New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-30
SEWING MACHINES.

MI, manufacturing industries Of New-York
have In the sewing machine one of their most
essential factors. Reflection will give warrant TO
,,;s statement. When the various manufactures
vbich require stitching in their production are
senarated from those that do not, and 1t is con-
s;dered that the machines Of to-day operate upon
avery product that can be sewn-materials that
vary from the finest of fabrics to products of two
,.ohos in thickness-the reasonabeness of the
assertion will he manifest.
The idea of sewing machines cherished
hundred years before the first successful ma
chine was built. As long ago as 1870 sewing
machine was patented in England. but it was not
practicable invention. In 1880 Thimonnier a
rrenchnan. invented a machine that would sew,
ond which was patented in Paris in 1S4S and in
,ha Tinted States in 1870. This improved move
in the right direction did not. however. prove TO
be a commercial success.
An American machine was patented In 1881.
and from near that date the Patent Office was
more taxed by sewing machine inventions than
bv any other contemplated manufactures. and
continued TO be occupied until the era OF cleo
,ricity Sewing machines were first made FOR DO
mestc purposes only, and their introduction IN
volved almost as much bitterness and mercantile
warfare as can be charged against the struggles
of Church and State.
The number of patents issued by the United
States for sewing machines and accessories, from
the first dated February 21 1S42, down to Sep
,en,her 10 1895. was 7i3a and that great num-
Der Is not complete or accurate classihcatlon' is
e. enumerates each patent only once. classifying
il according to it's most important feature, al
though the patent may cover several other feat
ures The first machine patented used snort
thread the needle was pointed at both erds, had
", tba ceptr pulled through the
material with pincers making shoemakers
stitch This was the invention of j. j. Green
ough.
In March, 1872, the next important patent was
granted to B. w. Bean for machine using snort
thread running stitch ordinary hand needle. and
with the cloth crimped into ridges for passage
over the needle. In 1916 Elias Howe jr., pro-
cured patent on the eye-pointed needle in COM
b!nation with a shuttle for the under thread
continuous thread from the spools lock-
stitch and an automatic feed the length of the
baster-plate The Howe patent did not expire
until 1867, and during the time of its existence
the leading machine companies paid tribute for
their use Of the desired appliances
Prior to 1850 number of sewing machihes
were patented by American inventors, each pre-
senting claims Of superiority; but in 1851 an un-
deniable commercial value was reached. and the
struggles for supremacy. employing the highest
mechanical intelligence and the greatest fnan-
cia ability. form possibly the most wonderful
manufacturing history. 1t was not until lSO
that sewing machinery's usefulness for manu-
featuring purposes received proper recognition
MANY of the early troubles. with their aggra-
waiting and expensive litigation, had before that
date been swept away and the battle had be-
come one Of legitimate competition and the sur
,jval of the fittest None Of the early inventors,
could they have looked down the vista of coming
centuries and foreseen what their creations
should do for humanity. could have imagined
the surprising results. From the working OF
their brains trace the INTRODUCTION Oh
purchases on the instalment plan, ana IN tnelr
behalf has the perambulatlnS sewing machine
agent been permitted to live.
The reports of the sewing machine cOmDna-
ton" OF the sales Of sewing machines during me
four years 1873 to 1876, show a total Of 23o' 3il
the average for each year being about ''"""
Exact information relative TO the extent OF
sewing machine manufactures appears 10 nave
terminated with the year 1876. and is not again
Indicated until publication of the census reports
of 1SSJ-'9O The total value Of production re-
ror,ed at the census of 1880 for one year was
SIY s,s, 1SS whereas the census of 1881 shows a
value of SD S23 141. These figures indicate that
tho average number Of machines made annu-
allv during the twenty years ending in 1871 has
been about 600 600 1t is believed that the more
recent wears have shown greater production.
More than million machines a year is claimed
10 be the present output. The reports at the
census of 1890 from hfty-siX factories making
sewing machines showed the employment oi