IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Whight, of Ipswich, in the County of Suffolk,
Builder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES."-
A communication from abroad by Theodore S. Washburn, of Rochester
City New York State United States of America.
Scaled the 3rd August 1860, and dated the 8th February 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Whight at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
8th February 1860.
I, GEORGE WHIGHT, of Ipswich, in the County of Suffolk, Builder, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING
MACHINES," being a communication to me from abroad by Theodore S. Wash-
burn, of Rochester City, New York State, United States of America, to be
as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in sewing machines for
producing a two-thread or lock stitch. The frame of the machine carries a
shaft, provided at one end with a spur wheel, and at the other with a crescent
cam, operating in conjunction with a spring on a looper, in such a manner as
to give an alternate lateral and reciprocating motion to the same. The under
or locking thread is passed through two eyes in the end of the looper, which
is constructed in the form of a crank, and works on a pin in front of the bed
plate.

page_text: The vertical needle is secured in a slide bar in front of the machine, and an
upward and downward motion is given to the same by means of a cam and
stud working in a groove at the back of the slide bar; the cam also imparts a
feed motion to the cloth or other substance by operating upon a rocking frame
in connection with a feed plate. The length of stitch is regulated by means of
a thumbscrew on the side of the rocking frame. The machine is set in
action by means of a winch handle, fly wheel, or a band and pulley, in con-
nection with any prime mover. The reverse turning of the machine is
prevented by a projection on the crescent cam locking into a notch in front of
the looper before mentioned.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Whight in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th August 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
WHIGHT, of Ipswich, in the County of Suffolk, Builder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth 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 George
Whight, Her special licence that I, the said George Whight, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George Whight, 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," being a
communication to me from abroad by Theodore S. Wasburn, of Rochester
City, New York State, United States of America, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said George Whight, my executors or adminis
trators, 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 George Whight, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-

page_text: formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following.
statement thereof, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to
the figures and letters marked thereon (that is to say) :—
This Invention, as communicated to me from abroad, relates to certain
improvements in sewing machines for producing a two-thread or lock stitch.
The frame of the machine carries a shaft, provided at one end with a spur
wheel, and at the other with a crescent cam operating in conjunction with a
spring on a looper in such a manner as to give an alternate lateral and
reciprocating motion to the same. The under or locking thread is passed
through two eyes in the end of the looper, which is constructed in the form of
a crank, and works on a pin in front of the bed plate.
The vertical needle is secured in a slide bar in front of the machine, and an
upward and downward motion is given to the same by means of a cam
furnished with a stud working in a groove at the back of the slide bar. The
cam also imparts a feed motion to the cloth or other substance by operating
upon a rocking frame in connection with a feed plate. The length of stitch is
regulated by means of a thumbscrew on the side of the rocking frame. The
machine is set in action by means of a winch handle, fly wheel, or band and
pulley, in connection with any prime mover. The reverse turning of the
machine is prevented by a projection on the crescent cam locking into a notch
in front of the looper before mentioned.
In order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
describe the same, reference being had to the several Figures on the Sheet of
Drawings hereunto annexed, the same letters of reference indicating corre-
sponding parts throughout all the Figures.
Fig. 1 of the Drawings is a side view of a sewing machine constructed
according to my improvements; Fig. 2 is a view of its reverse side; and
Fig. 3 is a front view of the machine; Fig. 4 is a back view, and Fig. 5 a
side view of the needle bar; Fig. 6 is a back view, and Fig. 7 a side view of
the rocking frame; Figs. 8 and 9. are reversed side views, and Fig. 10 a front
view, of the looper. Letter (a) is the table, and (6) the frame of the machine.
The latter carries the driving wheel.(d), which gears into wheels on the
shafts (e) and (f). The shaft (e) is provided at its end with a cam, which
as the said shaft revolves, actuates the rocking frame (9), the said rocking
frame terminates with a feed plate (m), by the action of which the cloth is
brought under the neodle, and the length of stitch regulated. For the purpose
of adjusting the length of stitch, the rocking frame is provided with a thumb
screw (n), and the stitch is lengthened by turning the said screw.in, and
shortened by its reverse action. The feed plate is caused to press upon the

page_text: cloth by means of a spring (o), the end of which rests in a groove (p) near
the top of the rocking frame; but in order to lift the feed plate before the
cloth is adjusted, a side lever (9), fitted with a pin, is provided, on lifting
which the spring (o) is raised, and with it the rocking frame and feed plate.
The shaft (e) also gives the up-and-down motion to the slide bar or needle
bar (h) by means of a stud (i) working in a groove at the back of the needle
bar. The shaft (f) is provided at the end with a crescent cam (j), which, as
the said shaft revolves, sets back the looper (k); this looper works on a pin (1)
in front of the bed plate, and is pulled forward by a spiral spring (c) when
released by the cam (1), by which means an alternate latural and reciprocating
motion is given to the said looper. The needle (7), which has a groove near
the eye, is fastened in the needle bar (h) with the groove in front, so that
when the needle bar is up the needle shall clear the cloth, and allow the same
to be fed along freely by the feed plate (m), and so that the cloth may be
taken from the machine without catching the point of the needle and springing
it out of place, it is also necessary for the needle to go so far below the table
(when the bar is down) as to throw out a loop sufficiently large to be taken
by the looper (k), which carries the under or locking thread. The needle is
supplied with thread, as shewn by the dotted lines in the Drawings, from the
spool (s), which is carried by the holder or spindle (t) fixed on the needle
bar (h), the tension of the thread is regulated by the screws (u), which by
compressing the spring (w), presses the small cones (x) into the spool; by
this means the tension can be adjusted as desired, and should always be
sufficient to draw the thread well into the cloth or fabric. The under or
locking thread is taken from the spool (y) at the side of the bed plate; this
thread passes from the spool through the eye (z), attached to the bed plate,
then through the eye of the tension spring (a'), then through the eye at the
middle of the looper, then through the eye at the point of the same, and,
finally, the thread is passed up through the needle hole (6') in the table, and
carried under the feed plate. In order to prevent the reverse turning of the
machine, the looper is provided with a notch (c'), into which the pro-
jection (d) on the crescent cam locks on the machine being driven in
the wrong direction. Letter (e¹) is a guide, against which the needle presses
in its descent.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, as communicated to me from abroad, and the manner in which the
same is or may be carried into practical effect, I would observe, in conclusion,
that I do not confine myself to the precise arrangement of the details which
I have herein described, as variations may be made therefrom without

page_text: deviating from the principles or main feature of the said Invention; but
what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the application and use of the looper operated upon by the crescent
cam and spiral springs for the purposes of imparting the requisite motion to
the said looper, as herein-before described.
Second, the application and use of the arrangement for preventing the
reverse turning of the machine, as herein-before described.
Third, the combination and arrangement of all the several working parts of
the machine as a general combination for making a cheap sewing machine, as
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Whight, have hereunto set my
band and seal, this First day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
5
Witness,
W. H. BOWERS,
71, Fleet St., London.
GEO. WHIGHT. (L.S.)