CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur Isaac Maxfield, of Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Sewing Machine Manufacturer, for the
Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur Isaac Maxfield
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 20th August 1870.
I, ARTHUR ISAAC MAXFIELD, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Sewing Machine Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature
of my said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES," to
be as follows (that is to say) :-
My improvements may be used jointly or separately as may be
preferred, and consist, -
Firstly. In working the shuttle from a central action, causing it to
move backwards and forwards through the segment of a circle or in
a parallel line, as preferred, by which means all vibration and noise is
prevented. The shuttle motion is obtained from a cam fixed in front
of the lower spindle, which by its pinion is geared with the main

page_text: driving wheel, the top spindle being worked in the same manner or
otherwise, as preferred, possessing no novelty from the ordinary
machine.
Secondly. Instead of using an independent and detachable spring for
permitting the ready withdrawal and application of the spool or reel.
in the shuttle, I hold the spool or reel by a thin rectangular spring
secured to one end of the interior of the shuttle, and obtain additional
tension by applying a wire or bar suitably bent within the outlet side
of the shuttle for the thread to pass around.
Thirdly. In applying to portable sewing machines the means by
which the driving wheel, whether worked by hand or foot may be
continuously revolved while the machine is at rest.
Fourthly. The making of reels for sewing machine shuttles of bone,
ivory, hard wood, or other like material, with or without metal centres,
so that the said reels may be filled by the thread maker and sold
as a separate article, as reels or spools are now sold for ordinary
sewing. This will save the application of separate means for filling
such spools or reels by the user of the machine, or the employment of
a separate machine for that special purpose.
Fifthly. I purpose so arranging the wearing parts of sewing machines,
as to permit by means of sponge or other absorbing material, the appli-
cation of lubrication that will continue to supply the wearing parts for
any reasonable time.
Sixthly. Relates to an improved adjustable hem folder, to which
I apply an additional spring, the use of such spring being to hold
the work down on the table without puckering before the pressure
foot.
Lastly. My improvements relate to machines worked by the foot,
and which machine I purpose placing on a tripod or other stand
having a central support cast hollow for receiving the rod that connects
the foot treadle with the eccentric or crank of the driving wheel.
By these several improvements much economy is effected, and
consequent unnecessary work dispensed with, ensuring the further
desideratum in sewing machines of not rendering them liable to
derangement.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Arthur Isaac Maxfield in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 20th February 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ARTHUR
ISAAC MAXFIELD, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Sewing
Machine Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of August, in the year of
our Lord, One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Arthur Isaac Maxfield, Her special
licence that I, the said Arthur Isaac Maxfield, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Arthur Isaac Maxfield,
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 condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Arthur Isaac Maxfield, 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 Arthur Isaac Maxfield, 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 (that is to say)
My improvements may be used jointly or separately as may be
preferred, and consists,-
:
Firstly. In working the shuttle from a central action, causing it to
move backwards and forwards through the segment of a circle, or in a
parallel line, as preferred, by which means all vibration and noise is
prevented. The shuttle motion is obtained from a cam fixed in front of
the lower spindle, which by its pinion is geared with the main driving

page_text: wheel, the top spindle being worked in the same manner or otherwise, as
preferred, possessing no novelty from the ordinary machine.
Secondly. Instead of using an independent and detachable spring for
permitting the ready withdrawal and application of the spool or reel in
the shuttle, I hold the spool or reel by a thin rectangular spring secured
to one end of the interior of the shuttle, additional tension being obtained
by applying a wire or bar suitably bent within the outlet side of the
shuttle for the thread to pass around as well as through and around bars
formed out of the side of the shuttle.
Thirdly. In applying to portable sewing machines the means by which
the driving wheel, whether worked by hand or foot, may be continuously
revolved while the machine is at rest, which is necessary when simply
employing the driving power whether hand or foot for thread winding;
this is readily effected in both cases; in the hand machine the driving
wheel is taken out of gear or connection by the withdrawal of a screw,
and the setting up of a small flexible friction roller in connection with
the winding apparatus, against the peripheries of the driving wheel
sets the friction roller in rapid motion and gives effect to the thread
winding. In the foot machine I use fast and loose pulleys, and simply
set up a friction roller connected to the winding apparatus against the
driving band, which working on the loose pulley gives motion to the
friction roller and winding apparatus, while the machine itself is at
rest.
Fourthly. The making of reels for sewing machine shuttles of bone,
ivory, hard wood, or other like material with or without metal centres, so
that the said reels may be fitted by the thread maker, and sold as a separate
article, as reels or spools are now sold for ordinary sewing; this will save
the application of separate means for filling such spools or reels by the
user of the machine or the employment of a separate machine for that
special purpose.
Fifthly. I purpose so arranging the wearing parts of sewing machines,
as to permit by means of sponge or other absorbing material the appli-
cation of lubrication that will continue to supply the wearing parts for
any reasonable time.
Sixthly, Relates to an improved adjustable hem folder, to which I
apply an additional spring, the use of such spring being to hold the
work down on the table without puckering as the work passes under the
pressure of the feed foot.

page_text: Lastly. My improvements relate to machines worked by the foot, and
which machine I purpose placing on a tripod or other stand, having a
central support cast hollow for receiving the rods that connect the foot
treadle with the eccentric or crank of the driving wheel. By these
several improvements much economy is effected, and consequent un-
necessary work dispensed with, ensuring the further desideratum in
sewing machines of not rendering them liable to derangement. But as
the several improvements herein referred to will be more definitely,
understood by being described in detail in connection with the Drawings
hereunto annexed, I will proceed to describe the same, reference being
made to the various Figures and letters marked thereon (that is to say) :-
:-
Figure 1 represents part of a sewing machine known as the
Angenoria sewing machine, which will be readily detected by skilled
mechanics versed in the manufacture of sewing machines, and which
illustrates my new arrangement for giving motion to the shuttle
described under the first head of my Provisional Specification; and
Figure 2 is an end view of the same, and the two views being described
together will render the parts referred to more intelligible. A, A, A, A,
is as much of the stand or base part of the machine necessary for
illustrating my improvements. The lugs A¹ and A', forming part of the
bed, carry an axis, on which the fast and loose driving pulleys B and C.
are placed, hereafter referred to, as also the cam D and lateral cam E;
the axis carrying these pullies and cams extend through the bear-
ing A", for receiving the collar and face piece marked F, from the
circular face of which in the same line as the axis an eccentric pin is
placed marked a, seen distinctly at Figure 2, at the extent of its eccentric
throw. This pin passes through a vertical slotted bar marked G, shown
separate in a flat view at Figure 3, with the circular face F and pin a;
the part G is held between centres, screwed through the part H, the top
and bottom right-angled parts of which are arranged for the purpose of
holding the slotted bar G between them; and the part H-also works on
centres placed top and bottom through the dotted line b, b, by a fixed-
centre at the bottom and a pointed screw at the top marked.c, the said
screw being passed through the angular bar J, which is increased in
width at the bottom part for receiving screws for uniting it to the
stand A. To the top horizontal part of the angular bar H the shuttle'
carrier is secured, best seen at Figure 1, marked K; attached to the
lug A" is a segmental plate marked L, the radius of which corresponds
with the radius of the shuttle carrier K working on the axis b, b. From:

page_text: this it will be seen that the band being on the driving pulley C, and the
said pulley set in motion by the working of the machine, the collar and
face plate F will be also made to revolve, and the eccentric pin a in
travelling around will work up and down the slot in the bar G, moving
the bar laterally to the extent of the eccentric throw of the pin, thereby
obtaining a reciprocating action, which carries the shuttle backwards
and forwards through the segment in which it moves; the face of the
collar F and corresponding part of the slotted bar G will always be in
contact from the bar working in top and bottom centres. This is a
highly desirable arrangement, simple to set, apply, or remove, and always
keeps the shuttle under control, checking its momentum while in rapid
motion and yet rendered noiseless in its action. And although I have
represented this new shuttle action as applied to machines worked with
the foot or auxiliary power, nevertheless, by a slight modification the
same may be readily adapted for sewing machines worked by hand, as
for instance, Figures 4 and 5 represent in side and end view an arrange-
ment suitable for such purpose as applied to a hand machine or one of
a similar kind to be worked by the foot. M is the spindle, and N the
fixed collar carrying the pin d, which passes through the vertical slotted
bar O set up in between centres passing through the dotted line e, e, in
connection with the part marked P, P, which works in centres through
the dotted line f,f, by its centres being clipped by the split bar Q, and
regulated by the set screw 9. The shuttle carrier is defined in its end
view at R, and as described at Figures 1 and 2, is carried through a
segment of a circle by its working on a fixed axis at f, f. By a slightly
modified arrangement I am enabled to convert the segmental motion of
the shuttle into a parallel one, which will be understood by reference to
Figures 6 and 7, which represent top and side views of this modification,
and may be said to be identical with Figures 4 and 5, with the excep-
tion that the horizontal part of P, P, is thickened up and drilled for
receiving a parallel pin. marked h, which pin is united to the shuttle
carrier S by means of a vertical pin i, which passes freely through the
end of the parallel pin h, by which means, while the part P is working
in the segment of a circle the shuttle is carried along parallel on the
bar U by the carrier S, the parallel pin h partially sliding inwards and
outwards in the hole in which it is placed, the shuttle being represented
marked V, which is introduced in Figure 7 to show its position.
And as my improvements in shuttles come under the second part of
my Provisional Specification, I will refer to Figure 8, which represents a

page_text: section of shuttle. The reel or spool is marked j, this spool is held in the
shuttle by a spring, here shown taking the form of the internal capacity
of the shuttle, and secured at the end at k; and by being thus fashioned
the spool has only to be pressed in the direction of the nose of the
shuttle to relieve its axis from the other end, when it may be removed.
and just as readily applied. In this view I am also enabled to show a
small guide bar secured to the side of the shuttle marked 1, m. Fig. 9
is a top or open view of the shuttle and spool, the spring holding the
spool and lying underneath it, and also showing a top view of the guide
bar l, m, and I obtain the necessary tension as required by piercing
certain slots and openings on the other side of the shuttle, so as to form
a bar as well as a defined smooth partially circular hole to deliver the
thread through from the spool in the process of sewing, as seen at n,
Fig. 10, and by the same slotting process the bar p is formed, thus any
reasonable amount of yielding tension is obtained. By these slots and
piercings I am entitled to prepare a shuttle ready for the machine
without being under the necessity of threading the cotton through and
through, as is now generally practised with ordinary shuttles.
Under the fourth head of my Provisional Specification I have
described my improvements in sewing machine spool reels suitable for
all description of sewing machine shuttles, which improvements consist
in forming such reels of bone, ivory, hard wood, ebonite, or such like
non-metallic material, with small steel axes protruding from the ends as
at Fig. 11, or hard metal bushes with central indentations to receive
projections arranged or adapted to the shuttles, that such reels may be
applied as described at Figure 8 and 9, or to ordinary shuttles now in.
use; and such reels so made I purpose filling with suitable thread, and
preparing them as an independent marketable article in that condition in
single reels or series suitably packed in the same way that ordinary reels
of cotton are now prepared and vended. This will save the trouble or
necessity for the user of a sewing machine to fill or wind the reel so as
to produce their own spools. Notwithstanding under the third head of
my improvements I have adapted means whereby such or other reels
may be readily filled with thread by the operator; and this I effect by
a lever marked W, Figure 1, working on a fulcrum at r, by which means
I am enabled to pass the band from the fixed pulley C on to the loose
pulley B, which has the double advantage of not only stopping the
working of the machine (which is desirable when such machines are

page_text: being driven by the foot or other portable power) but to utilize the
working of the bands on the loose pulley, to give motion to the spindle X
by a small flexible pulley fixed on the small axis, marked Z, being
brought in contact with its periphery, thereby imparting to it a rapid
refluent motion, and the outer end of the axis X being fitted with a cap
collar marked S advanced outwards by a helical spring forms a seat for
receiving the reel, whilst the other end is held by the bar t, best seen at
Figure 2, and by the refluent motion of the axis X the reel is made to
revolve while the thread is being wound on it.
'
But as this arrangement only applies to machines as before mentioned
worked with the foot or other portable power, I will now describe my
improvements for effecting this object as arranged and adapted to
machines worked by hand, and which I have shown at Figure 12, in
which B', B', represent in section the end of a sewing machine known
as the "Agenoria" sewing machine, to which the driving wheel C', also
shown in section, is applied, working on the fixed axis D'; by means of
the screw attached to the screw head E' I am enabled by unscrewing it to
disconnect the driving wheel from the gear wheel, represented in section
marked F¹, so that when I desire to use the action of the driving
wheel C¹ for the purpose of winding thread on reels I can do without
working the machine, and I wind the reels by setting up by means of
the screw G¹ the friction roller H³, the periphery of which, as at
Figures 1 and 2, is formed by preference of a ring of india-rubber, so as
to ensure an elastic adhesion to the periphery of the driving wheel C³,
and to the axis of the small friction roller H¹ which works through the
frame I¹; the same arrangement is fitted for receiving the reel and
winding the spool, as described and exhibited in the former Figures.
In the satisfactory working of sewing machines much depends on the
quality of the lubricator and means of gradually supplying the same,
and as refined olive oil is the best known lubricator for such purposes
and prefer its adoption. I say this. because a thick glutinous unsuitable
lubricator would nullify my improved method of sustaining lubrication,
as referred to under the fifth head in my Provisional Specification. This
I effect by drilling in suitable places oil ways larger than ordinarily
used, and into such I apply small pieces of sponge that will take up and
hold the lubrication and give it out as required, thus preventing not
only its undue waste but prevent its exuding around the working parts -
and running down the machine. These lubrication ways filled with

page_text: sponge I have represented at K', K', Figure 12, and in like manner I
purpose applying the same to-all the wearing parts of sewing machines.
Rapidity and regularity are great desideratums in sewing with
machines, and as hemming is an important branch I will describe my
improvements for gathering in or folding the edge of the fabric, forming
the hem referred to under the sixth head of my Provisional Specifi-
cation, which consists of a thin plate of metal, as exhibited at Figure 13,
marked L', L', curved at the one end, as shown at Figure 14. This
plate is held down on the table part of the machine at the back of the
feed motion by small set screws passed through u, u, whilst the width
of the hem is regulated by a curved taper strip of metal marked v, and
which curved piece is secured to the part marked w, and is regulated
by a pin that comes through the slot x, and held in the desired position
by a set screw marked y, whilst the part secured to and projecting
from the plate L', marked Z, is of thinner metal, so as to form a kind
of spring for creasing or pressing down the hem as it is formed by
passing in between the curved surfaces, and from the plate Ź the work
is advanced under the feed foot and to the operation of the needle.
Figure 15 is simply an end view of Figure 13 looking in the same
direction in which that is represented, drawn for the purpose of showing
that where the fabric first enters is large for it to progressively lap over
and press down the hem to be sewn.
And, lastly, Figure 16 represents a part section of as much of a
standard necessary to illustrate my improvements in such kind of
machines intending to stand on a tripod stand; and my improvements
consist in casting the pillar hollow, in order that the rods N¹, N³, con-
nected to an eccentric pin fixed in the pulley O' at the top, and at the
lower end attached to a slipper or slippers, as here shown marked P¹, P¹,
in the ordinary way, may all be hid from view, the axis of the slippers
being placed between ears formed on two of the spreading feet for them
to work on. I have not thought it necessary to show more of the
standard than is required to convey a clear idea of my improvements.
Having thus given a general description of my improvements, and
the manner. in which the same may be carried into effect, it will be
obvious that in adapting, applying, or arranging their details to sewing
machines, that much diversification may be made in the form, proportion,
and general details without affecting the essential character or object of

page_text: my Invention; but what I claim, and wish to protect under these my
in part recited Letters Patent is,―
Firstly. Shuttle action herein described and exhibited Figures 1,2, 3,
4, 5, 6, and 7.
Secondly. I claim the mode for applying the spool to shuttles, and
obtaining the necessary tension herein described and exhibited at
Figures 8, 9, and 10.
Thirdly. I claim the manner of stopping and working sewing machines
without stopping the driving power, as described and exhibited at
Figures 1, 2, and 12, thus permitting the winding of the spool without
working the machine when required.
Fourthly. I claim the manufacture of non-metallic reels for sewing
machines for the object and purposes herein-before described.
Fifthly. I claim the mode of regulating and supplying lubrication to
the working parts of sewing machines, as exhibited at Figure 12.
Sixthly. I claim the improved adjustable hem folder, as described and
exhibited at Figures 13, 14, and 15.
And, lastly, I claim the hollow stand for hiding the crank rod and
motion for sewing machines, as described and exhibited principally in
section at Figure 16.
In witness whereof I, the said Arthur Isaac Maxfield, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of February, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
one.
ARTHUR ISAAC MAXFIELD. (L.S.)
Witness,
WILLIAM LOACH,
Clerk to James S. Cockings,
Patent Agent,
Birmingham.