Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1866-12-17

A MEcHAsIcAL TRIUMPH Mo invention Of .
simi ar labor saving character ever resulted In
the same practical benefits to the people, or
has come into such general use as that won
derfully simple piece Of mechanism--the Sew.
ing Machine. What could we do without 1t 7
Where would we now and hands enough to
accomplish the labor which these busy little
workers are doing2 These are questions
which determine the usefulness Of an inven-
tion, and by them we may gauge the impor-
lance OF Sewing Machines. The history Of this
discovery is full Of interest. Az early as 1885,
an ingenious and prolific inventor, named
Walter Hunt, OF New York, invented the fret
machine that was Of any practical value for
sewing. Being of a.ratter indolent disposition
aud disinolined to undertake the laeer OF In
| Producing 30 novel an invention into general
use, he neglected TO patent his discovery. and
| sold the right to manufacture such machines
to a Mr.. Arrowsmith, who, however, neglected
to test the practical value Of his purchase OF
to secure 1t by patent.
| Six years elapsed before any further action
was taken toward the introduction Of Sewing
Machines, and then, on the 18th Of February
1912, the fret American patent was granted
to John J. Grsenough, Of Washington.
The next recorded attempt at an application
OF the idea Was made and patented by Benja
min W. Bean, of New York Iu the sam
year (ls43) Sewing Machine was patsnts'
by George R. Corlies, of Greenwich, N. Y, bu
, no one seems to know much about 1t, an evi
denoe that its practical value was SMALL
These abortive attempts had the effect, how
5 ever, of calling the attention OF inventors !
8 the subject of Sewing Machines, and on til
v 10th of September, 1876, Elias Howe, Jr.,
!. Cambridge, Mass, patented the first SEWN
Machine capable OF being improved so M
- be adapted to general use.
a Although the machine patented BY Nj
4 Howe would now he considered worthless,
a compared with the mere recent Inventions
others, yet he stands at the door OF the SeN
g ing Machine business, as 1t were, and levies
= tax OF one dollar on each finished machine
10 which the principles he invented are used
fortune closely approaching two million do
lars has thus been accumulated by Mr.. How
la very fair return, considering the fact tn
the Howe Machine has been left far behind
10 those whose subsequent inventions have
Q, footed a revolution In the manufacture
10 clothing, shirts, caps, boots, shoes, embroi
'. cry, and house-iurnishing goods.
:, The utility of 4 Sewing Machine for fami
- nse depends upon its adaptability to the gret
re est variety of work and this article won
re be incomplete, if, after tracing tae rise q
IN progress of the idea, we should fail to pol
out from among the many varieties the o
y that comes nearest to perfection and oombin
Id the greatest number of useful qualities. I
re certain kinds of work there may be machir
NO more peculiarly adapted than others but
all the numberless requirements OF iami
''e we unhesitatingly pronounce the smooth
gn silently, and swiftly running Grover b Bal
a. Machine the best
a, One great advantage is, that the thread
drawn direct from the spools, and requires
ECU previous winding on shuttles and the 81
M plicity of al! its parts and the easy adjustm
his OF needle, thread, and work, makes 1t m
in readily comprehensive to the learner than Z
we have yet seen Another important fac
'h- that they perform, without an alteration
an the adjustment, much greater variety
ca work than is possible on others. We mi
A., thus enumsrate quality after quality In
own way, but we think we do the inven
OF and makers full justice, and at the same
val relate our experience in terms which theI
cap no mistaking, when we say that the Grow
-. Baker Machine may be chosen as the
cru simplest, and most reliable Sewing Maehin
cat the market.
.ttst The trade in these necessities, which
now become so Indispensable, Is assur
gigantic proportions Grover Baker q
Il Mt send many thousands to foreign markets,
.,o this popularity abroad is an evidence Of
'''u merit and superiority American Sewing
aud chimes are used all over the world, and
anch American pianos, have furnished the pr
iobt pies which have been adopt d by great
-, jority of foreign manufacturers.
Citizen.