IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES, ACCESSORIES, AND STANDS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Cyrus Symons, of No. 2, George Street,
Blackfriars Road, in the County of Surrey, Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES, ACCESSORIES, AND
STANDS."
Sealed the 24th December 1872, and dated the 29th August 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Cyrus Symons
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 29th August 1872.
I, HENRY CYRUS SYMONS, of No. 2, George Street, Blackfriars Road,
in the County of Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES, ACCESSORIES,
AND STANDS," to be as follows:-
-
This Invention relates to improvements in manufacturing and
domestic sewing machines for rendering them more efficient and
simple. First, my improvements relate to a machine with a curved
needle arm rocking on centres in the base like the "Wheeler Wilson,"
but with the under shaft placed at right angles to the centres, and in
A

page_text: order to balance its weight and to gain room the needle arm is curved
out backwards for some distance behand its gudgeon. The needle arm
is worked by a cam or eccentric placed either under the needle plate or
at the driving wheel end; one end of the eccentric strap will be jointed
to the needle arm or it may be connected by a slotted bar sliding on the
needle arm. The end of the shaft under the needle is fitted with a
looper, a rotatory, vibrating, or reciprocating hook, and an eccentric
works the ordinary under feed. The presser arm is of a shape corre-
sponding with the needle arm and carried on centres in a similar manner,
a flat spring attached to its gudgeon gives the pressure, and when
released from its catch forms a convenient lifter.
I sometimes employ a cam dished to suit the curve of a short arm
projecting from the needle arm to actuate it instead of an eccentric.
For the feed I sometimes employ a cone cam under the needle plate
on the shaft actuating a lever pivoted at the wheel end of the frame.
To regulate the stitch the lever is fitted with a sliding piece so as to be
in contact with either the large or small part of the cam. .
'
A lock stitch may be made by using a Wheeler Wilson hook or eliptic
hook instead of a looper.
The foregoing improvements may also be fitted with a shuttle instead
of a looper or spool. I prefer to use a curved shuttle race with an are
corresponding to the lever. The lever has its centre near the wheel end,
and is formed at one extremity to carry the shuttle instead of sliding it;
the other end may be fitted to work in a dished cam, but I prefer to
drive it by a convex cam on the outside of the dished cam. The short
arm on this cam end of the lever is held in place by a screw, which
being slackened permits of its being withdrawn from the cam groove
and allows the shuttle end of the lever to be brought from beneath the
needle plate for adjusting the shuttle.
To ensure fixing a needle accurately in an ordinary sewing machine
I secure on the shank of the needle a block or plate which has a pro-
jecting pin or dowel fitting into a corresponding hole or recess in the
needle bar.
The plate may be bent up to fit the side of the bar instead of the
dowel, or the plate and bar shaped to correspond, so as to detect any
twist in setting the needle.

page_text: $
In some cases I form the needle by bending its top end so as to fit
into a hole or recess in the needle arm or bar, or I spread out the top of
the shank and make a hole through it corresponding with one in the
needle bar; or instead of a hole a shoulder may be made on the needle
shank, a corresponding shoulder or catch in the needle bar. Another
mode is by forming a notch in the shank of the needle and having a
spring plate or pin to clip therein.
For facility in threading the needle I place a reflector or magnifying
glass so as to command the eye of the needle, fixing it by a suitable clip
or joint hinged to the frame or needle bar.
For convenience in cutting the ends of the thread clean I attach to
a suitable part of the frame or embedded therein a clipper or cutter.
My Invention also consists of better arrangements for feeding by a
wheel feed, an under step feed, or an upper, feed, or by a combination of
upper and lower feed working either simultaneously or separately. When
the shaft is placed above, one arrangement is to utilize the crank plate
that drives the needle bar by having a cam projection on its edge. In
the lower part of the head is the fulcrum for a feed lever. The upper
end of this lever is shaped to bear continuously on the edge of the crank
plate. The feed leg or bar is attached to the head somewhat as in the
Thomas' machine. This feed leg is moved the length of the stitch by
this feed lever. On the feed lever is placed a stitch slide and a set
screw, which is set near the fulcrum for a short stitch and higher up for
a longer stitch. When the cam in revolving has produced action on the
lever it presses on a projection on the feeder leg and lifts it. When
required to regulate the lift the projection is formed as a lever.
If the
fulcrum is placed on the feeder the front end of the lever is forced up
against a regulating screw in the head; this determines the height to
which the feeder lifts. To feed in a line with the shaft the feed leg has
a double joint at the top end, and is worked below by an angle piece on
the stitch slide.
Instead of using the feed lever I sometimes employ a lever capable of
both horizontal and vertical movements with its fulcrum on the wheel
end of the machine frame, and between the fulcrum and the feeder is
placed on the shaft the feed cam; one part of this cam to give the lift
and the other part conical to give the stitch. The feeder end of the
lever is formed to carry a feeder or to transmit motion to the feed leg,
A 2
:

page_text: also to work an under feed from the top shaft. This arrangement of
conical cam on the main shaft may be used working a forked lever
pivoted to a swivelling joint to permit of both horizontal and vertical
'motion, the lower side of the fork placed under the machine; and on its
end are placed the teeth fitted into a slot as in the ordinary step feed
arrangement..
When required to work a wheel feed the lever which usually is acted
on by an eccentric is moved by the end of the forked lever. This
'conical stitch cam acting on the forked lever will work when required
both upper and lower feeds simultaneously.
The forked lever instead of swivelling on centres may be made to
slide, the ends having inclined projections and the feeders formed to
suit.
The needle bar I prefer to form with a V guide, the head or cap being
made to correspond thereto. By forming the V groove in the bar a con-
venient recess is at once made for securing the needle.
By extending the needle crank pin through the needle bar and cap
plate I give motion to a revolving piece with a recess therein, which
acts as a thread take up.
t
Instead of fixing the heart slot on to the needle bar I form it in a
lever having one end jointed to the frame and the other jointed to the
needle bar, either a slot or link being used to compensate for the arc.
By placing a roller on the lever to work in a disc cam the edge of the
cam may form the thread take up.
In one arrangement for the simple construction of a sewing machine
the wheel end of the shaft holds two eccentrics with their connecting
rod ends jointed to short arms of rocking levers, the shafts of the
rocking levers lying parallel with the main shaft. At the needle end
one lever is formed to worked the feed, the other one to carry and drive
the shuttle. The lever can be disconnected from the excentric rod in
order to remove or replace the shuttle. The feed eccentric rod is jointed
to a stitch slide, which by a set screw is made adjustable on the arm of
the rocking lever. The incrcase or decrease of the leverage régulates
the travel of the feeder and length of stitch.
Another arrangement to work the needle is by a longitudinal lever;
and a connecting rod in the ordinary way, but the connecting rod at its

page_text: lower end jointed to a lever, and the other end fitted to the frame, the
lever to carry a roller actuated by a cam, or instead of the cam a crank
and roller to work in a slot in the lever; the other side of the wheel
formed as a cam for working a curved shuttle lever as before described,
or instead of the horizontal shuttle lever the shuttle to be carried in a
vertical rocking lever. Between the fulcrum and the shuttle a roller
pin is so attached by a set screw that the roller can be disconnected from
the cam and the upper end lowered so as to arrange the shuttle, and
thus supersede a shuttle race slide or like complication.
The following arrangement permits of the shuttle being worked in a
line parallel with the shaft:-On the needle end of the shaft is placed a
cylindrical cam. A vertical shuttle lever jointed to the frame at its
lower end is fitted with a sliding roller axis and roller to work in the
cam. On sliding back the roller from the cam groove the shuttle lever
can be lowered to arrange the shuttle. The same motion may be
given by a curved cam instead of a cylindrical cam.
The other arrange-
ment is by a vertical axis in which is placed the slide roller axis to work
in a corresponding curved cam. Above the roller axis an arm carries.
the shuttle horizontally.
My improvements in shuttles are in having them curved on the face
as well as at the back, making the race to correspond; further, in placing
the centre of the shuttle reel in a bearing in the front end of the shuttle.
and keeping it in place by a plate jointed to the shuttle, and closing
down at the front end on the reel centre. On the front end of the plate
the tension is formed by a cylindrical pin and a clip to twist and regulate
the thread, or instead of the clip arrangement the jointed plate is fitted
with a spring and screw to adjust the thread between them; or instead
of the clip or plates a spring pivoted at one end and at the other end
turned back to receive the thrust from a screw in the front end of the
shuttle, the tension being regulated by pressing the thread between the
inside of the shuttle and the spring.
For greater convenience in folding or packing stands I joint the frame
together either in three or four parts with centre pins like the letter X.
By another arrangement the cross pannel is hinged at each end to the
side pannels, the top being attached by hinges, dowels, screws, or clips.
To drive the machine the stand wheel is fitted with a swivel crank pin, -
and a hole in its end admits a swing rod to slide therein. This rod,

page_text: jointed at one end, and the other swinging by the foot, works the wheel.
To avoid dead centres, and to work by either right or left, or both feet,
I employ another lever bell, cranked in shape, one end for the foot and
fitting on the other end a connecting rod, jointed by its hole to the
crank pin. To prevent turning the machine the wrong way I employ
an extra wheel or disc fitted with a grip. This also makes an arrange-
ment for using the winder without moving the machine.
Lastly, I combine some of the improvements herein described to make
machines suitable for trade and family use.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
.
filed by the said Henry Cyrus Symons in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 28th February 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
CYRUS SYMONS, of No. 2; George Street, Blackfriars Road, in the
County of Surrey, Engineer, send greeting."
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Henry Cyrus Symons, Her special licence
that I, the said Henry Cyrus Symons, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry Cyrus Symons, 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 “Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES, ACCESSORIES, AND STANDS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Henry Cyrus Symons, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their hands and seals, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Cyrus Symons, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
. My Invention relates to manufacturing and domestic sewing machines,
and to improvements in their details, whereby they may be made more
simple and effective; some are especially applicable to lock-stitch
machines, others to looper machines, and others to sewing machines of
any description, some relate to their accessories, and others to the stands
and means of giving motion to them.

page_text: .
shewn on the outer face of the driving wheel. With this arrangement
by loosening the set screw g and drawing back the sliding bolt, the front
end of the shuttle lever may be brought round, and the shuttle taken
out and readily replaced without disturbing the cloth plute. F is a feed
lever attached to the frame by a screw or pin ƒ near the centre at the
cam end, at the other end coming through the frame and fitted with a
suitable step feed; h is a stitch slide, which by the screw i can be
adjusted on the feed lever to suit the required length of stitch and receive
its lateral motion from the conical cam k; the lifting motion of the feed
is attained by the cam m striking the projection of the feed lever.
By forming the shuttle race of a V section or with a vertical curve, as
drawn in Fig. 22, and the shuttle to correspond, I give greater stability
to a shuttle, and maintain the loop of the upper thread in a position best
suited to ensure the entrance of the shuttle.
66
'
Instead of a shuttle as before described, a "Wheeler Wilson," or an 1
eliptic hook" may be employed in this kind of machine to produce
the "lock-stitch", with the balanced needle arm and presser.
When required to work a straight needle, a rigid frame is substituted
for the presser B, and may be mounted similarly to the "Wilcox and
Gibbs" machine, the connecting rod at its lower end to be jointed to a 2
lever pivoted to the machine as at the centre screws a, a, and moved up
and down by the cam C.
Sheet I., Fig. 10, is a plan of a folding stand when opened; Fig. 11, a
side view; and Fig. 12, a plan of the same when folded; t is the table
top, the outline dotted in plan, its edge only shewing when folded; the 2
hinges u attach it to the cross back frame or pannel r; 8, 8, are the side
frames attached to the back frame by the joints q, q; o, the fly wheel,
the joint on one side being long enough to permit of one frame doubling
back completely on to the other.
Fig. 13 shews an arrangement for a similar purpose, the frames closing 3
on two centre pins, and the top being attached by screws or pins.
Fig. 14 is a plan of a tripod stand, and Fig 15 is a plan of the same
when folded up, the top having been removed, the peculiar form of hinge
permitting the wings and feet to come round and close one upon the
other.
31

page_text: Fig. 16 is a front view, and Fig. 17 a side view of an arrangement for
operating with both feet; w is a rod pendant from the spindle x, which
when swung backwards and forwards by the foot turns the fly wheel;
which has its crank pin fitted to a slide or slot in it; y is another rod
with slipper for the other foot of the operator secured by the spindle
to the arm, the end of which is connected to the crank pin by a jointed
rod or a strap, this in consequence of its angularity can be used to pull
the crank over the dead centre of the other rod, or a pendant rod may be
employed for one foot and an ordinary rocking treadle for the other.
Sheet II., Figs. 27 and 28, are front and side views of another arrange-
ment in which both feet may be brought into action, swinging the
pendant rods w and y in opposite directions through two different
connecting rods attached to the short arms z, z, they convey motion to
the same crank pin.
Figs. 29 and 30 are also views of another arrangement for using both
feet; in this case the pendant rod wo works as in Fig. 13, and by a short
arm or prolongation of its upper end is joined by a connecting rod to the
arm z on spindle x, and thus connected with the other pendant rod y,
the making the connecting rod with a gab or notched joint gives the
facility for throwing off one rod at pleasure; the centres of the pendant
rods may also be used reversed with a like effect.
Sheet I., Fig. 4 is a face view with the front cap removed of an
improved shuttle machine fitted with my combined top and bottom feed
arrangement; Fig. 5 is a side view; Fig. 6, a plan; Fig. 7, a plan of the
under side; Fig. 8, a face view of the driving cam; and Fig. 9, a section
of the needle bar. A is the needle bar for the purpose of more truly
fixing the needle. I cut out a groove or V on one face of the needle bar,
as shewn in section, which gives a true bed for clamping the needle into,
and by making the frame or cap to correspond I provide for the
steadiness and good sliding fit of the needle bar; C is the cam which
gives motion by the arm e to the shuttle lever S; D is the shaft, having
on its front end the small cam H, with a stud or pin in its face for
working the needle bar, and being shaped on its edge so that in the
course of its revolution the full part strikes against the lever n; this lever
is secured by a pin or joint at one end to the upper feed leg or presser B;
at the other end it carries the regulating screw o, the edge of the cam
raises the lever until the screw o bears against the frame above; it then

page_text: lifts the other end with the feed leg attached. Near the lower end of
the feed leg is a pin which the end of the lever I attached to the main
fced lever F catches and moves the requisite length of stitch. The feed
lever F is double armed; the upper arm which runs parallel to the shaft
carries the stitch slide h to receive motion from the conical cam k on the
shaft, and the catch 7 from a lifting cam on the shaft; the lower arm
passes under the bed plate and has at its front end the under step feed K
secured to it; to permit of the double motion required by this lever F,
it is hung on a centre pin f which is secured to a short upright bar L,
this bar being also centered on the top and bottom pins p; the spring C
under the cloth plate brings the lever back. It will be seen that the
motions given to both upper and under feed are derived from the cam k
and similar an simultaneous, by unscrewing the lever I, the upper feed
is at once disconnected, or the feed leg B may be lifted up for removal
and be replaced by a presser bar, only without the stud which the lever
I catches, a spring being used to press either the feed or presser bar
towards the needle.
When required to work a wheel feed either above or below, the double
arm lever is fitted to work the feed wheel grip. The catch can be removed
so that the double arm lever works horizontally only, or the horizontal
movement may be obtained simply by using the joints p to obtain a feed
motion parallel with the shaft; the top feeder B is at its upper end
double jointed, and the lever end in contact with the lever I wedge
shaped; both correspond so that "double action " motion is obtained. To
make the under side correspond the lever is there wedge shaped, and
works against a separate feeder of the ordinary kind with its frame not
fixed to the bed but only pivoted at the end farthest from the needle.
In some cases I apply this wedge shaped double action by making the
double arm feed to slide instead of swivel; the wedges being then formed
to thrust the feed at right angles to the main shaft, and the sliding
action to pull the feeders in a line with the main shaft.
To obtain the sliding action the double arm is moved by a cam on the
back face of the crank disc, similar to K, Fig. 32, regulating the stitch
by contact with a screw or block fixed to the lever. Instead of this cam
being formed on the crank disc it will do as well on the wheel end or
some intermediate part of the shaft; it will be thrust in one direction by
the cam, and a spring will slide, it back. Instead of using a spring a

page_text: cylindrical grooved cam fixed on the shaft will move the lever positively
in both directions, and the length of stitch be determined by the cam
working a lever jointed to the body of the machine; the lever fitted with
a stitch slide and set screw, a horizontal connecting rod jointed to the'
double arm at one end, and the other end to the stitch slide transmits
the requisite motion from the cylindrical cam to the double arm and
feed, fixing the stitch slide nearer to the fulcrum of the lever for a short
stitch, and outward from the fulcrum for a long stitch.
Sheet II., Fig. 24 is a face view of a shuttle machine, and Fig. 25 a
side view of the same, shewing my plan of working the shuttle and the
step feed by excentrics; D is the main shaft which works the needle at '
the front end in the usual way; M, the fly wheel; N, an excentric with
its rod o connecting it to the short arm P on the rocking spindle R,
which has at its front end the shuttle lever S; the spindle R may be
carried on two bearings or on two centres as shewn attached to the lower
part of the frame; Q is a spring catch for disengaging the end of the
excentric rod when the shuttle has to be drawn forward for readjustment;
T is another rocking spindle carrying on its front end the feed lever F to
move the step feed, and at the other end a short arm jointed to an
excentric rod V, receiving its motion from a second excentric X; Y is
the stitch screw which by determining the length of the short arm
regulates the length of the stitch. The thread passes from the tension Z
under the revolving take up W from the back over the top to the front,
and down to the needle; the shaft carries round the take up W which is
so set that its full part draws up the slack at the right time. An arm
attached to the fixed claw is shaped with an incline m which bearing on
a stud on the shuttle lever S produces the necessary drop in the return
motion.
In applying the above feed motion to some machines it will be most
convenient to plane the excentric mod V in front of the machine with
:

page_text: Sheet III., Figs. 31 and 32, are respectively a side view and a plan of
an arm " machine. A is the needle arm balanced on the centres a, a;
$6
D is the shaft carrying a disc C, the face of which is cut with a suitable
cam groove to move the needle arm by its short lever fitted with the
roller e; the other side of the disc is fitted with a crank pin and block X
to work in the vertical slot formed in the cross frame S attached to the
shuttle driver; the revolution of the disc moves backwards and forwards
the frame, which is guided on the plate below, whilst the block slides up
and down in the groove; the horizontal groove in the frame permits of
its clearing the shaft; the shuttle driver S conveys motion to the shuttle
working in the race G; in the arm of the machine F is the feed lever
centred to the frame at f, and carrying at its front end an ordinary
step feed; it receives its lifting motion from the small cam m, and the
stitch is given by the cam k striking the adjusting stitch screw o.
Figs. 31, 32, also shew an arrangement for increasing the speed of
machines driven by hand; M is the driving wheel of larger diameter
than that on the machine shaft, and connected to it by a belt or strap;
it is carried on a pin at the end of a lever T, which is fast to the short
arm P, and swings on the pin R; Y is a strong fine thread screw with a
conical head tapped into the frame; as this head presses on the short
lever above the centre of the pin R it forces out the lever T, and takes
up the slack of the belt. A similar arrangement may be used when
instead of a belt the wheels are plain or coated with elastic material,
and brought into contact; or when the larger wheel has a rim projecting
so that its inner periphery embraces the driving wheel of the machine,
the conical headed screw being set to impinge on the lever either above
or below the centre as required.
Fig. 33 is an arrangement for a similar machine. D is the main
shaft; N, an eccentric; and V its rod, arranged to drive the shuttle on a
rocking arm S; the connecting joint Q may be made to release the
shuttle, as before described, either by a sliding bolt or a gab joint.
Another mode of releasing the shuttle is to pivot the shuttle race
face or plate on the same bolt which pivots the lever S. The needle
groove is made in the plate, and to release the shuttle the plate is
turned with its needle groove downward. By making this plate of
glass the shuttle thread and reel may be distinctly seen while forming
the stitch.

page_text: This improvement may be advantageously applied to some other
machines, likewise the arrangement shown in Figs. 34 and 35 (respec-
tively a plan and an end view) to drive either a shuttle or a needle.
The lever S is pivoted at E; D is the shaft; C, the beviled double edged
cam thereon. The arms extends from the lever to the right hand edge
of the cam, the other edge pressing on the left of the shaft on the
lever S. The lever and arm may be made in one piece, but when
required the arm & may be pivoted to the lever, so as to be turned off
from the cam to allow of releasing the lever and shuttle. This plan is
adapted to work the shuttle, as in Fig. 32, instead of the cross head
driver. It will also apply to drive the curved needle arm instead of the
cam C on the shaft D; applied on the upper main shaft D it will
drive either the shuttle lever or feed lever in machines, like Fig. 5 and
Fig. 64.
Sheet IV., Fig. 40, shows a plan of a shuttle; 41, a side view; and
42, a plan with cover, plate, and tension. The thick end of the shuttlo
is bored to receive the end of the shuttle reel r; the point end is recessed
to receive the cover Û and tension plate t; the edge of the cover is bent
over and pivoted to the side of the shuttle, and the tension spring and
clip in one is pivoted to the cover. The tension is regulated by passing
the thread from the lower edge of the cover to the top of the cover, and
then into the middle hole, and out of another nearer the shuttle point;
the cover is then shut down; the spring at its forked end placed under
the head of the regulating screw a serves not only to keep the cover
shut, but by pressing on the spring to regulate the tension.
Fig. 43 represents a shuttle with reel placed in the cover, and held in
by a spring and bolt in the cylindrical point end, on which is placed a
steel spring clip, so as to hold the thread, and adjust it by turning
around the cylindrical end. Instead of a flat spring the clip may be
cylindrical with a hole to fit on the end, or the end may terminate in a
screw on which is placed a nut, spring, and washers to press upon the
thread.
Figs. 44 and 45 are respectively a plan and side view of a shuttle.
The cover C, which holds in the reel, is shown open in Fig. 44; its front
end holds a screws on which swivels a spring clip. When the cover C
is shut this spring clip is turned under a recess in the front end of the
shuttle. The thread is first passed under the clip; the screw presses on

page_text: .it, and at the same time causes the point of the spring clip to press
outward towards the face of the shuttle, and thus holds the cover and
reel in place. Instead of a swivelling clip a sliding spring plate with
its point end passed into a hole in the front may be used.
•
Figs. 46 and 47 are respectively a plan and side view of a shuttle; on
the inner side of the shuttle is pivoted a spring 8, and by it the thread is
pressed the point end of the spring terminates as a nut to hold a
screw; the point of the screw enters a notch in the shuttle. Turning
this screw inward gives a tight tension; withdrawing the screw
releases the shuttle reel. The shuttles are here shown with the ordinary
flat face, but by making the face with a convex, a V shape, or com-
bination of each shape, the shuttle is better kept at its work to enter the
needle loop.
Figs. 48, 49, 50, are a front view of a needle bar, a needle, and a plan
of fixing it in the bar. The bar may have V grooves to guide it in
sliding, and into one groove the needle is bedded and held in place by
passing the hooked end of the needle into a hole or a slot either in the
needle bar or clip C. This method will suit some other shapes of needle
bar or needle arms and holders. In a round needle bar instead of the
usual hole a slot is cut, and the end of the bar fitted with a clip as in
Fig. 48, pierced with a hole, a slot, or a cross grove on one side, into
which is placed the needle, the end of the needle Fig. 49 being formed
to suit the slot or cross groove.
Figs. 51 and 52 are a front and a side view of a needle with the end
flattened and turned on one side to fit on the needle bar or holder.
In some cases for better security a hole may be made in the top to fix
on a pin in the bar or holder, as shown in plan 53.
In Fig. 54, the end of the needle is split and forked for the same
purpose as above described.
Figs. 55 and 56 are respectively a front view and a plan of a needle
holder and plate. On the shank of the needle is firmly fixed the plate,
Fig. 56.
The needle is then placed in the hole in the needle bar or arm,
and is guided in position by the edge of the plate turned up, and the bar
made to fit it. The other side of the clip shows a hole to receive the
needle thread.
Fig. 57 shows a needle holder with a clip to pass on the flattened
part of the needle.

page_text: Figs. 58 and 59 are respectively a front view and a plan of a
contrivance to clip the end of the thread by a knife or scissors action,
a plate to guide it to the needle eye, a glass to magnify the eye and
thread, and a reflector to direct the light thereon. These parts may be
attached to any convenient part of the machine singly or in combination,
or by a bar b shown broken off. They are here illustrated as one
complete contrivance on a base B to stand on the machine, and it may
have studs to drop in holes in the machine to insure a correct position,
or the position obtained by the part of the frame f, which holds the
magnifying glass, adjusted to touch the needle sideways, and a plate p
below for the front guide, the plate being adjustable to suit the height
of the needle eye, so that its edge forms a rest, and it may be the letter
V shaped to guide the thread in the eye. The glass swivells of a centre
pin c in the frame f, and in some cases the glass may have a hole to
pass the thread through to the needle eye. The height of the frame f
is adjustable on a piller t. Another piller holds the reflector r adjustable
on its centre U. S, S, are the blades of scissors fitted to the frame. A
knife or a chopper to cut the thread may be attached instead of scissors.
Fig. 60 is an end view of a contrivance to prevent a sewing machine
from turning the wrong way; it is applicable to a driving wheel set in
motion by foot or hand, or to the machine as shewn in Fig. 64. C is a
boss on which is fitted a ring U with a tail piece. To this piece is
pivoted the lever L. The fly wheel is fitted with lugs M, O; when it
turns the reverse way of the arrow the lug M presses on the lever Lon
the outer end, and the inner end is turned away from the boss C, so
that the wheel turns without driving the machine. When turning the
wheel in the other direction the lug O comes into contact with the
lever L and wedges its inner end against the boss and drives the
machine.
Fig. 62 is a face view, and Fig. 64 a side view of a shuttle machine,
showing improved arrangements for the "feed," and for working the
shuttle, also of a mode of applying the clutch, and Fig. 63 is a face
view with the cap and thread "take up" in place. A is a portion of
the needle bar; D is the shaft carrying at the face
which has a pin to work the needle bar and "take up," and the edge of'
which actuates the feed, and fast on the other end is the cccentric N
with the clutch boss C and the fly wheel V running loose upon it when
backing, as just described.
end the cam H,

page_text: .
Fig. 61 is a face view of the eccentric N with its ring X, showing the
socket at its lower end e. S is the shuttle rod connected to the shuttle
carrier G guided in the grooves C, C, and receiving its motion from the
bell crank lever R working on the pin E. The short arm of this is
hollow to receive and permit of the stem I of the universal or ball joint
working in it when moved by the eccentric. Fis the feed lever hinged on
the centres ff, at the front end of this lever or frame are two lugs d, d,
to carry the upright bolt g. To the top of this bolt is jointed one end
of a small lever h, which passes into the frame and receives pressure
from the cam H, and being brought into contact with the fulcrum
screw the bolt g is forced down. The feed claw on which it rests is
jointed by a pin to a part of the feed lever F, and being only maintained
to its work by a spring it yields. to the pressure and lifts the claw off the
work. K is an arm lying between the feed lever F and the frame, and
jointed to the latter by the pin f. At its front end it carries the lunette
piece m against which the cam works, and gives the stitch motion,
for the purpose of determining the length of stitch. A stitch block V
is introduced; it is provided with a slotted slide and a set screw X to
attach it at varied parts of the feed lever F. The block V is in contact
with the arm K%; when placed as shown near the front end it gives a
longer stitch, but when slid further back towards the joint k a shorter
stitch. In the face view, Fig. 63, the crank pin end is shown dotted, it
catches the grooved thread take up W, in the hollow edge of which lies
the thread, and moves it round on the pin 7 mounted in a little frame on
the cap, and gathers up the slack thread.
Fig. 65 is a face view with, part of the cap removed, showing a self-
regulating thread take up. The lever P lifts the thread at its outer end,
the other end being jointed to a link pivoted to the inside of the cap;
the lower end of the link is wedge-shaped. A corresponding incline is
fastened to the presser bar B. When thick cloth or a seam passes under
its foot the incline rises, forces the link and the lever P towards the pin
in the needle bar which lifts it, and thus by varying the leverage more
thread is taken off when sewing thick seams, and less when sewing thin.
Instead of the incline acting on the lever P it may act on a lever to
carry a thread regulator hole towards or from the needle bar pin.
Fig. 66 shows a feeder B worked by the edge cam H, always in
contact with the stitch lever C, pivoted to the head at its lower end.
The stitch slide D may be set fast by the screw O on to the stitch lever C,

page_text: or as shown on the feeder B. By raising the stitch slide a longer stitch
is made. To regulate the lift of the feeder B a bent lever n is pivoted
to it, one end bearing on the edge cam, the other end bent down to
take the pressure from a spring to keep the lever in contact with the cam.
The screw Z in the lower end of the lever N regulates the lift.
Some modifications of the machines and parts herein-before described
may be made as follows:-The eccentric, Fig. 61, may be used to drive
a needle arm instead of using the cam C, in Fig. 2, or the needle arm
by a connecting rod and other kinds of machines; it may drive a shuttle
lever instead of using a cam or crank. In the machines, Figs. 5, 22, 31,
and 64, also in some other well-known machines, also for a like purpose
the bevil edged cam, Figs. 34 and 35, may be substituted.
In machines of the class, Fig. 22 or Fig. 25, when fitted with the lower
shaft the shuttle may be driven by placing the cam C on the shuttle
edge cam, Fig. 35, under the cloth plate; in a curved race the shuttle is
carried on the end of a lever placed on the top end of a vertical spindle
working in centres. From this the roller arm projects into the cam
groove to obtain its motion; by withdrawing it from the cam groove,
similar to plan Fig. 23, the shuttle is released. Instead of cam C the
edge cam, Fig. 34 and. 35, may be applied to the vertical spindle, the
arms S pivoted thereto so as to release the shuttle.
To work a vertical rocking shuttle lever under the cloth plate a short
arm on the lever axis may hold the sliding cam roller, and the roller be
driven by the convex cam C, or by a cam curved on its periphery, and a
groove cut therein to suit the radius of the cam roller.
"
The feeders
cap will apply to
worked ver-
fitted with a
The lifting of
hercin-before described and the thread take up on the
some other machines. The feed lever, as in Fig. 5, may be
tically only from its centre f. The end of the under arm
vertical incline to correspond to another on the feed bar.
the lever by the cam on the main shaft moves the feeder with the fabric.
The feed bar is lifted by an incline on the shuttle driven, and a spring
brings it back, the length of stitch being regulated by a sliding wedge.
secured by a set screw passing through a slot in the bed. This arrange-
ment is suitable for either an arm or a table machine.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same may be carried out, I would observe in con-
clusion that I do not limit myself to the precise details or arrangements

page_text: which I have shown, or other combinations and variations may be made,
some parts of my Invention being applicable to almost any form of
sewing machine; but what I claim as being novel, and the Invention to
be secured to me by Letters Patent is,—
First. I claim the forming a needle bar with a groove cut therein, 5
which provides the means of guiding it accurately, and a true bed in
which to secure the needle.
Second. The employment of needles having their shanks either square
or triangular, or of the forms described.
Third. The rigidly securing on a needle shank a plate or collar for the 1
purpose of exactly determining its position in a needle bar or arms.
Fourth. The construction of a shuttle, whether straight or bent, with a
face of a curved or bent section; also the application thereto of a tension
clip which, in some cases, may serve to hold the reel as delineated.
Fifth. The application of an eccentric with its ring mounted with an 1
universal joint for giving motion to a shuttle, a needle, or a feeder.
Sixth. The application of a concave cam to drive a needle bar or
arm.
Seventh. The releasing a shuttle by shifting a bolt or centre of some
part of the shuttle lever.
Eighth. The propelling simultaneously of a top and bottom feeder
in the same machine, either at equal or unequal speeds. I do not claim
the use of a surface that merely travels by friction, as I am aware that
this has been already employed.
2
Ninth. The use of a revolving "thread take up" applied to the head 2
of a machine, and the self-adjusting take up as shown.
Tenth. The construction of sewing machines, substantially in accord-
ance with the designs herein-before described.
Eleventh. The use of a needle arm or lever so bent that it shall nearly
balance on its centres.
Twelfth. The construction of stands with hinges convenient for folding
them into a small compass, as shown.
3

page_text: Thirteenth. The mode of driving machines to work by foot or hand,
as herein-before described.
Fourteenth. The attachment of a magnifier or reflector, a thread
clipper, and guide to some suitable part of a sewing machine, and the
combination as shown.
.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Cyrus Symons, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of February, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.