is a native of Spencer, in
this county, but was residing at Cambridge.
when he projected and patented his sewing
machlne-a nucleus around which has grown
up an extensive and lucrative business. For
years he struggled with his invention. sDpud-
ing large sums Of money in improving il, and
i'll trying to convince the public of its utiity.
terpriSe, he went to Europe for the purpose of
securing its patent there and of enlisting cap
ltaliSts III its manufacture. After two wears
OF struggle, disappointment and failure, lie
decided to return to his native countrv
Having exhausted his means, he embarked as
steerage passenger, and paid for his passage
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 himself against the
intringements upon his patent which had been
developed during his absence But he sought
employment i'll one OF the New England ma
chine shops, and there remained until he had
earned enough to commence suit against those
who had infringed upon his rights. His own
means not proving sufficient to carry through
his suits, his father mo tagged his farm ard
obtained money to assist him. BY this means
and the aid of friends he was enabled to cstab-
Ilsh his claim so completely that since that
time all who manufacture sewing mac hines
using the eye pointed needle and two threads,
are Obliged to pay him a tribute.
All the first class machines now man.
uiactured use the principle secured 10
Mr.. Howe, by permission, and the payment
Of a specified fee, but in addition TO this
each has distinct patent upon some i'm.
proyement, or minor part. These minor IA.
tents consist chiefly Of different modes of hold.
ing and feeding the CLOTH alterations in the
shuttle and the mode Of moving it, new meta.
Gus Tor holding the spOOS, and similar mod fl
cations. About three hundred fHese patents on
Se1tag-mdcLineS hare been issued since Dr. Houe
secured has. Law suits have been multiplied,
and vast sums Of money expended in contest
ing and defending the various machines. vet
the courts have uniformly decided that the
mode OF making the stitch in the different ma
chimes does not contain any new principle, but
is SIMPLY Il different application of that secur,
ed to Mr.. Howe, so that all the other patents
would be worthless without permission to use
his.
Many expedients were devised and tried for
properly holding the work, in connection with
proper feed motion that would allow the cloth
to be readily turned in any direction while
forming the seam; this object was finally ac-
compllShed and patented by Mr. A. b. Wilson
in the year 1850.
Howe's invention, the germ OF all successful
machines, used the shuttle in forming the
stitch, and it was considered Indispensable to
its successful working. In lS49, Mr. Blodgett
OF Boston invented "rotary shuttle" which,
III combination with an "eyeponJrd needle"
was another step forward. In 1850, Mr.. A.
b. Wilson, now of the firm of Wheeler & Will
son, obtained Il patent for "two-pJinted shut
ward as well as in the forward motion. In
August, 1851 l. NJ. Singer obtained a patent
for giving the shuttle an additional forward
notion"
Thus far all the sewing machines had seri-
GUS disadvantages. Among their prominent
defects was the inability to increase their
speed without increasing the size OF the thread.
This rendered them worthless for fine sewing,
so that for long time the proprictors directed
their attention chiefly to Introducing Their ma
chimes iHta establishments where coarse goods
and heavy garments were made.
In 1851 MIR. A B. Wilson invented the "ro-
tary hook, which scizes the loop of the thread
when it is thrust through the cloth, and passes
it around stationary bobbn containing the
lower thread, i'll tie same manner that the
schoolgirl 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 rapidly, even while
using the finest thread Oh the most delicate
material. AT once it became a family sewing
machine. This improvement is one of the
most important features in the sewing ma
chimes of to-day. The shuttle machine, how.
ever, has subsequently been made lighter, and
so improved as to carry fine thread but it
will not work with that rapidity which is at
tanned by using the rotary hook"
While several individuals were laboring to
perfect the 'lock-stitch," Others were engaged
upon the ''chain-stitch." The first patent
granted in England was in 1850, and for a sin-
gle-thread "chain stitch"
Some five or six patents were granted for
different modes of making the "chain stitch, "
but this class Of machines did not assume
practical form until the year 1851, when Gro
yer d Baker obtained Il patent for forming
double loop stitch, by means of two needles,
one working vertically and the other horizon.
tally. Various Improvements have been add
ed to this machine, and now it is one of the
most quiet aud simple ones in use. 1t is adapt
ed for both lie finest and cOarsest thread and
to sewing the lightest as well as the heaviest
of goods. This double loop stitch req lires
more thread for a seam than the lock stitch,
and the loop being formed on the under side
of the cloth, it leaves ridge along the seam
on that side. Owing to these facts, this stitch
has not received the same favor that the lock
stitch has
Since the perfection of these stitches, many
other inventions have been added, some of
which are important to the successful operation
of the machine. Among them are devices for
regulating the supply OF the thread, the feed
motion, &c. But from the three hundred pat
ents, only about twenty-five distinct and differ
cnt sewing machines have been produced, and
lcss than one-half OF these have thus far proved
sufficiently practical to meet with general APP
probation from the public; while four or five
only have sold more than three thousand each
The machines which are most extensively EN-
ployed for manufacturing purposes are those
of Wheeler & Wilson, Grover & Baker, and of
/. NJ Singer & Co.
The introduction of the sewing-machine into
general use has been more rapid than that of
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