Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-12-31
WHEELER 4 WILSON'S NEW NO. 6
SEWING.MACHINE.

aueySean Institute, New York---
Judges, Report, Nov. IA, 1874.
To TIE Board of Managers:
GENrLnmH-After q full and impartial ex-
animation of the articles described, the under
signed judges make the following
RKPeRT--t ABsrRAcT):
That Sewing machine No. 436 (Wheeler
g. wilson's New No. 81 was claimed TO be
so great an Improvement, both upon the
we'll known family machine made by the
same company, and upon all other sew
ingmachines, rs entitled 1T to recogni-
ton as new and valuable invention.
Under these circumstances an extremely
thorough and minute examination be-
came both desirable and necessary, not
only Of its novelty but of the skill and
workmanship manifested in the fitting
and adjustment of all its parts. We
have risen from such examination with
an ample conviction that the claim, in
all its essential features, is well founded.
Atthe commencement of our examina-
ton we were provided with several COM
plete sets Of all the working parts as they
came from the mandatory, and were at
liberty to make our own selection for the
construction of a complete machine in
our presence. We thus had, to large de-
gree, demonstration of the nicely of the
manufacture. Every part was formed to
fit every other part with exact precision.
So accurately, for instance, did the sew
eral rotating hooks fit in the same bear
ing that, while entering it, each one of
them, without such contact as required
force, manifestly compressed the air
within in reaching its proper seat.
1.-THE judges enumerate and describe
some of the points of novelty and excel
lence of the machine. Among others:
The simple and efficient device for pro-
ducing variable motion for the rotating
hook; Gs
The Independent take-up lever, which
secures the tightening of the stitch un-
der the best possible circumstances;
The peculiar form of the hook and the
use of q bobbin holding great quantity
of the under thread;
The sim Pile device for producing and
varying the tension of the lower thread;
The hollow steel needle-bar; aaa
The facility of applying and using
many useful attachments-the hemmer,
binding, corder, ruffler, &C..
Having completed the construction of
our trial machine, in the way indicated,
1t was mounted upon a convenient stand,
and submitted to every variety of test as
to the range of work that could be execut-
ed upon it properly and well, and with
out other adaptation than simple changes
of needle and thread. The mere list of
operations performed in our presence
without the slightest hesitation or failure,
and without the discoverable loss of SO
much as a single stitch, would convey an
inadequate idea of the complete success
achieved.
Beginning with needle measuring
but $4,000 inch in diameter, and oper'
ating with the finest thread upon lace
goods, the same machine passed through
all the stages of muslin and broadcloth
of all conceivable thicknesses and fold
ings and ridgings, and then with waxed
thread stitching through portions of
heavy harness leather.
After this demonstration of its range
of work we entered upon the nicer tests
required fer family and light manuiac.
turing machine. In this department we
witnessed all the varieties of work on
hemming, telling and braiding, and also
degree of success in single and double
ruffiing which we believe unparalleled.
The varied kinds of work on a lady's
boot were then performed, and each of
these with the same marked success. In
deed, whatever the test, and whatever
the work presented, the same unfaiiing
perfection was exhibited, not only in the
work as piece, but in the execution OF
each individual stitch. With much pa
tient examination we were unable to dis
cover a single defect.
~
The minuteness of this report is sim
ple reflection of the care with which we
have endeayored to examine these claims.
We find the chief advantage of this ma
chine to be in the use OF a modified form
of the rotating hook as substitute Tor
the shuttle, the hook carrying the upper
thread around the bobbin containing the
lower thread, and thus producing identi-
cally the same effect as the shuttle. The
superiority of this rotary motion over the
reciprocating motion of the shuttle ma
chimes cannot be disputed. The flock
stitch" which is thus secured has always
ranked highest on account OF the perlna-
nence, beauty, and general desirableness
Of the stitching when done, and the wide
range of its application. u
To these conceded advantages there
have been added, In our presence, the
severest and most searching tests OF it's
capacity and usefulness upon every
ordinarily possible kind of work, and we
can do NO less than bear witness TO he
entire and remarkable success which has
attended it's action in every part OF our
examination. 1t is machine aohfch ty
the proof Submitted, zoe are satisfied must
eoentanliy supmseds all others nop knDaon
NTH Which ii comes IN competition.
As the only conclusion to which we
can arrive after an investigation OF the
several merits OF each of the sewing
machines submitted, an investigation
which we have endeavored TO make pa
tiently and completely in every respect,
and associating these with our pest
Judgment upon the merits OF the several
machines which are in use but not on
exhibition: #
We recommend for the Wheeler d Wnson