Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-12-12
A MECHANICAL TRIUMPH.

No invention of a SIN liar labor saving char
aeter ever resulted IN the same pracucal ben
efis TO The people, or has come into such gem
erai use as that wonderfully simple piece OF
meehanism-theS Sewing Machine. What could
we do without itl Where would we now dad
hands enough TO accomplish The labor which
these busy little workers are doIngi These are
questions which determine the usefulness OF
an invention, and by them we may ruace the
importance Of Sewing Machines. The history
Of tnls discovery is fnll OF interest. As early
as 1886, an ingenious and prolific inventor.
ramed Walter Hunt, Of New York, invented
the flrst machine that was OF any practical
value for sewing. Being OF rather indolent
disposition, and disinchned 10 undertake the
labor OF introducing so novel an invention
into general use. he neglected to patent mis- dis
covery, and sold the right 20 manufacture
such machines toa Mr. Arrowsmith. who,
however, neglected to test the practcal value
OF his purchase or 10 secure 10 by patent
Six years elapsed before any further action
was nken toward the Introduction of Se wing
Machines, and then, on the lsth Of February.
lsi2. the mrs, American patent was granted 70
John J. Greenough, of Washington.
The next recorded attempt at an application
OF The Ieea was made ana patented by Benia-
min W. Bean, OF New York. In the same year
(lS43) Sewing Machine was patented oy
George II. Corlies, of Green wich, n. Y, but no
one seems 10 know much about it. an evidence
that its practical valne was small. These
abortive attempts had the effect, however. o
calling the attention of In ventors 10 tue subiec
Of Sewing Machines, and on the 10th OF Sep
tember, lsi6. Elias Howe, ir.. Of Cambridge.
bic of being improved so as 20 be adapted TO
general use.
Although the machine patented by Mr Howe
wouId now be considered worthless. IL com
pared with the more recent IN ven tons of orb
srs, yet he stands at the coor of the sewing
machine business, as n were, and leyies a TAX
OF one dollar on each finished machine in which
the principles be invented are used. A fortune
closely approa ching tWo million dollars has
thus been accumulated by Mr.. Howe very
fair return, considering the fact that the Howe.
Machine mas been left far behind by those
whose subsequent inventions have effected
revolution in the manufacture of clothing
shirts, caps, boots, shoes, embroidery. and
house furnishing goods.
The utility OF asewing machine for family
use depends upon its adaptsbility TO the great
est variety Of work: and this article would bs
incompirss, IT. after tracing the rise ana pro-
gress OF the idea. we should fail TO potat OUT
from among the many varieties the one thai
comes nearest to perfection and combines the
greatest number of useful qualities For SER
tam kinds of work there NAV be machines
more peculiarly adapted than others but for
all The numberless requirements OF a family.
we unhesitatinely pronounce the smoothly.
sileh tly, and swiftly y-Tunnng Grover q Baker
Machine the best.
One great advantage is. that the thread is
drawn direct from the spools, and requires no
previous winding on shuttles; and the sim
pncIty OF all It's parts, and the easy adjust
ment of needle. thread and work. makes IJ
more readily comprehensive 20 the learner
than any We have yet seen. Another impor-
tant tact Is that they perform. without an al
teralion oi the adjustment much greater Va
rlety OF work than rs possible on others. We
mig ut thus enumerate quality after Quality in
our own way, but we think we do the inven-
t9rs and makers full justice, and at the same
time relate our experience in terms which there
is no mistaking, when we say that the q rover
a Baker Machine may be chosen the best
simplest and most reliable Sewing Machine ia
the market
The trade in these necessities which have
now become so indispensable, is assuming gi-
ganuc proportions. Grover AZ Baker alone
send many Thousands TO foreign markets. and
this popularity abroad is an evidence of their
merit and superiority. American Sewing Ma
chimes are used all over the world. and. like
American pianos, have furnished the prInct-
pies which have been adopted by great ma
lority of foreign manufacturers.-Nelo YorL.
Ciizen