New-York daily tribune., 1865-12-25
GRAND TRIAL
OF
SpWING MACHINES'
THE WILCOX g GIBBS
TRIUMPHANT!
rr 1S nFCLARED THE BEST MACHINE
AND
AWARDED THE HlGHESI PhEMiOm
IHE TRIAL.

,,,s ,r.st Union Fair held at Island park between Al
b.nv and Troy Septic 90 o. p and 23 1855 two premiums
,, offered on sewing machines the best sewing
machine and the other TO, the second best" competition
being ope. o the State On the fret day Of the Fr the
ssent Of the Florence Sewing Machine published in The Troy
Daily Times challenge rts the agents Of other sewing
machines meet him IN competition at the Fair The chs
enge accepted by the asents Of tho Wilcox Gibbs
but those Of all the OTTER aoublehFead machines de- enins
was lett f- the Florence alone represent in the trial the
entire double hresa casL Thus by ths snsleh"nded a
between these two representative machines ws' virtually
decided the relative merits Of the two cases-the new' SIN
re thread IicoA Gibbs stitch class on one 'ide anu
the old lock" shuttle tteh class On the
ether TIE pas teng allowed to select the judges chose
three all Of whom practical maehnists, and meonty
sewing machine experts who approved and appointed
bv the officers Of the Fair and the following prosrafnme'fo
conts ting the trial mutually agreed upon between the
ssn and adopted y the Judges viz; Ta'' ea'h perry
prepare and submit III judges list Of the several points 0
merit on account OF which superiority claimed; each OF
hch points was be separately considered thoroughly IN
es,isaed and practically tested by work done upon eseh o
The machines. and then DECIDED 1t also agreed that each
party be at liberty to point out defects in the other
machine and to call for tests to Prove the Finally
IL WAS agreed that the machine which, at the eoheio
sion of the examination, should be 'cund to have
the greatest number Of points decided in Its iaYor shoud
be declared the BEST SEWING MACHINE and be awarded
the FIRST PREyUN" The result Of the Isl wee that the
WILCOX GIBBS the victory, and the prize by the
exsordipary superiority Of tlryfre points decided in its
favor acaint r. points in favor Of the Florence as vi" BE-
,eep BY the indses report given below Full notes Of the
trial were taken by reporter who was present the following
extract from which, kindly furnished FOR The OCCASION Is
deemed perpen, insertion in tbs connection as neees
sary link in tie history OF the eaaDinaton
EXTRACT FROM NOTES OF IHB TRIAL.
While preparing for te r the agent Of the Florence
Machine suggested that the Of the Wilcox Gibbs had
in the experience M Baey the general agent
from Nelork advantage, andreQuested that Nh Tucker
chairman Of the judee who had formerly been Assistant
Superintendent, Of the Florence mandatory for sometime be
allowed assist in tie examination To this the other parties
consented aud Mr.. TUCKER accordingly assisted them both
the preparation Of their list Of points and in conducting their
operator advocate did M Batey the side Of the
Wilcox Gibbs Though myse'i 20 sewiusmsehine man.
sanding his business and "awyer" could judge
the sides evenly matched IN pIOfe.sionl abl
ity" certain that Trial which lasted six or seven
hours wa conducted both sides wha degree OF energy
method and skill that would have ben credabe at the bar
which must hsye developed bbou. all the Qualities good
REPORT OF THE JUDGES
To the Officers cf the Union Fair; We, the undersigned.
appointed special committee to Inspect the merits OF the
several sewing machines entered for premiums would respect
~uy report; That two machines were rneredthe Wilcox
he exaaa;ion was agreed by the representing the
o @ sIes % 20 bs s' ,t to goss & GIues, 20 wi'ns .nv
nd In ehines esch point be sepa
ESh a. sseE DS fe'n'ss s I For E. T wd G % % s9S' .Sh.
hy,are distinct claims made for its superiority
which susained whereas for the Florence Machine
presented, OF which SUSTAINED After
thorough impartial tria your nee have decided
award to the Wilcox Gibbs Machine the FIRST PRExIuN
pr 10 the Florence Machine for having the sdvan-
sges OF reversible feed" and using thread
.wa,d the Second Premium. SEPT. p, 1905
SYDNEY d. TucKER
l.. C. CHAnFsEY judges.
JosEPH WHEgIocK
POINTS CLAIMED AS ADVANTAGES BY TIE FLORENCE
MACHINE.
l. A reversible feed. T2is eioia ,eas snstane9
2 i 1se, @ ood o.J o. ,c ehi5sn, a ess & Ddee that neither
3 It works from thin to thick fabrics,
surface without missing stitches and without change Of
son. needle stitch. Not tsusiained
= The advantage Of double thread, in all shuttle
s. It win do greler range and variety of work than any
Other machine being used FOR sirt and collar making both
,n m sDd S59 to @ bpS cb n", s.tbar ~ ns an e
Tor puff" y" and will DO anything that be done any
other machine except eHoo dey It can aso do ornamental
6 1t has .elfsdq.ting tension the under thread the
stitch his is alike ss on on beIh .des. Not 'u'toined
be taken out in mistake made in placing fsbIie
Il less thread than other machines. Sustained
y The manner IN which the threads drawn when max
ing the steh no dependence being placed wire coils
every melton being positive and the stitch certainly
securely drawn tight Not sUstained
TO- The Florence easily managed machine in the
world. Not sustained.
CLAIMS OF THE WILCOX L. GIBBS MACHINE.
l. II Is the simplest. Sustained.
p II il the least liable q order. Sufgined.
j. II IS the best made machine every part being
tcfnef
T. 1t is the cheapest. Su,taiaed.
$. II runs the stillest. Susidined.
6. 1t runs the easiest Sustaaed.
:. IL runs the fastest. SustQiHef.
g. II has the best device TO prevent the wheel running
backward. The Florence has no such device Suttaned
g. IL requires less mechanical skill operate Su,t1insd
TO- 1t requires less time ard instruction
Sustained.
IL. Il is the most certain aud reliable in operation S
tanned.
~. It's needle is the shoyten Su,tained
The needle is also sfr1ght and liable
than one cured like the Florence. Susiained.
H. Ii 10 bereied and therefore stronger than with
small shank like the Florence Sustained
The needle Is ecured in its place by patented
which renders 1t seddustiEg 40 that neither sk
perence Is In setting it, 1t h not with the Flor
Susdinef
complicated machinery which 10 required for threads
IN the Florence. Susfdtne1
H. II directly from the spool thus making
say rewind the thread and adjust it In the shuttle
i8 IL mokes the Hiloor & Gibbt fced loop s,oh-a
stitch original with this MACHINE and made by no other
which for general rs superior to either made by the
Florence SnStdfned
10 Ia sean has the peculiar advantage OF being readily
taken out when IL desirable while is less liable TO Hp In
or wear, than tue lock stitch. Susf1sned.
TO- The is more elastic and stronger than the iocA
s'ieh. Sustained
a. The ses Is also the most even end beautiful Snsantd
eessty off reversible feed" other complicated device
teI that purpose. Svstafned.
% Its tension is simple and easily adjusted
a. 1t viii do greater variety Of work han the Florence