CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Bailey, of Salford, in the County
of Lancaster, Turret Clock Maker, for the Invention of "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Bailey
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
31st December 1861.
I, WILLIAM HENRY BAILEY, of Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Turret
Clock Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES," to be as follows:-
The Invention relates, first, to a novel arrangement of apparatus for folding
the binding material, which is termed the "binder," and consists in so forming
one or both sides of the binder that their distances apart may be varied to
suit any width of binding by an interposed wedge, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2 in
the Diagram, wherein only one side is shewn as adjustable, a being the part
of the binder or guide fixed to the plate; b and c, the adjustable side; and
d, the inclined plane or wedge separating the sides and held in position by the
screw e.
The Invention relates, secondly, to a method of applying and indicating the
tension required to be given to the binding, which is effected by passing it
between the pins f, f, fixed upon a foot carrying a pointer, and loose upon the
[Price 8d.]

page_text: by
stud g, so that when the required tension is obtained by turning the pins f, f,
the are secured by a screw, and the tension is indicated on the plate
the pointer.
Thirdly, the Invention relates to a means of applying and indicating the
tension given to the sewing thread, which is effected as seen in Figs. 3 and 4,
wherein the thread passes through an eye in the upright h, and thence through
an eye in the small shaft i, which is furnished with a spur wheel gearing into
a wheel on the dial plate, so that as tension or friction is given to the thread
by coiling it round the shaft i, the amount becomes registered on the dial, or
a similar effect may be produced by other equivalent means, for example, as
shewn in Fig. 5.
Figs. 6 and 7 represent the fourth part of the Invention, consisting in the
peculiar manner of folding a single plate of metal to form a guide to turn down
the edge of the fabric for hemming in contradistinction to the use of two plates
or pieces of metal for the purpose.
#
The fifth part of the Invention relates to a novel mode of actuating the
feeding foot," and is seen in Figure 8, wherein the needle holder k is shewn
in the position as when the needle is in the fabric, and the "foot" lifted from
the fabric by the holder in its descent acting upon the small lever l. The foot
being placed in position to feed the cloth by the inclined plane on the holder
acting upon the bowl m, and thrusting the foot back as the needle leaves the
fabric, the lever 1 is then released, and allows the foot to fall again to feed the
fabric to the needle. The length of the throw of the foot may be regulated and
indicated by means of the screw and nut n, which latter has figures in its
surface.
A further improvement consists in the application of an emery roller or stone
on the shaft, upon which the spool is placed in the winding apparatus.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Henry Bailey in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th June 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
HENRY BAILEY, of Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Turret Clock Maker,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of

page_text: Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said William Henry Bailey, Her special license that I, the said
William Henry Bailey, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as 1, the said William Henry Bailey, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES," upon the con-
dition, amongst others, that I, the said William Henry Bailey, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE. that I, the said William Henry Bailey, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement and accompanying Drawings (that is to say):-
The Invention relates, first, to a novel arrangement of apparatus for folding
the binding material, which is termed the "binder," and consists in so forming
one or both sides of the binder that their distances apart may be varied to suit
any width of binding by an interposed wedge, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2 in
the Diagram, wherein only one side is shewn as adjustable, a being the part
of the binder or guide fixed to the plate b and c, the adjustable side, and
d the inclined plane or wedge separating the sides, and held in position by the
screw e.
The Invention relates, secondly, to a method of applying and indicating the
tension required to be given to the binding, which is effected by passing it
between the pins f, f, fixed upon a foot carrying a pointer, and loose upon the
stud g, so that when the required tension is obtained by turning the pins f, f,
they are secured by a screw, and the tension is indicated on the plate b by
the pointer.
Thirdly, the Invention relates to a means of applying and indicating the
tension given to the sewing thread, which is effected as seen in Figs. 3 and 4,
wherein the thread passes through an eye in the upright h, and thence through
an eye in the small shaft i, which is furnished with a spur wheel gearing into
a wheel on the dial plate, so that as tension or friction is given to the thread
by coiling it round the shaft i, the amount becomes registered on the dial, or

page_text: a similar effect may be produced by other equivalent means, for example, as
shewn in Fig. 5. I also furnish the usual guide plate used at the edge of the
fabric with a toothed quadrant dial and pointer to regulate the distance of the
stitch from the edge.
In order that the Invention may be better understood and explained in
detail, I have hereunto attached two Sheets of Drawings, Sheet 1 being made
about full size, and Sheet 2 about four inches to the foot.
In Sheet 1, Fig. 1 is a side view of the improved "binder," designed to
suit various widths of binding material; Fig. 2 is an end view of the same
As Fig. 1 and 2 have been previously described, I shall proceed to describe
the modifications and slight improvements thereupon, shewn in Fig. 3 and 4
wherein the means of indicating tension is differently applied, and a circular
wedge or incline d is used to separate the sides of the binder; the binder
guide 1 may be raised and lowered, as required, to suit the width of the
binding, the distance being indicated by its pointer, so that both pointers being
at one numeral a uniform width of binding may be insured. The adjustable
side c of the binder may also be raised by turning the screw 2 and sliding it
upwards, so that the binding may be broader on one side than the other
Figs. 5 and 6 are front and side views of the improved apparatus for indicating
the tension of the sewing thread, as herein-before described; and Figs. 7, 8,
9, 10 are modifications of the same, being similar in action, except in Figs. 9
and plan view 10, wherein the tension is obtained by passing the thread
beneath the spring 3, the pressure thereupon being regulated by the lever and
weights 4, and the tension indicated by the position of the weight on the
lever. Fig. 11 represents the method of regulating the distance of the stitch
from the edge, or from another line of stitches (as in quilting); the finger k
and dial plate 1 are secured upon the part of the machine m, supporting the
needle slide, and by placing the upper part of the finger k to any numeral
the lower point will be so many inches from the needle, and so regulate
the distance of the rows of stitching. Fig. 12 exhibits an improved method
of regulating the length of the stitch by altering the throw of the "feeding
foot; "this has hitherto been accomplished by making that part of the foot
lever acting on the cam adjustable; the present improvement consists in
making the cam n adjustable instead, and regulating the distance of its
adjustment by means of the screw o, and registering or indicating it, as shewn.
In Sheet 2, Fig. 1 is a side view of the sewing machine, exhibiting the
screw and index for adjusting the cam n, also shewing one of the tensors, and
also exhibiting a means of regulating the speed of the whole machine. Fig. 2
is 'an end view of the same. The speed of the machine is regulated by the

page_text: amount of friction put upon the wheel p, which is increased or diminished by
sliding the weight q further from or nearer to the fulcrum of the lever r. This
is effected by means of the levers s, s, as by lowering the levert the weight
is brought further from the fulcrum, and the friction increased on the driving
wheel, and consequently the speed of the machine is also increased, the amount
of increase or decrease being registered on the dial u.
I would here remark that since the filing of my Provisional Specification
for my said Invention, I have ascertained that the portion therein described,
from Fig. 6 inclusive to the end, is not so novel or original or of such utility
as I then considered it to be, and I therefore hereby disclaim such portion of
the Invention.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, together with the
method of carrying the same into practical effect, I wish it to be distinctly
understood that I claim,-
First, the novel construction and arrangement of apparatus for applying
binding material as adapted to sewing machines, or any slight modification
thereof.
Secondly, I claim indicating the tension given to the binding material and
sewing thread by means of the various methods illustrated, or other equivalent.
Thirdly, the method of regulating and indicating the distance of the lines of
stitching apart, and the length of each stitch by the means exhibited.
And, lastly, I claim the regulation of the speed of sewing machines by
the means shewn, or other mechanical equivalent, as herein-before described,
set forth, and fully illustrated in the Drawings attached.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Bailey, have hereunto
set my hand and seal this Twenty-sixth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
W. H. BAILEY.
BAILEY. (L.S.)