The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-12-02

corner ~ Washington and Wal'ham streets
aud stncb.d Il With valuable machinery "
made MONEY RAPIDLY
n was found that Baker wa n marploi hti'
instead ~ irving 10 act him out ~ tho concern,
Grover and potter contryed 10 get him 10 con.
sent 10 ~ - Europe and TRY 10 build NJ =
business over thorc. ~ did No, amount 20
much. bat they wore perfectly satisfied 10
have hin remain there. The business was 80
successful ard made them 50 much money
that they were able to retire in 1879 and clos"
M the business. When Baker went abroad
Potter came 10 New York and took charge Of
the sales. NJ this end.
Soon afterward the Brick Church properly
In Park row was offered NJ auction. Mr.. Potter
bought the end fronting on Reekman street.
with some assistance from his brother. and
erected the edi'ce known as the Potter BUILD
ing, which was destroyed by fire, with great
loss Of life. some 81 Eighteen or nineteen wears
ago. After that event he rebuilt II In a more
substantial manner. He was twice elected TO
Congress from this city. and his estate. known ~
the Potter Trust. owns much property In the
city. including the Empire Building. fronting
on Broadway, Rector and Church streets.
After Baker returned from Europe he man
aged to waste much Of his fortune. but Grover
looked after him and saved him from total
wreck. Grover was originally a tailor. He
was a good musician. He gave freely Of his
wealth to the Boston Conservatory Of Music.
He was kind and considerate and a thoroughly
good man. beloved by all who knew him.
Isaac VI. Singer of New York patented. Aug.
~. 1851. No. s,pA. the Singer sewing machine.
II was distin guished from the others by hav-
ing a rotary feed. and was especially adapted
for the use Of tailors and harness makers. II
had a large sale. At the outset Singer had no
money. So he associated himself with Edward
Clark. who put In 500 a a capital wherewith
To start the business. Singer was very ir-
ascible and a born fighter but Clark managed
To keep the business straight and Singer some
how managed to run the factory. which was,
TOR a long time. on Mulberry and Mott streets.
in this city. The works were afterward re-
moved TO Eilabethport. y. j., where a large
establishment was created by the company.
This was first known as I. VI. Singer 4 Co, but
was afterward called the Singer Manufacture
ing Company, Singer got into trouble with
his wife, after he got rich, because Of his fond
ness for other women. so he went way to
Europe. where II was reported that he sup
ported several womsn and that he used TO take
them all out together in an omnibus. built for
the purpose. There were several distinct sets
Of children. but he is said to have provided
for them all in his will, Edward Clark is re-
ported TO have left s.. 600. 600 at his decease.
a handsome return for his 500 invest ment.
The three great companies. Wheeler 4 Will
son. Grover 4 Baker and the Singer. entered
into a compact to pay Howe 81 for each ma
chine that they produced. He, on his part.
agreed no, to license anybody else. under his
patent without general consent His incomes
from these licenses amounted in the total to
millions After his patent expired he built
a large factory at Bridgeport. and enc ed
into the business of making and selling sewing
machines This could then be safely done.
hecaus" many other patents had also expired
The only valuable feature of his patent was
that it interlocked two threads together on
opposite sides Of the fabric. In all other re-
spects his invention was worthless.
After he became prosperous he let his hair
grow until il rested upon his shoulders He
was IA luxurious liver TO such an extent that
he became very fat. from head to foot. o. B.
Potter once made the remark that he was
a. fat as a baby" The expression fitted him
perfectly. Hi massive form. his long hair
surnounted by a fine black broad brimmed
soft hat. and his clothes. Of superfine black
broadcloth, made a very striking appearance
when he walked the streets. When the Civil
War broke out and the call was made for volun-
teers Howe was residing in Bridgeport. He
SET the example Of ~enlisting as a private. and
went to Maryland with his regiment. While
there some delay was experienced in paying
the men. Howe drew his check for the amount
of the pay roll and they were all paid on
promptly
Not long after Allen B. Wilson got out Of
the Wheeler 4 Wilson Company. and after
the great combine was formed the lawyers
Of the several concerns advised them that the
territorial rights under Wilson's first patent
ought to be acquired Thereupon The COM
panies bought them in. aud. obtaining VIII
sons consent and signature. they surrendered
that patent and obtained a reissue in two sep
arate patents. Jan 20. is5e. These were again
reissued Dec. o. 1856 These reissues claimed
tho important feature that Wilson neglected.
These then became the fundamental patent.
to which all persons who entered the field
were subordinated, Nobody could make "A
sewing machine without getting a license
under il. but all producers Of single-thread
machines could go forward without regard TO
Howe's patent, which only applied TO ma
chimes using two threads As Wilson was
destitute Of means. Edward Clark took him in
charge. and watched over and provided for
him until 1854. The patents expired that year.
and Wilson was entitled. under the law. to an
extension for a further term Of seven years.
This extension was obtained Nov, II. 1854.
as Wilson's property; but the combine had
made an Arrangement with him. that he would
give them Exclusive rights. like those they
had previously enjoyed under Howe's patent.
These rights had a much wider scope than
the latter could give. Wilson received about
$500. COO in royalties under this arrangement
His patent Of 1850. upon which the Wheeler
4 Wilson Company was founded. subsequently
proved to be invalid. because Louis Bollman.
a Magyar. who had settled in this country,
invented the device before him. but did not
cover II by patent. The principal protection
tina company aftarward had was under Howe's
patent, and the reissue Of the first patent to
Wilson.
Mention has been made in this article 81 a
statement made by Walter T. Hunt that his
father, Walter Hunt. was entitled TO the In
s~crip,ion in the Hall Of Fame AZ the original
inventor OF the sewing machine. Judge
Sprague in February. 1854 in the United States
District Court for Massachusetts. gave iudg-
mer' against parties, in Howe against Under
wood. who sought TO establish Hunts claim
to be the FIRST inventor. The record shows
that In 1881 and 1894. Walter Hunt did attempt
10 make a sewing machine. He SO far sue
ceeded a. 70 he able to do some imperfect sew