Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1872-07-18
SEWING MACHINES.
The Different Styles-The Wilcox and
Gibbs Knoxville Agency.

| UIOUS hhO4Nl1tc A6c
Perhaps no other interest has been better
looked after during the past FIVE years than the
sewing machine trade in East Tennessee, ana TO
the casual observer it seems almost Impossible
to effect additional sales in territory winch mas
been so thoroughly worked as ours and with
such a variety of first class machines. But SO 1t
is, and notwithstanding the large number al
ready sold, the sales steadily continue, showing
! that the Song of the Shirt" if still sung, is
| not accompanied by that painful "stitch in the
side" that formerly characterized the profess
sional needlewomon.
Among the machines more lately introduced
is the
WILCOX AND GIBBS,
which is rapidly coming into favor wherever
introduced. 1t is simple in construction and
uses but single thread. which is taken directly
from the spool, making the celebrated elastic
stitch. The manufacturers enumerate the fol-
lowing points Of excellence:
l 1t is the simplest in construction.
2 1t is the least liable to get out of order.
1t is the cheapest
1t runs the stillest.
It sews the fastest.
It will not run backwards and spoil the
work
1t requires less skill to operate it.
s 1t requires less time and skill to learn to use
it.
It's needle is shorter, and consequently best
10 Its needle is self adjusting.
II 1t uses but one thread and avoids compli-
Gated machinery.
II 1t uses the thread from the original spool,
and requires reminding
Is Its seam is stronger than the lock-stitch.
Ii Its seam is much easier taken out when de-
sired
Is It's seam is much more elastic.
16 It fastens off its own seam.
IL Its tension is more easily managed.
Is 1t will do a greater variety of work.
10 1t is more easily changed from one kind of
work to another.
sertion, etc., which the lock-stitch machine can
not do.
q 1t wastes less thread
% 1t wears the thread less in sewing.
% 1t has the best hemmers fellers, fuckers,
cOrders braiders, etc. of attachment,
"a 1t has the best belt connection.
The New York EUenirg Mail gives an ac-
count of an auction sale of Sewing Machines
which took place in that city in May last. they
having been taken by the agents of the Wilcox
and Gibbs Agents in part payment for their
own machines.
"Over twelve hundred machines of various
makes, but all alike in respect to their being of
the two-thread pattern, were sold at public auc-
tion-a circumstance worthy of special notice,
since it is the first time, we believe, in the his
an event has taken place. Many of them
appeared as if they had just come from the fac
tory, bright and shining in all the glory Of their
polished walnut or mahogany and the glistening
steel of their machinery"
zone lot contained ten machines-four
Wheeler & Wilson's, 8 Grover & Bakers l
Singer, l Empire, Howe. The prices realized
by the lot were $40 90 each for the Wheeler &
Wilson'S and $3.50 each for the balance of the
lot. Another lot comprised 2 Singers. | Flor
I Wpn6 9 H0wpic > Whnolpr e, Wilson'S
Grover & Bakers, and the prices realized
were S11.50 each for for the Wheeler s. Will
sons and $3.50 each for the remainder OF
course the machines differed considerably in
value. The highest price paid was, we believe
S57 so for Wheeler s. Wilson Cabinet. and
the lowest S4, paid for several machines in lot
one The intermediate prices ranged all the
way between these extreme figures but there
were many machines almost as good as new
which went for from $40 to SIS each. Many
persons other than dealers must have got great
bargains in the particular machines they re-
quired, but the majority of the persons present
were sewing machine dealers from this city and
elsewhere, who took this opportunity of sorting
up their stocks of two-thread machines.
There was one machine we'll known to the
public, conspicuous by its absence, but at the
same time really the pi' OF, as it were, on which
the sale itself turned We refer to our sprightlY
and elegant friend, the Wilcox & Gibbs ma
chine which with something more than mere
pretpnsions, aspres to be the popular family
machine of the day. The public hive taken of
late to exchanging machines of other make for
this machine If the COM
pany are satisfied that this is the best way of
turning their two-thread rivals into greenbacks,
the public may expect to see these auctions be-
come regular feature in the sewing machine
world"
The Knoxville agency for the sale of the Will
cox & Gibbs machine. is under the charge of
Capt. Calvin McCorkle who has an elegantly
furnished Office on Gay street. one door South
of Hunter & Co.'S Drug Store. where a con-
spicuous sign extending across the sidewalk, in
dicates to the public the place where these ma
chimes can be obtained. The different styles,
from the plain table to the full cabinet of Span
ish Walnut and Satin wood, deliberately plated,
are on exhibition, and Capt. McC will be
found there at all times. ready to demonstrate
its superior merits.
HeiskelPs Station Items.