The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-10
A MECHANICAL TRIUMPH.
Some GOssip obon, Moo,,,nor,,

SOme Gossip about MACHINERY.
Inc rapid growth and development of our
country in the last three-quarters of century
and the wonderful progress of our people in
the mechanic arts, have furnished an unprece.
dented example of productive industry. and of
the creation and establishment of all the essen
ual elements of great and increasing material
prosperity. The record of such progression NAV
properly be expected to show remarkable illus
tratlons of national characteristics. of public
economy, and of individual genius and enter
prise. To trace the history of American MANN
tactures and inventions would be a task of more
than ordinary interest, but our limited space
and our more limited knowledge forbid an
attempt.
we live in an age OF machinery. The scarcity
OF native journeymen mechanics who are con-
tent to remain sucb the uncertain supply of the
demand through the channel of immiertion.
and, above all, the natural genius and inventive
talent OF our people, have necessitated the per-
1ormance OF much of the labor in our large
manufactures by rapidly running machinery.
The last thirty years have been especially pro-
Inc IN labor-saving machines for the swift and
perfect performance of all kinds of manufac-
turing and farming work, and even the simple
duties of housekeeping, such as washing, baby
tending, sewing, and an infinite variety of
culinary operations. In the short space of ten
years, between 1910 ana 1850, the number OF
distinct inventions patented in the United States
was 594l, and among these may be mentioned
two OF the most important mechanical discove-
ries of the century-the magnetic telegraph and
the sewing machine.
No invention OF a similar labor-savng char
acter ever resulted in the same practical bene.
fits to the people, or has come into such general
use as that wonderfully simple piece of mecha-
nism-the sewing machine. What could we do
without it! Where would we now find hands
enough to accomplish the labor which these
busy little workers are doing? These are ques-
tions which determine the usefulness of an in.
yention and by them we may guage the i'm
portance of sewing machies. The history of the
discovery is full Of interest, being another in.
stance of the almost invarable rule that those
universal geniuses who conceive brilliant ideas
and make grand discoveries and lnven-
tions, seldom derive the benefit of them
AS early as 1886 an ingenious and prolific
inventor, named William Hunt, OF New
York, invented the first machine that was of
any practical value for performing the ordinary
work of family sewing. Being of a rather indo-
lent disposition, and disinelned to undertake
the labor of introducing so novel an invention
into general use, he neglected to patent his dis
covery, and sold the right to manufacture such |
machines to Mr.. Arrowsmth, who, however, |
neglected to test the practical value of his pur-
chase, or to secure it by patent. This was |
not the first sewing machine invented for many |
years before machines had been used in Eng |
land and France to stitch the makers name on
cloths; but the improvements and discoveries
of Mr. Hunt first made it of any practical value
for the accomplishment of ordinary shop and
household needlework.
Six years elapsed before any further action
was taken towards the introduction of sewing
machines, and then, on the 22th OF February,
l842, the first American patent was granted to
Johu j. Greenough, of Washington. This ma
chine was a curiosity, making what is called the
hrough.and-through stitch, the needle being
pointed at both ends with an eye In the middle
and drawn back aud forth through the cloth by |
an arrangement OF pincers. Only the model of |
this machine was made however, and it never
came into general use.
The Iext recorded attempt at an application
of the ide a was made and patented by Benjamin
W. Bean, OF New York. His machine required |
that the cloth should be laid in plaits or folds
through which long needle was driven, form. |
ing sort of running or basting stitch. This |
machine shared the fate of Mr.. Greenough's |
patent, and soon passed into disuse or oblivion |
In the same year 1S43) sewing machine was
patented by George r. Corles, of Greenwich
New York, but no one seems to know much
about it-an evidence that its practical valu
was small. These abortiyc attempts had the /
effect, however, of calling the attention of in
yentors to the subject of sewing machines, and
on the 10th OF September, 1916, Elias Howe. Jr.
of Cambridge, Massachusetts, patented the frs
sewing machine at all adapted to the genera
use into which it was destined to come. The |
main features of this machine are similar to |
those of nearly all the more recent improve
ments that have been made upon it, and as the
general principles are familiar to nearly all of
our readers. we will not pause to describe them.
Although to the inventor and to other think
ing mechanics the practical value OF this inveu-
tion was apparent, people were shy of placing
confidence in 80 startling an innovation ana no
capitalist could be found who was willing to |
risk his money in an enterprise as hazardous DIS
the manufacture of sewing machines appeared
TO be. Discouraged at home, Mr. Howe sought |
the needed assistance in England; hut, regard |
ing the scheme as chimerical, and treating the (
project with even more skepucism than had |
been expressed by his own countrymen, the
Euglish capitalists allowed the patentee
TO bring his machine back to America. 10 !
accomplish which he was obliged to work
his passage on a sailing vessel Once more |