Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-03-22
5emino ttlatbines.


THE TRIAL.
At the Great Union Fair held at Island Park between
Albany and Troy, September 49, 90 a. 22 and 23 1865,
two Premiums were offered Sewing Machines one
for the Best Sctrmg Nachine and the other for the
Second Best-competiton being open 10 the State.
On the first day of the Fair, he Troy agent OF the
Florence Sewing Machine Company, having jointly with
the Albany Agent of the Machine, entered it for
competition, published In the Troy DAILY Times chal-
leuge to other Agents OF other Sewing Machines TO
them At id Fair and compete with them for the
Premium.
Agents of the Wilcox and Gih's Machine. And no
other kind of Sewing Machine beil- comp tition it
was left for these Machines, CON- representing the
old double-thread, 'ock shuttle stitch" class, and
the other the new, .ingehread, twisted loop stitch
class By this sugle-handed contest to decide the re-
latve merits OF these two classes OF Sewing Machines.
The competitors being allowed to choose the Judges
each party selected one and these two selected third
all Of them practical mdchiHists and two Of them
ing machine experts; who, being approved by the ON
of the Fair. appointed Judges, a. will be seen
by the Official Certificate below.
Before entering upoa the tlal, the following pro
grumme for conducting II was mutually agreed upon be
tween the contestants and adopted BY h judges: Each
party 10 prepare and submit 10 the judges list OF
Tie Several it Of merit on account ot whigl yupe,i-
orify was claimed, These Dgis to be separately
considered thoroughly investigated, aud practically
tested by work done then and there apoa each OF the
machines; and then decide in of the machine
which a}iudged 10 excel On that point
II also agreed that each party should be at liberty
10 expose defects in the competing machine, and have
the right TO call for tests 10 prove the same,
Finally, it agreed that the machue which, at the
conclusion OF the trial. should be found to have the
greatest number Of these points decided in It's favor
should be declared the Best SEWING MACHINE" and
| awarded the First Premium.
| The Agents of the Wilcox and Clubs Machine were
assisted sy Mr.. Batty, Of the Company's general
Agents. Manager at the trial. and the Agent ot the
Florence Machine, by Mr. Tucker, OF the best Sew
ing Machine experts in the country, in the same ca
uacity. Mr.. Tucker was formerly connected with the
Florence Mandatory AdiustOT OF the machines,
and probably competent to represent their
chine efficiently, both in working itaHd in advocating
its claims any person connected with that establish
ment The result OF the trial was, that the Wilcox and
Gibbs the victory ard the prize by the eXtraordi
nary superiority of rtyfrs peins, decided in its ia
vor, against tlro points in favor Oi the Florence.
LIST OF POINTS, To The OtiCejS ot the Union Fair :
We the undersigned appointed Special Committee to
inspect the merits OF the several Sewing Machines
tered for Premiums would respectfully report. That
! two Machines enteTed-the Wilcox and Gibbs and
/ the Florence Sewing Machines.
In prosecuting the examination, IL agreed by the
gents representing the two Machines to render your
Committee in writing, the peculiar points on which
they based their claim OF superiority and in testing the
machines each point to he taken separately, and
after fair trial, adjldging to the best OF ability
Each Agent prescated their claims due form, copies
/ OF which will be found below.
For the Wilcox and Gibbs Machine, tlrty,fre dis
linct claims made for its superiority, of which
sustained Whereas tor the Florence Mach ue, but
/ ten were presented, tlc0 OF which were sustained
After thorough and impartial trial, your Committee
have decided TO award to The Wilcox and Gibbs Ma
! excel
ing IN the greatest number OF points pre>ented To the
Florence Machine, Tor having the advantage OF ere
versatile feed, and using the least thread, award
! the Second Premium.
Sept - lN6j. SYDNEY d. TUCKER,l
j.. c. CHAMPNEY, Judges.
JOSEPH WHEELoCK, J
! The Florence Machine claimed superiority over the
Wilcox and Gibbs ten points, which only two of
minor importance were sustained While the Wilcox
and Gibbs Machine claimed superiority on thiri Yfve
different points, all of which sust lined
I !
FOR THE WILCOX AND GIBBs MACHINE.
|. 1t is the simplest. Claim Sustained
2 1t is the least liable to get out OF order. Sustained
B. II is the best made machine; every part being an
exact dupcate-which is not the with the Flor
ence. Sustained
4. 1t is the cheapest Sustained
j. 1t runs the stillest. Sustained.
D. It runs the easiest. Sustained
Z 1t the fastest Sustained.
s. 1t has the best device TO prevent the wheel running
backward. Sustained.
NoTE.-Thc Florence Machine has no such device
O. It requires less mechanical skill to opera;e it
Sustained.
10. 1t requires less time and instruction TO learn to
use it, Sustained.
II. 1t is the most certain and reliable in operation
Sustained.
NoTE.-It is & fact worthy OF remark that during the
entire tial-which continued without utermisSion for
nearly seven huurs-not stitch missed, nor the
thread broken needle broken or bent by the
Wilcox and Gibbs machine No kind OF work was at.
tempted to be done it that was not accomplished
and done in perfect and wOrkmalke manner; and no
%ic neither o. these statements can De truly mace in
favor Of the Florence.
y. Its needles are the shortest. Sustained
l3. The needle IS also straight aud less liable to he
broken than one curved like the Florence Sustained.
a. 1t IS bereied, and therefore stronger than with
a small shank. like the Florence. Sustained.
10 The needle is secured in its place by patented
device, which renders it seEajustng that neither
skill nor experience is necessary setting it. 1t is not
50 with the F.a.eaCe. Sustained.
AorE-Ihis claim was tiliy conceded by the Flor
ece Agents, 50 Tar As retes to the capacity of the
Wilcox ana Gihhs machine. Bat they claiming that
the tlOeaCe machine has the Seltadiustng capa,ty at
the needle also md test being called for needle was
sci IN the Florence machine without the usual adjust
meGt ui lS point alter setting; and attempting to
sew with It, the needle broken at thc first stitch
another needle Was then set, with a smilUr result
lG It uses but HIfad, aud thus avoids the neces
slty OF complicated machinery which required for
two threads, as in the Florence. Sustained.
H. Ii se~s directly from the spool. thus making it un
necessary to Ie"jnG be thread and adlet it in the shut
tie. Sustained
is. 1t makes the ''II'i!icor and Gibbs' or "t,csted
io2P Stach "a stitch Original with this machine, and
made ny no oEerwhich Tor general purchase is supe
lor to either made by the Florence. sustained.
NoTE-The trial upon this claim very thorough
ana tie practical tests minute and Each ma
chine was required To thread from the same spool
make the stitch OF the leugh and perform the
test work the piece OF goods with TIE lines of
sewing side by side The results were all decisive and
III CreIy test in favor OF the Wilcox and Gibbs ma
chine
70. Its seam has the peculiar advantage of being
readily akeG out when is desirable while it is less
liable TO rip i'll use than the lOck-stitch Sus
taned
NoTE.-Ths claim was also very severely tested, in
the same manner as the last and with equally positive
resuts-a!l in favor of Wilcox and Gibbs machine.
20 The seam is more elastic and stronger than the
lock-stitch Sustained
Il The seam is also the more even and beautiful
Sustained.
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