IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Szontagh, of Paris, in the Empire of
France, and of 4, Trafalgar Square, in the County of Middlesex, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES."
Sealed the 23rd February 1855, and dated the 11th September 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Szontagh at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
11th September 1854.
I, SAMUEL SZONTAGI, of Paris, in the Empire of France, and of 4, Trafalgar
Square, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES" to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to sewing machines in which a shuttle is employed
in combination with a needle for performing the operation of sewing; and the
novelty of this Invention consists, firstly, in an improved form of construction
of needle for sewing leather; and, secondly, in a new and peculiar mode of
keeping the said shuttle in contact with the "box," or that part in which such
shuttle slides, for the purpose of preventing the possibility of the thread getting
between the shuttle and that part of the box against which it slides during the
operation of sewing, and by which a false or mis-stitch would be made, or
the thread cut and the sewing thereby rendered imperfect, a circumstance of

page_text: frequent occurrence with the sewing machines as heretofore constructed. And
I effect these improvements in the following manner, and by the following
means: And as regards the construction of the needle and the arrangement
thereof with respect to the other parts of a sewing machine, it consists, firstly,
in making the point of the needle flat and broad; and, secondly, in placing
the said needle in such position as that the broad and flat part of the needle
makes an angle of about 45 degrees with the line of the thread which passes
through the eye of the said needle, for the purpose of preventing the holes
formed by the needle cutting the thread of the stitch last made. And as
regards the mode of keeping the shuttle against the shuttle box according to
this Invention, it is as follows:-I employ a hollow shuttle formed of iron, the
outer surface thereof being solid and of a convex form, and the inner side flat
with a large opening therein for the introduction of a bobbin containing thread,
silk, or other sewing material, one end whereof passes through one of a series
of holes formed in the upper side of the shuttle; and it is this thread, in com-
bination with the thread in the vertical needle which works at the side of the
shuttle, which produces the desired stitch, and holds the thread during the
forming of the loop through which the shuttle passes; and I ensure the passing
of the thread over the shuttle instead of between it and the box, by magnet-
izing that part against which the shuttle slides; and I protect the needle from
being acted upon by magnetic attraction, by affixing a piece of brass to that
part of the shuttle box at which the needle passes; and it is this peculiar mode
of causing contact of the shuttle which constitutes this Invention. It should
be observed, that as the mechanical arrangement employed for imparting
motion to the shuttle, the needle and other movements incidental thereto form
no part of this Invention. It will appear evident that this Invention is appli-
cable to all sewing machines in which a shuttle is used.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Samuel Szontagh in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
10th March 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SAMUEL
SZONTAGU, of Paris, in the Empire of France, and of 4, Trafalgar Square,
in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of September, in the year of our Lord

page_text: One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Samuel Szontagh, Her special licence that I, the said Samuel
Szontagh, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Samuel Szontagh, 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SEWING MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Samuel Szontagh, 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 Samuel Szontagh, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
thereof (that is to say) :-
My Invention relates to sewing machines in which a shuttle is employed in
combination with a needle for performing the operation of sewing or uniting
articles together; and the novelty of my said Invention consists, firstly, in an
improved form of construction of needle for sewing leather; and, secondly, in
a peculiar mode of keeping the shuttles of sewing machines in contact with
the box thereof, or that part in which the shuttle slides, and is designed for
preventing the thread or other sewing or uniting material from getting between
the shuttle and that part of the shuttle box against which it slides during the
operation of sewing, and by which a false or mis-stitch would be made or
the thread cut, and the sewing thereby rendered imperfect, a circumstance of
frequent occurrence with the sewing machines as heretofore constructed. And
I effect my said improvements in sewing machines in the following manner,
and by the following means -And as regards the construction of the needle
for sewing leather, and the arrangement thereof with respect to the other parts
of a sewing machine, it consists, firstly, in making the point of the needle flat
and broad; and, secondly, in placing the said needle in such position as that the
broad and flat part of the needle makes an angle of about 45 degrees with
the line of the thread which passes through the eye of the said needle, and is
designed for the purpose of preventing the holes formed by the needle cutting,
the thread of the stitch last made. And as regards the mode of keeping the

page_text: shuttle against the shuttle box according to my said Invention, it is as follows:
-I employ a hollow shuttle formed of iron, or, what I prefer, iron combined
with a newly-invented preparation of india-rubber known as "protean," which
substance, although hard, I have found not to cut the thread or other sewing
material employed. The outer surface of the shuttle is formed solid and of a
convex form, and the inner or contact surface is flat, with an opening therein
for the introduction of a bobbin containing the thread or other sewing material,
one end whereof passes through one of a series of holes formed in the upper
side of the shuttle, as heretofore practised; and it is this thread, in combination
with the thread in the needle which works at the side of the shuttle, which
produces the desired stitch, and holds the thread during the forming of the
loop through which the shuttle passes, as commonly practised in shuttle
machines; and I ensure the passing of the thread or other sewing material
over the shuttle instead of between it and that part of the shuttle box against
which it slides, by magnetising the part against which the shuttle slides; and
I protect the needle from being acted upon by magnetic attraction by affixing
a piece of brass to that part of the shuttle box at which the needle passes.
And I sometimes form the shuttle box of "protean," and when this is the
case the piece of brass before mentioned may be dispensed with. The surface
of the magnet should either project beyond the surface of the "protean," or
the "protean" should be shod with metal for the shuttle to slide upon; and it
is this novel and peculiar mode of causing contact of the shuttle against the
box in which it slides which constitutes my said Invention; observing that as
the mechanical arrangements employed for imparting motion to the shuttle,
the needle and other movements incidental thereto form no part of my said
Invention. It will appear evident that the above mode of keeping the shuttle
in contact with the shuttle box is applicable to all sewing machines in which
a shuttle is used, whatever may be the means employed for imparting motion
to the shuttle and needle.
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 Drawing
hereunto annexed, and to the numeral figures and letters of reference marked
thereon respectively as follows:-
DRAWING

page_text: needle when down; Figure 3 is an end view (at Z, Figure 2,) of the shuttle
box and shuttle; Figures 4, 5, 6, are enlarged views of a needle constructed
according to my said Invention for sewing leather.
At Figures 1, 2, 3, A is a magnet affixed to the shuttle box B, by screws
C, C; D is the needle; E, the shuttle; F, the fork for actuating the shuttle;
G, the plate through which the needle passes, and upon which the work H, to
be sewn, is placed. The other parts of the shuttle box are also covered with
plates as commonly practised, as shewn by the Drawing at Fig. 2. And as
regards the needle which I employ for general purposes, it is the same as that
usually employed in sewing machines, bearing in mind that it is necessary to
keep the smooth or ungrooved side of the needle inwards to allow the shuttle
to pass between the needle, and the thread for forming the loop, and ensuring
the passage of the thread in the shuttle through the same.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention of
Improvements in Sewing Machines, I would remark, in conclusion, that what
I claim is,-
Firstly, the improved form of construction of needle exhibited at Figures
4, 5, 6, for sewing leather.
Secondly, the application of a magnet to the shuttle box of sewing machines
for keeping the shuttle in close contact with that part of the shuttle box
against which it slides, and thus ensuring more perfect contact than by the
use of springs as commonly practised.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Szontagh, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
SAMUEL SZONTAGH. (L.S.)
Witness,
JOHN LUDVIGH,
Bruxelles, 10, Chaussée d'Etterbek,
witnessing the signature of
Mr. Samuel Szontagh.