Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1866-12-22
a MechanIcnI Trinmn,,.

No invention of q similar labor-savinp
character ever resulted in the same practi.
cal benefits to the people, or has come into
such general use as that wonderfully simple
| piece Of mechanism-the sewing machine.
What could we do without il? Where
would we now find hands enough to ao-
complish the labor which these busy work
ers are doing? These are questions which
determine the usefulness Of an invention.
and by them We may guage the importance
Of sewing machines. The history of this
discovery is full Of interest. As early as
1886, an ingenious and prolific inventor,
named Walter Hunt, of New York, in
vented the first machine that was of any
practicable value for sewing. Being Of a
rather indolent disposition, and disinclined
TO undertake the labor Of introducing 80
novel an invention into general use, he
neglected 10 patent his discovery, and sold
the right to manufacture such machines to
q Mr. Arrowsmith, who, however, neglect
ed TO test the practical value Of his pur-
chase or to secure it by patent.
Six years elapsed before any further ac-
ton was taken toward the Introduction of
sewing machines, and then, on the 18th Of
February, l842, the first American patent
was granted to John ]. Greenongh, Of
Washington.
The next recorded attempt at an applica-
ton of the idea was made and patented by
benjamin w. Bean, Of New York. In he
same year (lS43) sewing machine was
patented By George r. Corlies, Of Green
wich, New York, but no one seems to know
much about it, an evidence that its practi-
cal value was small. Those abortive at.
temps had the effect, however. of calling
the attention Of inventors 10 the subject Of
sewing machines, and on the 10th of Sep
tember, l846, Elias Howe, Jr, Of Cam
bridge, Massachusetts,, patented the first
sewing machine capable Of being improved
50 as 10 be adapted TO general use.
Although the machine patented BY Mr..
Howe would now be considered worthless.
II compared with the more recent inven-
tlons of Others, yet he stands at the door of
the sewing machine business, as il were.
and levies tax of one dollar on each fin.
ished machine in which the principles he
invented are used. A fortune closely ap-
preaching two million dollars has thus
been accumulated by Mr.. HoWe-a yery
fair return, considering the fact that the
Howe machine has been LEFT far behind by
those whose subsequent inventions have
effected a revolution in the manufacture of
clothing, shirts, caps, boots, shoes. en-
broidery, and house-flrnishing goods.
The utility OF a sewing machine for
family use depends upon its adaptability to
The greatest variety Of WOrk; and this ar
ticle would be incomplete, IL after tracing
the rise and progress Of the ides, We should
tail to poin; out from among the many va
rleties The one that comes nearest 10 perfec-
ton and combines the greatest number Of
useful qualities. For certain kinds Of work
there may be machines more peculiarly
adapted than others but for all the num-
berless requirementsof Of family, we unhesi-
tatingly pronounce the smoothly, silently.
and swiftly running Grover & Baker ma
chine the best L ~ a -
One great advantage is, that the thread
is drawn direct from the spools, and re-
quires no previous winding on shuttlps !;
and the simplicity Of all its parts and the
easy adjustment of needle, thread and
work, makes il more readily comprehen-
sible 70 the learner than we have vet seen.
Another Important fact Is that they per.
form, without any alteration of the adjust
ment, much greater variety of work than
Is possible on others. We might thus
enumerate quality after quality in our own
way, but We think we do the inventors and
makers full Justice, and at the same time
relate our experience in terms which there
is no mistakiDg, when we say that the Gro
yer q Baker machine nav be chosen as the
best, simplest, and most reliable sewing
machine in the market.
The trade in these necessities. which
have now become so indispensable, Is as
suming gigantic proportions. Grover &
Baker alone send many thousands to for
eign markets, and this popularity abroad
is an evidence Of their merit and superiori-
iy. American sewing machines are used
all over the world, and, like American
pianos have furnished the principles
which have been adopted by a great ma
tority Of foreign manufacturers. - Nlg
Yort C6sen.