The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-25
AMERICAN SEWING MACHINES.
Perhaps the Most widely Distribute
ed of All This Country's Products.

Among the very earliest. II not actually
the first Of American machines and imple-
ments to find an extended and large sale
in foreign countries was the sewing ma
chine. which came TO be exported In con-
siderable numbers in the period between
1860 and 1870, Since then the exports OF
sewing machines have steadily Increased
other American machines and manufae-
tured products are now exported to many
foreign countries. and some OF these II
may be to greater gross value; hut the
sewing machine, IL is probable, still leads
them all in the Wilderness of its distribu-
ton There IL not an important city In
which 1t may not be found. nor civilized
country: and It is sold in many countries
that are only semi-civilized. American
sewing machines are in fact sold literally
all over the earth.
In Europe they are sold I'm every coun-
try. and the business there OF an Ameri-
can sewing machine concern would De
conducted in practically tho same manner
as here. The territory is divided into dis
tricts whose boundaries might coincide
with those OF n country. or which might
be Of similar area, or which might include
two countries. At the head OF each OF
these districts there is general agent.
and there are agencies in every city of any
size and in many smaller places, as Well
Canvassers are sent out. and machines are
buy them In that way just as they would
be here.
In India, one American company making
sewing machines has $50 agencies. to
which number II is constantly adding.
American sewing machines are sold in
such countries as Arabia and Persia, and
in China and Japan. An American soldier,
writing from the island OF Mindano. In the
philjppnes said that the first and only
hat
civilization was an American sewing ma
chine which they saw used by Its owner,
in one of the native shacks. The com
pany that made this machine has had an
agency in Manila for twenty years;
place OF business on the principal street.
with big sign up, just exactly ms II would
have In New York, or any other city. And
oanvassers for the company had worked
all that region around where the soldier
saw the sewing machine, and territory far
beyond. and sold sewing machines.
In fact, wherever people sew, or can Use
a sewing machine TO advantage, American
sewing machines have been offered and
sold: and this not only In travelled coun-
tries. hut in all sorts OF strange and out
of-the-way places as well: in many lands
and TO people OF many tongues; wherever
they could use a machine and access TO tho
country was possible. II a new country ia
settled or parts OF an old country opened
I'D to the worlds trade, the representative
of the sewing machine is there and ready
to go in. He has been pushing ahead ev-
erywhere they have settled. or they may
be. as IL more likely to be the case. natives
of their several countries ana It may be
men Of importance where they live. Sub
agents and canvassers are 81 the native
population. or wholly familiar with Il.
And 50 the people Of every race in every
land the American sewing machine IL
brought In n familiar way by people who
speak their own tongue. and II may be
by people they know or whom they know
Of.
OF the great number OF American sewing
machines exported many are hand ma
chines--that is. not worked with ireadle.
but operated by hand: there are plenty of
people in the world who seem TO find II
difficult to use head. hands ana feet all
at once Even In European countries
there are sold many hand sewing ma
chimes; and elsewhere In the world. in
some semi-elvilxed parts. the sewing ma
chimes sold are almost all. IL not indeed
all Of them. hand machines.
A curious illustration Of how small the
world f. after AL. and al the same time 81
the metbodiCai manner IN great business
- carried on. IL found IN the operation Of
the instRllment system Ia the sale Of sew
ing machines. Suppose somebody Ia Aus
tria or Russia, OF anywhere else In Eu-
rope. who had bought OF the iocal agent
or oanyasser on the installment plan an
American sewing machine which ne had
not yet fully paid for, WAS about 20 emil
crate 20 America and wanted to take the
sewing machine with him. There would
be no trouble about a.. he would give no
tee to the agent and take the rnach ins
right along. The local agent sends a notice
20 the general agent for that territory
who sends words 10 the New York office
Of the company. which sends through the
proper channels a notice that reaches the
agency nearest the point Al which the Inn
migrant has actually settled In this co.ffi-
try. and the remaining lustaimcuta are
simply collected thers.-S New YORK sun