The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-05-07
THE FIRST SEWING MACHINE

1t is little thing, that first machine. which
goes INTO box OF the capacity OF about cubic
foot ana half Every cOntrivance IN 1t has
Deen since improved, and new devices have
Deen added; but no successful sewing machine
has ever been made, of all the seven hundred
thousand now in existence, which does not
contain some of the essential devices of this
hrst attempt, We make this assertion without
hesitation or reserve, because it is, we believe
the one point upon which all the great makers
are agreed. Judicial decisions have repeatedly
affirmed it.
Like all the other inventors, Mr.. Howe found
that when he had completed HIS machine his
dlthcultles had but begun. After he had brought
the machine to the point of making a few
stitches, he went to Boston one day to get
tailor 10 come to Cambridge and arrange some
cloth for sewing, aud give his opinion as to the
quality OF the work done by the machine. The
comrades OF the man 10 whom he first applied
dlssuaded him from going, alleging that sew
ing machine, If it worked well, must necessarily
reduce the whole fraternity of talors to beg
gary; and this proved to be the Interchangeable
convection of the taIlors for the next ten years.
1t is probable that the machines first made
would have been destroyed by violence, but for
another fixed opinion OF the tailors, which was,
that no machine could be made that would
really answer the purpose
II seems strange now that the tailors of Bos-
ton could have persisted SO long in such an
opinion, for Mr.. Howe, few weeks after he
had finished his first model, gave them an
opportunity to see what it could do. He placed
his little engine in one of the rooms of the
Quincy Hall Clothing Manuiactory, and seat
ing himself before it, offered to sew up any
seam that might be brought to him. One
unbelieving tailor after another brought gar
ment, and saw its long seams sewcd perfectly,
at the rate of two hundred and fifty stitches
minute which was about seven times as fast as
the work could be done by hand. For two
weeks he sat there daily, and sewed up seams
for all who chose to bring them to him. He
amused himself at intervals, in executing rows
OF ornamental stitching, and he showeu the
strength of the machine by sewing the thick
plated skirts of irock coats to the bodies. At
last he challenged five of the sWittest seam
stresses in the establishment to sew race with
the machine. Ten seams OF equal length were
prepared for ewing, i've of which were laid by
the machine, and the other five gwen to the
girls. The gentleman who held the watch, and
who was to decide the wager, testified, upon
oath, that the five girls we're the fastest sewers
that could be found, and that they sewed las
fast as they could much faster than they were
in the habit of sewing"-faster than they could
have kept on for an hour. Nevertheless, Mr..
Howe finished his five seams a little sooner than
the girls finished their five; and the umpire,
who was himself tailor, has sworn that 1.-THE
work done on the machine was the neatest and
strongest"
Upon reading testimony like this, we wonder
that manufacturers did not instantly set MIR.
Howe at work making sewing machines. Not
one was ordered. Not tailor encouraged him
by word or deed. Some objected that the ma
chine did not make the whole garment Others
dreaded to encounter the fierce opposition OF
the iourneymen. Others really thoughtit would
beg gar all hand sewers, aud re trained from using
il on principle. Others admitted the utility OF
the machine and the excellence of the work
done by it, but, said they, ''we are dong well as
we are and fear to make such a change" The
great cost of the machine was most serious
obstacle to its PRODUCTION. james Parton, IN
Atlantic Monthly for May.