IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander McKenzie, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Engineer, and Francis Panthel, of the same Place,,
Machinist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander McKenzie
and Francis Panthel at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 7th February 1862.
We, ALEXANDER MCKENZIE, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Engineer, and FRANCIS PANTHEL, of the same Place, Machinist, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING
MACHINES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the arrangement and construction of sewing
machines, which are so arranged that by a simple mechanical movement the
sewing may be put in the fabric in lines at right angles to each other, in other
words, the fabric may be sewn longitudinally, and then in the transverse
direction, without requiring the fabric to be turned round, thus affording
increased facility to the worker. The machine is also arranged to sew articles
of a tubular kind like boot legs or circular seams with greater convenience
than heretofore.
Under one modification the table of the machine has bolted to it a laterally
projecting tube which is made to extend to any required distance beyond the
table. The lower part of this tube is open, and in it are arranged the levers.

page_text: for actuating the shuttle and the feed. The shuttle traverses to and fro in the
outer end of the tube in the direction of its length, and beneath the needle,
which is carried in the ordinary manner at the end of the overhanging arm.
The shuttle carrier is traversed to and fro by means of a cam keyed to the
driving shaft of the machine which gives motion to the rod attached at the
outer end of the shuttle carrier. The inner end of the rod is connected to the
arm of a T-shaped lever, which extends across the lower part of the machine,
and is carried in the standards of the table; the arm of this lever has formed
on it a laterally projecting pin, on which is an antifriction roller that travels in
the groove of the actuating cam; access is obtained to the shuttle carrier
through a longitudinal slot made in the upper part of the tube, and this
opening is cut away laterally to allow of the necessary movement of the feed
plate. The compound movements imparted to the feed plate (which is of the
ordinary kind) are obtained from three cams on the driving shaft. The first of
these cams give a rocking motion to a lever which is centred on a bearing
fitted in the tube. This lever extends along the tube and then curves down-
ward beneath the actuating cam, its backward end being connected to a spiral
spring fastened to the table above the spring, keeps the lever in contact with
the cam and the fore end depressed when the cam is not in action. The front
part of the lever terminates in a brass socket piece which curves partly round
a rod extending from the tubular socket to beyond the driving shaft. To this
rod the feed plate is attached, the rising and falling action of which is obtained
by the rocking motion of the lever to which the feed plate rod is attached by
means of the socket piece. The traverse of the feed plate in a direction at
right angles to the length of the tube is obtained from the second cam which
acts upon a bent arm projecting laterally from the feed plate rod as the cam
comes round it, depresses the bent arm, and so causes the feed plate rod to
turn slightly in its bearings. This motion of the feed plate rod carries the
feed plate forward in a lateral direction, and so moves the fabric the length of
a stitch. The third cam is arranged to move the feed plate rod in a contrary
direction or parallel with the tube. The cam acts upon a laterally projecting
arın formed on the backward end of the feed plate rod. Each of these move-
ments are adjustable by means of springs regulated by milled-headed screws
arranged within convenient reach of the operator. The laterally projecting
tube is covered by a secondary tube or cylinder which extends as far as the
feed plate, where it is notched or recessed in two places to admit of the motion
of the feed plate. either laterally or at right angles thereto.. "The recesses for
the movement of the feed plate are arranged opposite to one another, and the
tube is turned half round when a change in the direction of the sewing is

page_text: 2
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required, and when placed in the desired position it is held firmly by a
spring catch arranged at the inner end of the primary tube. The spring:
presser is arranged so as to turn upon its axis to suit either direction of.
sewing. The presser is carried in. a brass frame piece the inner part of:
which at each end encircles a projecting part of the frame in which the needle.
carrier traverses. The presser frame piece is held in either position for
sewing longitudinally. or transversely by a stud piece which passes through a
hole in the presser frame and into the frame of the needle carrier. A forked.
guide for supporting the needle is fixed to the under side of the spring presser-
frame which traverses round with the pressure when its position is altered:
The length of the stitch is regulated by a screw projecting up through the
table of the machine, which adjusts the position of a lever that either checks.
the action of the feed plate rod or allows it to have free play, and thus regu-
lates the length of the stitch in both directions. The end of the main tube is.
covered by a cap, the removal of which affords access to the shuttle race when
required. A slotted table which nearly covers the tube is fitted to the machine.
so that it may be used in the same manner as an ordinary table machine..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alexander M°Kenzie and Francis Panthel in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 7th August 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, ALEX-
ANDER MCKENZIE, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Engineer, and FRANCIS PANTHEL, of the same Place, Machinist, send.
greeting.
T
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters.
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,.
the said Alexander M'Kenzie and Francis Panthel, Her special license
that we, the said Alexander M°Kenzie and Francis Panthel, our executors,.
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Alexander
M'Kenzie and Francis Panthel, our executors, administrators, or 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

page_text: "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that we, the said Alexander McKenzie and Francis Panthėl, our executors'
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our hands and seals,
or under the hand and seal of one of them, 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 we, the said Alexander M°Kenzie and Francis
Panthel, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that
is to say:-
Our said Invention relates to the arrangement and construction of sewing
machines, which are so arranged that by a simple mechanical movement the
sewing may be put in the fabric, in lines at right angles to each other.
In other words, the fabric may be sewn longitudinally, and then in the
transverse direction, without requiring the fabric to be turned round, thus
affording increased facility to the worker. The machine is also arranged
to sew articles of a tubular kind, like boot legs or circular seams. with
greater convenience than heretofore.
Under one modification, the table of the machine has bolted to it a
laterally projecting tube, which is made to extend to any required distance.
beyond the table. The lower part of this tube is open and in it are ar-
ranged the levers for actuating the shuttle and the feed: The shuttle
traverses to and fro in the outer end of the tube in the direction of its
length, and beneath the needle which is carried in the ordinary manner
at the end of the overhanging arm. The shuttle carrier is traversed to
and fro by means of a cam, keyed to the driving shaft of the machine;
'which gives motion to the rod attached at the outer end to the shuttle
carrier. The inner end of the rod is connected to the arm of a T-shaped
lever, which extends across the lower part of the machine, and is carried in
the standards of the table. The arm of this lever has formed on it a laterally
projecting pin, on which is an antifriction roller that travels in the groove
of the actuating cam. Access is obtained to the shuttle carrier through a
longitudinal slot made in the upper part of the tube, and this opening is
cut away laterally to allow of the necessary movement of the feed plate.
The compound movements imparted to the feed plate, (which is of..the

page_text: ordinary kind,) are obtained from three cams on the driving shaft. The first of
these cams gives a rocking motion to a lever, which is centred on a bearing
fitted in the tube. This lever extends along the tube, and then curves down-
wards beneath the actuating cam, its backward end being connected to a spiral
spring fastened to the table above, the spring keeps the lever in contact with
the cam, and the fore end depressed when the cam is not in action. The front
part of the lever terminates in a brass socket piece which curves partly, round
a rod, extending from the tubular socket to beyond the driving shaft. To this
rod the feed plate is attached, the rising and falling action of which is ob-
tained by the rocking motion of the lever to which the feed plate rod is attached
by means of the socket piece. The traverse of the feed plate in a direction
at right angles to the length of the tube is obtained from the second cam which
acts upon a bent arm projecting laterally from the feed plate rod, as the cam
comes round it depresses the bent arm and so carries the feed plate rod to
turn slightly in its bearings. This motion of the feed plate rod carries the
feed plate forward in a lateral direction, and so moves the fabric the length of
a stitch. The third cam is arranged to move the feed plate rod in a contrary
direction or parallel with the tube, the cam acts upon a laterally projecting
arm, formed on the backward end of the feed plate rod. Each of these move-
ments are adjustable by means of springs regulated by milled headed screws,
arranged within convenient reach of the operator. The laterally projecting
tube is covered by a secondary tube or cylinder, which extends as far as the
feed plate, where it is notched or recessed in two places to admit of the motion
of the feed plate either laterally, or at right angles thereto. The recesses for
the movement of the feed plate are arranged opposite to one another, and the
tube is turned half round, when a change in the direction of the sewing is
required, and when placed in the desired position, it is held firmly by a
spring catch, arranged at the inner end of the primary tube. The spring
presser is arranged so as to turn upon its axis, to suit either direction of
sewing. The presser is carried in a brass frame piece, the inner part of
which, at each end, encircles a projecting part of the frame in which the
needle carrier traverses. The presser frame piece is held in either position
for sewing longitudinally or transversely by a stud piece, which passes
through a hole in the presser frame, and into the frame of the needle
carrier. A forked guide for supporting the needle is fixed to the under
side of the spring presser frame, which traverses round with the presser
when its position is altered. The length of the stitch is regulated by a
screw projecting up through the table of the machine, which adjusts the
position of a lever that either checks the action of the feed plate rod, or

page_text: allows it to have free play, and thus regulates the length of the stitch in
both directions. The end of the main tube is covered by a cap, the re-
moval of which affords access to the shuttle race when required. A slotted
table which nearly covers the tube is fitted to the machine so that it may be
used in the same manner as an ordinary table machine.
And in order that our said Invention of "Improvements in Sewing Ma-
chines," may be properly understood, we shall now proceed to describe the
several Figures on the explanatory Sheets of Drawings, which we have here-
unto appended for the purpose of showing certain modifications under which
our improvements may be judiciously carried out in practice; that is to say,
Figure 1 on Sheet 1, of the accompanying Drawings, is an elevation of one of
our improved sewing machines; Figure 2 on the same Sheet; is a plan showing
the upper part of the spring presser; and Figure 3 is a corresponding view of
the under side of the presser; Figure 4 is an elevation, showing the-lower
part of another modification of spring presser.
Figure 1, on Sheet 2, of the accompanying Drawings, is a plan of the
machine, corresponding to Figure 1 on Sheet 1; and Figure 2 is an elevation,
partially in section of the tubular arm, in which the mechanism for actuating
the shuttle, and imparting the required compound motions to the feed plate is
arranged.
The table A of the machine is of the usual rectangular figure, and has
bolted to it the overhanging arm B, which carries the needle bar and spring
presser at its outer extremity. The main or driving shaft C, extends across
the under side of the table A, and carries on one of its extremities the wheel D
which has a laterally projecting handle E, and is put in motion by the hand of
the operator in the ordinary way. For increasing the speed of the machine, it
is driven by a strap passed over the pulley C¹ and round a wheel arranged
beneath the supporting table, the second wheel being connected to, and put in
motion by a treadle. On the shaft C, is keyed the main cam F, which gives
motion to the lever G, centred on a stud in the arm B, and connected at its
outer extremity to the sliding bar H. The lower end of this needle bar is fitted
with the ordinary arrangement for holding the needle I, and adjusting it to
the required position. The needle is supplied with thread or silk from the
reel or bobbin J, and its course to the needle is indicated by the line K, in
Figure 1, Sheet 1. The table A has bolted to it the tubular arm L, which
may be made to extend outwards in front of the table to any required
extent; within this tube is fitted the shuttle for securing the stitch, together
with its carrier, and the mechanical arrangement for actuating the same;
also the moveable feed plate, for carrying the cloth forward and the

page_text: means for actuating the same. The primary tubular arm L is enclosed
by an outer brass tube M, which is formed in two parts, the inner one
extending over the greater portion of the tubular arm L, and is fastened in the
proper position by the spring catch N. When this catch is free and the little
knob at its inner end is in the position shown in Figure 1, Sheet 1, a small
pin at the outer extremity of the catch enters a hole made for the purpose in
the tube; there are two of these holes in the tube made opposite to each other,
so that the tube may be fastened with either half of its periphery uppermost, the
reason for which will be subsequently explained. The outer end of the tube M
forms a cap piece M', by removing which, access is had to the shuttle carrier
for placing or removing the shuttle. On the shaft C is arranged a cam O,
grooved on its inner face like the cam F, and fitted parallel thereto; this cam
is grooved in such manner as to impart the necessary throw or reciprocatory
movement to the shuttle carrier through the medium or by means of an
-inverted T-shaped lever P. The horizontal part of this lever extends across
the table A, as is more clearly shown in Figure 1, on Sheet 2, and is sup-
ported by the screws P¹, which pass through snugs cast on the lower part of
the table A. The pointed ends of the screws P¹ enter the extremities of the
horizontal bar of the lever P, and the screws are tightened up by jam nuts,
when the proper adjustment of the lever is obtained. The central stem or
vertical part of the lever P extends upwards, and is connected to the rod Q,
which extends along the tube L, and is attached to the brass sliding piece or
carrier R, in which the shuttle is traversed to and fro. The central stem of the
lever P has a laterally projecting stud, on which is carried an antifriction roller
that traverses in the groove of the cam O, so that the rotatory movement of
the cam causes the rod Q and the carrier R with its shuttle to traverse to and
fro immediately after the needle is depressed, and carried up out of the
cloth by the movement of the needle bar. The shuttle carrier R is, by pre-
ference, formed of brass, and it traverses to and fro in a guide fitted in the
outer end of the tube L. The shuttle R¹ is formed of steel, and is of the kind
ordinarily employed in machines of this class, that is to say, it is of a boat-like
figure, with a sharp pointed extremity for passing through the loop formed by
the needle; it contains within it a small steel bobbin and supply of silk or
thread, the drag or tension of which is regulated by passing the end through
one or more holes formed for the purpose in the upper edge of the shuttle.
At that part of the tube L where the shuttle carrier traverses the metal is cut
away, forming a longitudinal slot, so that by removing the cap piece of the
tube M, and.slipping back the inner portion of the tube, the opening in the
tube L being immediately beneath, ready access is afforded to the shuttle

page_text: carrier for shifting or replacing the shuttle. The compound motions for
actuating the feed plate so as to carry the cloth forward at each stitch are
obtained from the shaft C. On this shaft is a cam S, which operates the lever
T; this lever is fulcrumed on a stud extending across the tube L, and it is
bent downwards at the backward part extending beneath the cam S, its
extremity being connected to the spiral spring U. This mode of fitting the
lever T gives to it a rocking movement in a vertical direction as the cam S
rotates, the front end of the lever being depressed by the contraction of the
spring U when the cam is not affecting the lever. Throughout the greater
portion of its length the lever T forms a thin flat bar, but at the part where it
is fulcrumed the metal is extended laterally and hollowed on the upper side,
terminating in a forked extremity, in which is fitted a tubular bearing piece 'T'.
This bearing receives the end of the rod V, the inner part of which is supported
by the pendent bearing W, that is bolted to the under side of the table A.
The rod V has screwed to it near the front end the serrated feed plate X, which
passes up by the side of the shuttle carrier guide, the serrated part of 'the feed
plate extending over the guide to some extent, and working to and fro in the
slot formed in the inner portion of the tube M. The rod V has diverging
from it in a lateral direction the arm Y, which is bent round the cam F, and
is operated by the cam Z on the shaft C. At every rotation of this cam it lifts
the arm Y, and so causes the rod V to turn on its axis, which the arrangement
of the tubular bearings T¹ and W readily admits. This partially rotatory
movement causes the feed plate to move forward in a lateral direction, which
carries the cloth forward the extent of a stitch. The feed plate is brought back
to its normal position by the pressure of a blade spring a acting on the upper
side of the arm Y; the pressure of this spring is regulated by the screw b.
The movement of the rod V about its axis, which has the effect of carrying
the cloth across the tube M, or in a direction at right angles to its length, is
regulated by the screw c, which is arranged so as to be within convenient
proximity to the operator. The end of this screw presses upon the small
lever d, which is centred on a stud carried in a bracket piece e, pendent from
the under side of the table A. The free end of the lever d is bent, so as to
press upon the arm Y, when caused to do so by the screw c, but when the
pressure of the screw is taken off, the end of the lever is depressed and so
removed from the arm Y by the helical spring f, which is attached to the lever
and to the under side of the table A. Thus, when the regulating screw c is
screwed upwards so as to be clear of the arm Y, the pressure of the blade
spring a keeps the arm up to the cam Z, and the arm is depressed to the full
extent of the eccentricity of the cam, and the greatest amount of lateral

page_text: traverse of the feed plate X is obtained. With this extent of traverse of the
feed plates the longest stitch is made, because the cloth is carried forward in
accordance with the motion of the feed plate X. To limit this motion, and so
obtain a stitch of any required degree of fineness, the screw c is caused to press
on the end of the lever d, and so bring the free end of the lever in contact or
nearly so with the arm Y, which limits the motion of the rod V, and so
shortens or entirely stops the lateral movement of the feed plate X. A highly
important feature in the arrangement of this machine is, that the operator is
enabled to sew the fabric in two directions without altering the position of the
cloth or other material, that is to say, the material may be sewn in a direction
transverse to the tube M, and then, by an easy adjustment of the moving
parts; to sew in a direction parallel with the tube; to do this the spring presser
is shifted round to the extent of a fourth of a revolution, as will be presently
described; the tube M is shifted round half way, and the feed plate X is
caused to move in the longitudinal direction of the tube. The inner portion of
the tube M has brazed into it two slotted steel plates 9 and 9', and these
openings are shaped to admit of the movement of the feed plate X in the
transverse and longitudinal directions. The mode of obtaining and regulating
the movement of the feed plate in the transverse direction has been explained,
the opposite motion is obtained by depressing the stud of the spring catch N,
turning the tube half round to bring the opening g' under the needle, and
imparting a longitudinal motion to the rod V and feed plate X. This rod has
a shoulder formed on it a little beyond the part which passes through the
bearing W, and on the backward end of the rod which extends through the
bearing is fixed by a pinching screw the T-shaped end piece h. The extremity
of the horizontal part of this T piece is pressed forward by the blade spring i,
which is brought into action by the screw j that extends out through the
table A. The backward traverse of the rod is obtained from the cam k
on the shaft C, which acts on the vertical stem of the T piece h. Thus, as the
shaft C rotates, the joint operations of the cam and blade spring cause the feed
plate X to reciprocate in the longitudinal direction. The length of the stitch
is regulated by an inclined plane formed on the inside of the lever d, and there
is a similar inclined surface extending down from the under side of the arm Y.
When the rod V is working in the longitudinal direction, the faces of the two
inclined planes come in contact, and by adjusting the screw c, so as to admit
of more or less traverse of the rod V, the length of the stitch is regulated, thus
one screw serves for the adjustment of the sewing in either direction.
The arrangement of the swivelling spring presser is shown in elevation in
Figure 1, Sheet 1, of the accompanying Drawings, Figure 2 being a plan of

page_text: the same, and Figure 3 an under side view of the same. The end of the
arm B which carries the needle bar H is made with a cylindrical shoulder on
the upper and lower ends, on which is fitted the frame piece 2 carrying the
spring presser m. This frame piece has a partially rotatory motion about
the end of the arm B, and it is retained in either of the two positions required
by means of the pin n, which enters holes made for the purpose in the end of
the arm B. Thus the frame 1 may be readily held either in the position
delineated in Figure 1, which is the position for transverse sewing, or it may
be shifted round, as shown by the red lines in Figure 2, for .sewing in the
longitudinal direction. The spring presser m slides up and down in the
frame, it is pressed down upon the cloth by the helical spring o, and is
raised, by the cam p, which, when lifted by the handle, is pressed against the
laterally projecting pin at the upper part of the presser, and is locked or
upheld until the handle is again depressed. The serrated foot plate q of the
presser is of an L-shaped figure, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, the inner angle
of the plate serving as a guide to protect the needle I, and prevent its being
drawn out of the vertical position by the tension of the thread.
Another modification of the spring presser in which the foot plate takes the
form of a wheel, is shown in side elevation in Figure 4, on Sheet 1 of the
accompanying Drawings. In this arrangement the spring presser m has fitted
to it the presser wheel r, which is: arranged on its supporting stud in an
angular direction, so 'that the upper part of the wheel is kept clear of the
needle bar H. As the work is sewn the wheel r turns slightly on its axis,
when the feed plate x is carrying the cloth forward, and this movement
facilitates the traverse. of the fabric whilst being sewn. To the revolving
frame is fitted a small vertical guard H¹, which extends downwards nearly to
the tube M; the needle passes down through the forked end of the guard,
which serves to prevent the deflection of the needle from the vertical position
by the drag of the thread. The arrangement of the operating parts of the
feed plate and shuttle carrier, as herein-before described and shown, admit of
the prolongations of the parts being got into a very small compass; so as to
admit of the diameter of the tube M being greatly reduced, to allow of narrow
articles of the tubular kind being sewn with ease.
The machine is also pro-
vided with a flat shifting plate, which is attached to the table A, so as to
convert it into an ordinary table machine.
On Sheet 2 of the accompanying Drawings is shown a modification in
which the feed or traverse of the cloth or other material is effected by means
of the spring presser. Figure 3 is an elevation showing the end of the .over-
hanging bar B, with the arrangement for shifting the spring presser at each

page_text: stitch. Figure 4 is a plan, which also shows a mode of traversingthe spring
presser for putting in the cross stitch known as the "herring-bne stitch."
The frame 1, which turns partly about the overhanging bar B, is slated at the
top and bottom to receive the presser m, which is slotted at the entral part,
and is connected to the bracket n projecting from the front of the frame 1.
Just above the bracket n is fixed a blade spring o, the free end of which
presses against. the upper part of the presser, and keeps the lower end directed
inwards. The serrated foot plate q is jointed to the lower end of the presser;
which arrangement facilitates the movement of the.cloth as the presser makes
its reciprocatory traverse. The to-and-frò motion of the presser is obtained
from the main shaft C, on which is a pinion s, on the boss of this pinion .or
keyed to the shaft is a cam which gives motion to the lever t. The lower end
of this lever is forked so that the cam first raises the lever and then serves
to depress it. The lever is centred on a stud projecting laterally from the
arm B, above which it rises, and terminates in a ring which encircles the
spring presser. The upward motion of the outer end of the lever t draws the
spring presser m inwards, as shown by the red lines, and this motion causes
the foot plate q to draw the material that is being sewn outwards to the extent
of the traverse that is given to the spring presser. After the movement of the
cloth or other material in the outward direction is made, the presser which is
kept down upon the cloth by the helical spring 1' requires to be lifted, in
order that it may resume its original position before a fresh stitch is made.
This is done by means of the small lever u, which is centred on a laterally
projecting stud carried on the arm B; the front end of this lever terminates
in a ring, which comes under a pin projecting in a backward direction from
the upper part of the spring presser m. The downward motion of the lever t
causes the adjustable screw v to depress the lever u, so that the ring at the_
front end coming under the pin of the spring presser it is raised, and the
In this
pressure of the spring o brings the foot back to its normal position.
way a regular feed or progression. under the needle of the material to be sewn
is effected. The "herring-bone or vandyke" style of sewing is accomplished
by causing the spring presser to take an angular position alternately to the
right and left. The positions of the frame and spring presser in the extreme
right and left traverses are indicated by the red and blue lines in the plan;
Figure 4, Sheet 2. A light connecting rod w is slipped over a pin x pro-
jecting up from the lower part of the swivelling frame 1; this rod extends
backwards, and is connected to a slotted T-shaped lever, by means of which
the length of throw or traverse of the swivelling frame may be regulated.
The T-shaped lever is similar. in its arrangement to the lever. P, shown in

page_text: Figure 1, Sheet 2; it is also fitted with an antifriction roller, which traverses
in a groove formed in the face of the wheel y, Figure 1 on the same Sheet,
which wheel is driven by the pinion s. The rotatory movement of the wheel
causes the spring presser to be moved to and fro in an angular direction, and
the cloth is moved in a corresponding manner, so that when a stitch is made
the silk or other thread is carried in an angular direction, giving a zig-zag or
vandyked appearance to the sewing. Several holes are formed in the upper
part of the arm B, and one is made in the upper plate of the frame 1, so that
by means of a pin the spring presser may be fixed to sew in any desired
position. The spring presser m has formed on it a laterally projecting snug,
through which the screw z passes; the end of this screw presses against the
front of the frame 1, and by its means the traverse of the spring presser is
regulated, so as to make the stitching fine or coarse, as required. With these
several improvements the working of sewing machinės is simplified, and their
range of operation may be extended to work for which they have hitherto
been inapplicable.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, we would observe in conclusion that what we consider novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to us by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the arrangement, construction, and combination of parts for actuating
the feed plate, and imparting compound motion thereto, in such manner as to
admit of the mechanical arrangement being placed within a tube of com-
paratively small diameter, as herein-before described and shown in the
accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification of the said arrangement.
Second, the arrangement, construction, and combination of parts forming
the swivelling spring presser, also the tube M which fits the tubular arm of
the machine, which arrangements, together with the compound movements of
the feed plate, enable the operator to sew in two directions at right angles to
one another without altering the position of the material that is being sewn
as herein-before described and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Third, the application and use of a vertical needle guide in conjunction with
a wheel presser, for preventing the deflection of the needle from the vertical
position, as herein-before described and shown in Figure 4, on Sheet 1 of the
accompanying Drawings.
Fourth, the arrangement and construction of the bent lever d, and screw
adjustment, for regulating the length of the stitch when sewing in either
direction, as herein-before described and shown in the accompanying Drawings

page_text: Fifth, the arrangement, construction, and combination of parts connected
with the spring presser for feeding or causing the cloth or other material to
be moved in accordance with the stitching, also the mechanical arrangement
for moving the cloth or other material in a zig-zag direction, as herein-before
described and shown in Figures 3 and 4, on Sheet 2 of the accompanying
Drawings, or any mere modification of the same.
In witness whereof, we, the said Alexander McKenzie and Francis
Panthel, have hereunto set our hands and seal, this Fifth day of
August One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
ALEX. MACKENZIE. (L.S.)
FRANCIS PANTHEL. (L.S.)