Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-12-19
miscellaneous.
INTERESTING FACTS AS TO IT'S INVENTION
AND INVENTORS.

As historical facts are growing more
interesting each year concerning the
prime movers of the great sewing ma
chine industry, wish to give you what
know about the king of the sewing ma
chine business, I. NJ. Singer. All author
tiles give Howe the credit for the inven-
ton, and the country blacksmith did well
toward that end. no doubt, but he got his
idea from q defective machine made by
Walter Hunt OF New York in 1882. He
demonstrated the fact that machine
could take a stitch but he could 60 no far
Their, and Howe patented the model and
got an order from London firm of corset
makers, who gave him two years in which
to perfect his machine and adapt it to their
business. They fitted up machine shop
and paid him for his time, but it was a
failure, and he returned to America dis
consulate.
SINGER AS A WORKMAN.
About forty years ago man named Re-
gan, owned wood carving establishment
on Fifth avenue, this city (Pittsburg).
Among his workmen was I. M. Singer.
who was an expert in making wooden let
tiers for signs. Mr.. Singer in those days,
was "hard up" in the fullest sense of that
term. and was somewhat OF Bohemian in
habits and tastes. He left this city and
tramped to New York, where he obtained
work in a similar establishment, his new
employer being engaged IN pertecting a
machine for saving out wooden letters
"a sort of scroll-saw; at any rate Mr..
Singer helped him to complete it. The
Inventor went to Mr.. Clark, noted law
yer on patents, in order to get his SCROLL
saw patented. He took MIR. Singer along
to better explain to the lawyer the work.
in, specifications and plans of the SCROLL
saw invention.
While there Mr. Clark spoke incident
ally OF the failure of Elias Howe to per-
feet his sewing machine in London. Singer
listened attentively, and it is said asked
many questions concerning the difficulty.
"By George" exclaimed Singer, Il
can make that thing work."
There is a fortune for you if you do, :"
said Mr.. Clark.
II can do it. l have the idea now"
enthusiastically continued Mr.. Singer.
The PROBLEM SOLVED.
Then it is recorded how he looked down
at his shoes, with the soles loose, and his
clothes in tatters and rags. He wilted
(so to speak, and exclaimed: IL am
talking wild; haven't money enough to
buy screw"
81 will tell you what / will do" said
Clark. "I'll fit you up a shop in the loft
of my stable, furnish YOU with everything
you need to work with and live upon, and
give you two months to make it 20. If
you are successful will get all necessary
patents and take half of my investment"
Its CO." said Singer.
Inside of month he had his machine
working, using the eye-pointed needle
and shuttle invented by Hunt, but with an
addition it made a continuous stitch.
There was one defect however. His ma
chine tailed to draw up the stitches and
left each one with loop on both sides of
the fabric. Upon this he worked night
and day until the last day of his time
came. He worked at it until noon and
then started for his dinner. A thought
struck him, and back through the streets
he started on a run for his shop. He
seized little piece of wire. gave it sew
eral bends, and inserted it in the machine.
This was the little "spiral'' called ''take
up" which to-day is found in one form
or another in every machine. 1t was a
success!
WHAT HOWE FOUND.
By the time Elias Howe got back from
England he found three machines in
America that would sew; all were based
on his patent-the Singer, the Wheeler &
Wilson, and the Grover & Baker. He
found that Singer had sold 1000 machines.
He brought suit and succeeded in getting
Judgment for $4,000 royalty on those
sold, and further established a royalty of
500 on each machine sold by any of the
three firms. After this Howe got a man
named Taylor to work on a machine and
tirely new one, which took Howe's name.
About this time rumors reached the 9TH
er firms that models made by Hunt and
antedating Howe's were in existence, and
they secured one from Baltimore. They
held consultation and sent for Mr.. Howe,
and showed him the model and their
proofs that Hunt invented it long before
his patent was applied for. Howe was
broken up badly and made clean breast
of it. Howe left the office and happened
to meet his lawyer on the street: To him
he confded the whole matter. 81 will fix
that" said the lawyer, and they started
back
How THEY FIXED IT.
"Now gentlemen" he said, addressing
the sewing machine proprietors, "you are
simply killing the goose that laid the gol-
den egg. Yet let this thing get known
and refuse to pay Mr.. Howe his royalty,
and you will have to sell your machine at
1926 instead of 1925. Inside of a year
there will be 100 sewing machines in the
market, all of them using the patent you
now hold" They saw the point A COM
promise was affected, by which Elias
Howe continued to get a royalty of 81 on
each machine. instead of 800. The dol
lars also went into general fund to fight
other companies into submission to their
control. This was the famous ''combina-
ton" which made millions upon millions
of dollars. and furnished much cause for
donunciafiOn on tho mart of voapx- xyall