IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Marsh, of London Road, Nottingham, in the
Town and County of the Town of Nottinghain, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES."
Sealed the 10th Augúst 1860, and dated the 13th February 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION, left. by the said John Marsh at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th February 1860
I, JOHN MARSH, of London Road, Nottingham, in the Town and County
of the Town of Nottingham, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES," to be as follows:―
. This Invention relates to certain new.and improved mechanical arrange-
ments constituting a machine for sewing or uniting together materials, and
consists of improvements in the following parts of such said machines. First,
in the needle or sewing instrument; secondly, in the shuttle, or that part
employed to give off some of the sewing material; thirdly, in an improved
mode of actuating the said shuttle, by which twice as much work can be per-
formed as is at present the case with ordinary sewing machines; fourthly, in
the mode of advancing, the work under the needle;. fifthly, in the mode of
paying out the sewing material which passes through the needle. As regards
the construction of the needle the improvements consists in forming the upper
part of the same with a flat eye communicating direct with the ordinary
groove or channel in the needle, and by thus leading the sewing material direct
through the lowermost ordinary eye of the needle to prevent the liability of
.

page_text: cutting of the said material.
As regards the improvement in the construction
of the shuttle it consists in forming the body of the shuttle double-ended, and
in adapting thereto a circular bobbin, capable of containing a larger quantity
of sewing material in the same space than the shuttles of sewing machines, as
heretofore constructed. A further improvement consists in adapting a spring
pressure roller to the said shuttle, so as to press upon the sewing material on
the bobbin uniformly, as the diameter of the sewing material is unwound from
the aforesaid bobbin, at the same time preventing over-running of the bobbin ;
also in adapting small rollers within the shuttle so as to conduct the sewing
material from the bobbin thereof with less friction than heretofore, and by
placing two of such said rollers immediately over the top and centre of the
bobbin to cause the sewing material to be given off from the centre of the
length of the shuttle, and by these means to enable the shuttle to form a stitch
in moving backward as well as forward, whereas in the shuttles of sewing
machines, as heretofore constructed; the shuttle only makes a stitch when it
moves forward or in one direction. As regards the improved mode of actuating
the shuttle it consists in placing the driver of the shuttle at the opposite
side to that at which the loop of the work is situated, and also in giving to the
shuttle a sudden impulse to carry it past the needle each way; said driver
being moved by a suitable-shaped cam fixed on the driving spindle of the
machine. As regards the improved mode of advancing the work under the
needle, it consists of a foot or pusher formed of a skeleton shape, by which the
work can be seen at the part where the needle enters the material; and
further I propose to so shape the said foot as that it presses upon each side of
the part which is being sewn, and by these means holds it more firmly and
makes better work than when the work is held on one side only, as is at
present the case in other sewing machines; each end of the said foot is forined
with two knife-edge pieces of metal fixed at an angle of about 45 degress
across the said foot at short distances apart; this foot or pusher may be raised
and lowered by suitable cams on the main driving spindle of the machinė. As
regards the improved mode of paying out the sewing material to the needle,
it consists in adapting a weighted lever with a roller at one end pressing on
the sewing material, the weight being capable of adjustment upon the afore-
said lever; and, further, in adapting to the forward part of the framing of the
machine a series of horizontal wires, one end of each of which is fixed into a
piece of metal, and the other ends are free to pass the sewing material over
and under, so as either to increase or diminish the friction or tension of the
sewing material, as required, as it is drawn over said wires by the needle in the
act of sewing. As regards the last part of this Invention, it consists in

page_text: adapting to the machine a contrivance for waxing, when necessary, the sewing
material before it enters the work, when this is the case the sewing material
in the shuttle should be waxed before being wound on to the bobbin in the
shuttle.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Marsh in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th
August 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
MARSII, of London Road, Nottingham, in the Town and County of the Town
of Nottingham, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said John Marsh, Her special licence that I, the said John Marsh,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
John Marsh, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SEWING MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
John Marsh, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Marsh; do hereby declare the.
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:
This Invention relates, to certain new and improved mechanical arrange-
ments constituting a machine for sewing or uniting together materials, and
consists of improvements in the following parts of such said machines :--
First, in the needle or sewing instrument; secondly, in the shuttle or that

page_text: part employed to give off some of the sewing material; thirdly, in an improved
mode of actuating the said shuttle, by which twice as much work can be
performed as is at present the case with ordinary sewing machines; fourthly,
in the mode of advancing the work under the needle; fifthly, in the mode of
paying out the sewing material which passes through the needle.
As regards the construction of the needle, the improvement consists in
forming the upper part of the same with a flat eye communicating direct with
the ordinary groove or channel in the needle, and by thus leading the sewing
material direct through the lowermost ordinary eye of the needle to prevent
the liability of cutting of the material.
As regards the improvement. in the construction of the shuttle, it consists
in forming the body of the shuttle double ended, and in adapting thereto
a circular bobbin capable of containing a larger quantity of sewing material
in the same space than the shuttles of sewing machines as heretofore
constructed.
A further improvement consists in adapting a spring to edge of the bobbin
to give the proper tension to the sewing material, and also to prevent the
bobbin overrunning as the sewing material is drawn therefrom; and furtlier
in adapting small rollers to the shuttle so as to conduct the sewing material
from the bobbin thereof with less friction than heretofore, and, by placing two
of such said rollers immediately over the top and centre of the shuttle to cause
the sewing material to be given off freely from the bobbin, and by these means
to enable the shuttle to form a stitch in moving backward as well as forward,
whereas in the shuttles of sewing machines as heretofore constructed the
shuttle only makes a stitch when it moves forward or in one direction.
As regards the improved mode of actuating the shuttle, it consists in
placing the driver of the shuttle at the opposite side to. that at which the
loop of the work is situated, and also in giving to the shuttle a sudden impulse
to carry it past the needle each way said driver being moved by a suitable
shaped cam fixed on the driving spindle of the machine."
"
As regards the improved mode of advancing the work under the needle, it
consists in the mode of imparting motion to the foot or pusher employed for
that purpose, this foot or pusher may be raised and lowered by suitable cams
on the main driving spindle of the machine:
As regards the improved mode of paying out the sewing material to the
needle, it consists in causing friction on the bobbin containing the sewing
material, and further in adapting to the forward part of the framing of the
machine a series of horizontal wires, one end of each of which is fixed into a
piece of metal, and the other ends are free to pass the sewing material over

page_text: and under, so as either to increase or diminish the friction or tension of the
said sewing material as required as it is drawn over said wires by the needle
in the act of sewing.
As regards the last art of this Invention it consists in adapting to the
machine a contrivance by which waxed sewing material can be used, said
sewing material being waxed before being wound on to the bobbin in the
shuttle.
And in order to explain my said Invention as completely as possible, I now
proceed to describe the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the
same into practical effect, reference being had to the illustrative Sheets of
Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the numeral Figures and letters of
reference marked thereon respectively as follows.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
At Sheet 1, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved sewing machine;
Figure 2 a top plan view of the same. At Sheet 2, Figure 3 is an end elevation
at A (Figure 1); Figure 4 is a back elevation of the cam employed for im-
parting motion to the several parts of the machine, shewing the arrangement
of the grooves for that purpose; Figure 5, a section through the line A, B, at'
Figure 4. At Sheet 3, Figure 6 is a top plan view of the shuttle race and
shuttle, and the propeller; Figure 7 is a front elevation of Figure 6; Figure 8
is an end elevation of Figures 6 and 7; Figures 9, 10, 11, éxhibit several views
of the shuttle; and Figures 12, 18, and 14, are views of iniproved needles.
At each of the foregoing Figures of each Sheet of Drawings I employ
similar letters of reference to denote corresponding parts in so far as such parts
appear or can be seen at each of such said Figures and Sheets of Drawings
respectively.
A, A¹, are castings. bolted together, and carrying the following parts or
pieces; B a fixed spindle or axis on which the cam plate C fits loosely so as to
revolve thercon; D, a lever for actuating the sliding needle-holder E. a is
a stud pin on which the lever D vibrates; G, G', is another lever formed with
a foot X at one end thereof for advancing the work at each stitch. This lever
has its axis of niotion upon a pin 6 fixed in the piece H, this said piece being
formed with pivots at each end thereof, which fit into corresponding holes in
the bracket pieces I, I, screwed to the casting A' as at Figure 1, by these
means the lever G has liberty to move both horizontally and vertically, so that
the foot of said lever may rise whilst the needle is in the work, and after
the point of the needle and the sewing material has passed through the
work; the foot afterwards descends to hold the work whilst the needle is rising,"
:

page_text: and when the point of the needle is clear of the work, then the foot pushes
the work forward, and holds it there whilst another stitch is being made, and
so on in succession. The means by which these two aforesaid movements of
the lever G, G', may be effected are as follows:-There is a swell or rise c
upon the cam C, which as said cam C rotates acts upon a roller d attached to
the lever G, and thus lifts the foot × thereof. The side movement of the
lever G, G', is effected by a set screw e in the arm G¹ of the lever G,.which
said screw is kept in forced contact with the parts 1 of the cam c (as shewn
at Figure 1) by a spring f; another spring 9, acting against the roller h,
serves to press and keep the foot x down when the rise con the cam C
bas ceased to act on the lever G ; K is a bracket fixed to the casting A¹;
i is a pin on which revolves the bobbin k containing the sewing mate-
rial; 1, a cord passing round a groove in edge of bobbin, and terminating in
a spring m, acted upon by a set screw n for causing tension of the
sewing material, and also to prevent over-running of the said, bobbin as the
sewing material is drawn therefrom. The dotted line o, o, marks the course of
the sewing material as it passes from the bobbin to the needle or sewing
instrument L; and I would here draw attention to improved means which I
employ, first, for causing tension on the sewing material as it is drawn from
the bobbin by the descent of the needle; secondly, for taking up the slack
sewing material and drawing the stitch tight as the needle rises out of the
work; and, thirdly, for drawing off from the bobbin at each rise of the needle,
just as much sewing material as has been used to form the last stitch; the
length of the stitch being adjusted by a set screw at p, as commonly practised
in other sewing machines.
I now proceed to describe the mechanical arrangements for effecting the
above objects, as follows:-q, q, are a series of wires fixed in a plate M,
screwed to the casting A', as at Figures 1 and 2, by passing, the sewing
inaterial over and under these pins, or only some of them, any required tension
may be caused on the sewing material, and this interlacing may be readily
performed in consequence of the outer ends of the pins q, q, being unsupported
at such parts, and by employing these means instead of passing the sewing
materials through holes in a plate, as heretofore practised, the cutting of the
sewing material is prevented. N is a lever having its fulcrum upon a screw ;
the sewing material passes through an eye in the lever N, and as the needle
ascends with the sewing material, the effect is to raise the lever N into the
position exhibited at Figure 1 by reason of the tension on the sewing
material, but as the needle descends, the tension being released, the lever N
now descends by its weight on to the stop pin s. Simultaneously with these

page_text: movements the sewing material is given off from the bobbin by a ledge
piece O, screwed to the lever D, as at Figures 1 and 2. It will appear obvious
from the position of the piece O, and the course of the sewing material from
the bobbin to the wires 7, that as the piece O descends with the lever D, to
which it is affixed, the line of the sewing material will approach a straight line
as denoted by the dotted lines . *, at Figure 1, the height of the piece O being
so adjusted upon the lever D, as that each time said piece rises it shall draw
off exactly as much material from the bobbin as is required to form the next
stitch, and I consider these several movements to be essential improvements
in sewing machines.
As regards my improvements in needles to be used in sewing machines,
they consist, first, in making needles with two eyes, one eye being formed at
the lower part of the needle as usual, the other eye is formed above (as at
Figure 12 of Sheet 3) just above the groove in the front of the needle, the
use of this second eye is to direct and keep the sewing material in the aforesaid
groove, and by these means to prevent cutting of the sewing material, as
before stated.
The other improvement applies to needles intended to be used for sewing
leather or other material of similar character thereto, and consists in so making
or shaping said needles, as that the work produced thereby shall be stronger
than when sewn by needles as heretofore constructed. I attain this object by
forming the lower part of the needle with a double wedge-shape cutting edge,
gradually terminating upwards in a square, having the sharp edges thereof
removed, by which I am enabled to penetrate smoothly the material to be
sewn, without tearing the same, as is now the case, and also instead of making
a long pointed hole for the sewing material to enter, and by which the leather or
other material is thus rendered liable to break or tear, I make a kind of square
hole, and thus prevent such liability of the material to break or tear, and pro-
duce a kind of flat stitch; the construction of this needle and the description
of bole which it makes will be best understood by referring to the diagrains
at Figures 13 and 14 of Sheet 3.
I now proceed to describe the improved construction of shuttle which I
employ in the above-described 'sewing machine, and the mode of connecting
such said shuttle with the cam C, and also of operating therewith in the act of
sewing. At Figure 6 of Sheet 3. P marks the shuttle race, formed by screw-
ing pieces t, t, to the casting A; Q is the shuttle, the construction of which
will be best understood by reference to Figures 9, 10, 11, where u marks a
bobbin containing sewing material; said bobbin revolves on a pin 2 fixed to the
shuttle, and is kept in position and prevented from over-running by a spring v,

page_text: the end whereof has a notch formed therein which embraces the edge or flange
of the said bobbin; 3, 3, are small rollers capable of revolving on pins fixed
to the shuttle midway of the length thereof, said rollers being employed to
guide the sewing material from the bobbin through a long hole in the upper
side of the shuttle, the edges of said hole being bevilled and rounded off to
prevent cutting of the sewing material; 4 is a ledge or projection formed on
the back of the shuttle; the lower edge of the springs 5 at Figure 6 press on
said ledge and serve to hold the shuttle down and keep it steady while the
stitch is being formed, and the face of said springs pressing against the back of
the shuttle prevent it from recoiling after it has been thrown along the shuttle
race by the propellers 6, 6, screwed to the square bar 7, said bar working.in
guide pieces 8 fixed to the casting A, as exhibited; R is a jointed connecting
rod, having its fulcrum at 9, Figure 1, and a roller 10, taking into a groove T
in the
C. for transmitting motion to the bar 7 and shuttle. Those parts
of the propellers 6 which come into contact with the beaks or noses of the
shuttle, I cover with leather or other suitable material to prevent injury to
the said shuttle. 11 is a recess formed in the bottom of the shuttle race, for.
the loop to rest in, whilst the shuttle passes through same; the bar t is also
hollowed out at 12 for the same purpose. Finally, I cover the whole with
pieces of metal S, which serve as a table for carrying the work to be sewn,
the part of the piece S is hinged at 13 to allow of access to the shuttle.
In using strong sewing material requiring to be waxed for sewing leather
or, other similar substance or material, I wax the material whilst it is being
wound on to the.bobbin. And I would here state, that in sewing machines as
heretofore constructed it has been found difficult to use waxed sewing material,
cam.
consequence of the liability of the wax to be scraped off as it was drawn.
through the shuttle, whereas by this Invention I obviate such objection, the
rollers allowing the waxed material to pass freely and without friction from
the bobbin in the shuttle.
:
The operations of this improved sewing machine are as follows:-Suppose
the several parts to be in the position exhibited by the Drawings at Figures 1,
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and motion to be imparted to the cam wheel C in the direction
of the arrow's flight, either, by the handle; U, or by a cord passed, round a
groove V at Figure 2, and driven by a steam engine, the order of movement:
of the several parts of the machine will be as follows:-First, the material
requiring to be sewn being placed under the foot X, the needle descends.
through the same by the action of the groove in the cam C on the roller 14 of
the lever D, the needle then rises a little by the action of the part 15 of the
groove of the cam on the roller 14, to form a loop in the sewing material,

page_text: which the beak of the shuttle immediately enters and passes through by the
action of another groove in the cam C on the roller 10 of the lever R, at the
same time the foot × rises and comes forward by the action of the rise c of
the said cam on the roller d of the lever G, G¹; the needle then completely
rises out of the work by the action of the part 16 of the groove in the cam on
the roller 14, at the same time the shuttle receives an additional impulse by
the action of the part 17 of the groove of the cam on the roller 10 of the
lever R, for the purpose of taking up the slack from the bobbin in the shuttle
after the stitch is made, the propeller 6 is then drawn back a little by the
action of the part 18 of the groove of the cam on the roller 10, to allow the
needle again to descend and the shuttle remains quiescent, while the foot X
pushies the work forward by the rise 1 on the face of the cam acting on the
screw e of the lever G¹; the foot then rises, as, before stated, and comes back
by the action of the spring ƒ thereon before described; a recess a being
formed on the cam, as at Figure 1, to allow the point of the screw e to move
also; the needle then descends again, the shuttle is thrown in an opposite
direction, and another stitch is formed by the means just described, and so on
in succession. And it is a peculiar feature in this Invention that the shuttle
makes a stitch in moving backward as well as forward, whereas in other
sewing machines the shuttle only makes a stitch when moving forward, or in
one direction, as before stated.
Having now fully described and set forth the nature and object of my said
Invention of "Improvements in Sewing Machines," together with the best
means I am acquainted with for carrying the same into practical effect, I
would remark in conclusion, that I hereby declare my Invention to consist in,
and I claim,-
First, making the needles of sewing machines with a second eye, as
represented at Figure 12, of Sheet 3, of the accompanying Drawings, for the
purpose set forth.
Second, making needles in the manner herein described with reference to
Figures 13 and 14, of Sheet 3 of the accompanying Drawings, for the purposes
set forth.
Third, constructing the shuttles of sewing machines in the manner herein
described and represented at Figures 9, 10, 11, of Sheet 3 of the accompanying
Drawings, for the purposes set forth; also the mode of actuating the shuttle,
as described and represented, by which I cause it to make a stitch at each
impulse of the shuttle, and thus enable the machine to produce twice as much
work in a given time as sewing machines as heretofore constructed.

page_text: Fourth, the construction of the lever G, G¹, at Figures 1 and 2, of Sheet 1
of the accompanying Drawings, and the mode of actuating same for advancing
the work, as described and represented.
Fifth, the wires q, q, at Figures 1 and 2, of Sheet 1 of the accompanying
Drawings, for causing tension on the sewing material, also the piece O for
drawing the sewing material off the bobbin and the lever N at Figure 1 of
Sheet 1, for taking up the slack, as above stated.
Lastly, I claim the cam plate marked C at Sheets 1 and 2 of the accom-
panying Drawings, for the purpose of imparting motion to the several parts of
the machine, in the manner and order above described and represented.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Marsh, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
JOHN MARSH. (L.S.)