Improvements in Sewing Machines.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Aug., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 22nd May, 1890-Accepted, 26th July, 1890
PROVISIONAL
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sewing Machines.
A communication from abroad by EMIL STEIN, of 29, Wassmannstrasse, Berlin, in
the Empire of Germany.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F..S., M.I.M.E. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street Liverpool, and 6 Bank Street Manchester both in
the County of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in sewing machines, particularly of that
class employed for sewing the stays or bases of corsets, bodices and garments, into
the fabrics, parallel to each other, and in general for such work in which two or
more parallel seams are produced at a time by a corresponding number of needles
carried by a reciprocating needle holder, and by a corresponding number of shuttles
working in connection with the several needles. Several parts of this invention may
be equally employed with advantage in connection with other classes of sewing
machines.
The working parts are arranged within the working plate and frame as is usual
in sewing machines; the driving mechanism, both for the needle bar and shuttle
driver, may be of any suitable kind and construction, and motion may be imparted
to said driving mechanism by a hand wheel, or by a treadle, or by any other driving
power or gear.
If there are four needles employed to produce four parallel seams, a corresponding
number of thread bobbins are carried by the frame, and the thread passes from each
of the said bobbins to the corresponding needle through suitable tightening clamps
and lugs, such as commonly employed in sewing machines.
The four needles are all secured within a needle holder, said needle holder being
secured to the needle bar to which a reciprocating up and down motion is imparted
by the driving mechanism, as usual in sewing machines.
As the distance between the parallel seams to be produced is not constantly the
same, it is important to provide means for adjusting the distance between the needles
in the needle holder, for the purpose of varying the distance of the seams, as desired.
The improved needle holder of this invention is constructed to perform such adjustment
in the easiest and most reliable manner.
According to one modification, each pair of needles may be adjusted independently
of the other pair of needles in the following manner.
Within the lower
The block of the needle holder is secured to the needle bar.
face of said block four parallel tapering grooves are provided to receive, each, a slide
bar, fitting into said groove and being prevented from falling out of said grooves by
a plate, secured to the lower face of the block by screws or other suitable means.
Each slide bar has a needle secured to it, preferably by means of a screw, the upper
projecting end of the needle is arranged to slide within a groove extending into the
block of the needle holder. The shaft of the needle extends downwards through a
slot within the plate, said slots limiting the extent of sliding motion of the slide bars
and needle carried by the same.
Each pair of slide bars is controlled by a double armed lever pivoted to the plate
and capable of being swung to either side within suitable recesses provided in the
said plate. The forked end of each lever arm engages with a pin projecting from
the slide bar. Each of the levers has a handle or arm secured or formed to it
projecting from the plate, and having an adjusting screw passing through it which
limits the extent of throw of the lever by bearing against the rear face of the block.
On turning the levers in one direction the slide bars will be shifted outwards in
such a manner as to increase the distance between the two needles carried by each

page_text: pair of the slide bars, while, on turning the levers in the opposite direction, the
slide bars are shifted inwards so as to diminish the distance between the two needles.
The slide bars, having been adjusted into the proper position to produce parallel seams
distanced as desired, are secured within such position by set screws, one set screw
for each pair of slide bars being sufficient to stop the lever and the other slide bar,
accordingly.
By such means, each pair of needles may readily and conveniently be adjusted
to keep the distance required between the two seams to be produced by said neeilles.
Another modification allows of adjusting the four needles all at a time, or by pairs,
as desired. The slide bars according to this modification, are not connected to each
other by double armed levers, as in the former modification, but by screw spindles
having each a right and left hand thread and passing through corresponding nuts
formed or secured to the slide bars and projecting towards each other. The said
spindles are arranged to turn within the block but without changing their position.
On the projecting or outside end of the two spindles a toothed wheel is mounted,
each gearing with an intermediate wheel carried by a shaft to which motion is
imparted by a hand wheel or a crank or key. On turning said hand wheel, crank or
key, the two wheels on the two spindles will be turned, and the slide bars are thereby
shifted outwards or inwards by the screw threads working within the nuts of said
slide bars. Accordingly, the distance of the needles is increased or diminished. The
two wheels may be of equal or of different diameter; in the former case both pairs
of needles are adjusted equally towards or from each other, in the latter case, the
speed and throw of the slide bars is different with the right and left hand pair.
To enable the needles to be well adjusted and the two pairs of slide bars to be
shifted separately, one of the two toothed wheels, preferably the larger one, may be
loose on its shaft and coupled therewith by an arm and a screw working within a
curved slot of said arm. On lifting the screw, the wheel may be turned loosely on
its shaft without forcing the same to follow.
The slide bars, in this modification, are secured in their desired position by set
screws same as in the former modification.
Each slide bar and needle secured thereto may be separately removed from the
block. The same adjusting mechanism, of either modification, may be employed
with needle holders of an inferior, as well as with such of a larger number of needles.
To the number of needles employed and carried by the needle holder, an equal
number of shuttles are correspondingly arranged below the working plate of the
machine. The said shuttles are working in parallel races formed by longitudinal
diaphragms of a casing removably secured within a recess of the working plate and
fixed thereto by over-lapping flanges and screws or by any other suitable means, such
as a spring catch lock or dove-tail groove, or the like. The bottom of said casing has
a longitudinal slot within which the stem of a reciprocating slide plate is working,
said stem being connected to the rod of the driving mechanism. The slide plate is
guided in dove-tail grooves of the casing and carries the shuttle holders, each of
which is adjustable in its position by means of a slot and screw for the purpose of
adjusting the same with reference to the varying position of the needles. The slide
plate is reciprocated in the longitudinal direction of the casing and the four or several
shuttles, each resting in its support or holder, are simultaneously carried along by the
said plate, as the needles pass down and up again, to form the loops and stitches as in
sewing machines of other construction.
The feed has suitable recesses or holes for the needles to pass; the feed receives
motion from the driving mechanism through any convenient means, which are well
known.
The shuttles may be of any suitable construction, as known and used in other
sewing machines, but the shuttles preferred are of a novel and improved construction,
as hereinafter described, the purpose of said improvement being, not only to give the
thread the proper tension while passing from the bobbin, but also, and particularly, to
facilitate the manipulation of carrying the thread from the bobbin, freshly introduced,
to the paying-out orifice.

page_text: The thread passes from the bobbin round a rod arranged along one side, inside the
shuttle, then through a hole of a spring arranged along the other side, inside the
shuttle, and out through an orifice or hole in the shuttle-side.
To avoid the tiresome threading of the free end through a series of holes provided
in the side of the shuttle, as usual, the thread of this improved shuttle may be readily
carried from the bobbin to its way out, without particular attention and without
requiring its free end to be threaded through any hole. The piece of thread rolled
loose from the bobbin, being seized at any convenient part of its length, is, first, made
to enter into an inclined slot at the rear end of the shuttle, and then shifted around
the rod, the free end of which enters a circular hole at the lower end of the slot.
Being thus made to pass around the rod, the thread is carried further between the
outside of the shuttle and a spring rivetted thereto; the free end of said spring is
bent to catch behind the edge of the rear end of the shuttle. The spring guides the
thread up to the hole in the shuttle-side, said hole forming the bottom of a slot passing
down from the upper edge of the shuttle-side. The free end of the thread passes out
of the hole and through a slot of the spring, the slack part of the thread, between the
hole and rod, is carried down into an inclined slot of a spring rivetted to the inside
of the shuttle. A yielding tension is given to the thread and the slotted spring
prevents the same from sliding out of its guide holes while being payed out.
Shuttles of this improved construction may with advantage be employed in sewing
machines of any other kind, to replace the shuttles hitherto in use with a series of
guide holes to receive the thread.
A presser foot is carried by a presser bar arranged to be lifted by a pivoted lever.
The said lever is formed with two notches instead of the one notch usually employed,
and by means of said two notches the presser bar and presser foot may be lifted and
adjusted into two rests of different height, said lever working against a pin projecting
from the presser bar.
The presser foot may be bent upwards at its forward part, and the hemmer may be
attached to the bent portion to guide the ribbon or strip of fabric to be sewn upon
the corset or other article of work. The hemmer consists of a piece of sheet metal
bent inwards on both edges and tapering towards the lower end, to fold the edges of
the strip into a hem. A metal tongue is secured to the hemmer by means of a cross
stay, said tongue preventing the strip from sliding out of the open lower side of the
hemmer.
A strip or ribbon passes down to the hemmer from a reel carried by a bracket or
arm secured to the frame, and it is guided on its way down by a suitable guide which
equally serves to give the strip the proper tension, while passing down.
For sewing two ribbons or strips one over another, two hemmers may be
secured to the bent portion of the presser foot, the one to the upper side, the
other to the lower side. The horizontal part of the presser foot in this case, has a
slot across part of its width, said slot forming the continuation of the upper hemmer
to guide the strip to the lower face of the presser foot. Where two strips or ribbons
are to be sewn at a time, a second reel may be suitably arranged over or in a proper
position with reference to the other reel.
The presser foot may be readily exchanged for another foot of varying size, shape
or construction, to answer a variety of purposes.
A presser foot can be used to enclose and secure a thread or thin cord within the
hems of the strip. For this purpose, the lower face of the presser foot is provided
with two longitudinal grooves adjacent and parallel to the sides; into each of said
grooves a thread or cord is fed by a suitable guide or guides, and two needle holes
pass through the presser and the grooves. Two needles, properly distanced within
the needle holder, perform the two seams which simultaneously hem the strip and
secure the thread within the hems.
A similar arrangement can be used in which the grooves are larger and deeper and
the cords are fastened by four needles, one pair of needles seaming alternately on
both sides of the cord.
The cords or threads are guided from a bobbin or reel through loops of a guide..

page_text: A similar presser foot can be used in which grooves are replaced by flat guide
surfaces, to conduct narrow ribbons or strips to be fastened by sewing.
A presser foot of say one of the kinds described with a heminer or hemmers
attached to it and with its underside shaped to guide threads, cords, ribbons, or strips
through which the needles are to pass, may be employed for sewing quillings, ruches
and similar articles, as well as in the manufacture of corsets and the like.
Dated this 20th day of August 1889.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sewing Machines.
A communication from abroad by EMIL STEIN, of 29, Wassmannstrasse, Berlin, in
the Empire of Germany."
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S. M.I.M.E. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors 6, Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both
in the County of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in sewing machines, particularly of that
class employed for sewing the stays or busks of corsets, bodices and garments into
the fabrics, parallel to each other, and in general for such work in which two or
more parallel seams are produced at a time by a corresponding number of needles
carried by a reciprocating needle-holder, and by a corresponding number of shuttles
working in connection with the several needles. Several parts of this invention
may be equally employed with advantage in connection with other classes of sewing
machines.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sewing machine embodying the improvements,
and constructed to produce four parallel seams at a time, with four needles and
four shuttles working in connection with each other;
Figure 2 is a cross-section through the casing which contains the shuttles-races and
shuttles ;
Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the said casing ;
Figure 4 is a top-view of the said casing with the shuttle-races and shuttle-
supports;
Figure 5 is an underside view of one modification of the needle-holder with
adjusting-device to determine the distance of each pair of needles according to the
desired distance of the seams to be produced;
Figure 6 is a cross-section of said needle-holder and Figure 7 a longitudinal
vertical section through the same;
Figure 8 is an underside view of another modification of the needle-holder,
having an adjusting device which allows of adjusting each pair of needles separately,
or all needles at a time;
Figure 9 is a front elevation of the needle-holder shown in Figure 8;
Figure 10 is an underside-view of an improved hemmer or folder connected to the
presser-foot;
Figure 11 are cross-sections, along the lines v-v and w-w of Figure 10
respectively;
Figure 12 is a central longitudinal section through the hemmer and that part
of the presser-foot, to which it is connected;
Figure 13 is a top view of the improved shuttle;
Figure 14 is a view towards the left side of Figure 13 and Figure 15 a view towards
the right side of Figure 13;

page_text: Figure 19 is a top-view,
Figure 20 an underside view,
Figure 21 a side-elevation and
Figure 22 a cross-section along the line - of Figure 20, of an improved
presser-foot for sewing two threads or cords parallel to each other into the hems or
folds of the fabrics ;
Figures 23 and 24 are an underside view and cross-section, respectively, of an
improved presser-foot for sewing two cords parallel to each other into the hems or
folds of the fabrics;
Figures 25 and 26 are an underside-view and cross-section, respectively, of an
improved presser-foot for sewing two ribbons parallel to each other upon or between
two folds of the fabrics ;
Figures 27 and 28 are respectively a side-view and a cross-section along the line z―z,
of a presser-foot with two hemmers secured to it, for the purpose of sewing two ribbons
or strips one over another, and
Figure 29 is a view of a guide employed in connection with the presser-foot of
Figure 19 or 21.
Referring to Figure 1, A is the working-plate and A¹ the frame of the sewing
machine, within which the working parts are arranged as usual in sewing machines,
the driving-mechanism, both for the needle-bar and shattle-driver, may be of any
suitable kind and construction, and motion may be imparted to said driving
mechanism by a hand-wheel A2, or by a treadle, or by any other driving-power
or gear.
If there are four needles employed, as shown, to produce four parallel seams, a
corresponding number of thread-bobbins B are carried by the frame and the thread
passes from each of the said bobbins to the corresponding needle C, through
suitable tightening clamps and lugs, such as commonly employed in sewing
machines.
The four needles C are all secured within a needle-holder D, as described with
reference to Figures 5, 6 and 7, or 8 and 9; said needle-holder being secured to the
needle-bar to which a reciprocating up and down motion is imparted by the driving-
mechanism, as usual in sewing machines.
As the distance between the parallel seams to be produced is not constantly the
same, it is important to provide means for adjusting the distance between the needles
in the needle-holder, for the purpose of varying the distance of the seams, as desired.
The improved needle-holder D of this invention is constructed to perform such adjust-
ment in the easiest and most reliable manner.
According to one modification, as shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7, each pair of needles
may be adjusted independently of the other pair of needles in the following manner -
d is the block of the needle-holder D secured to the need!e-bar C. Within the
lower face of said block d, four parallel tapering grooves are provided to receive, each,
a slide-bar d', fitting into said groove and being prevented from falling out of said
grooves by a plate d², secured to the lower face of the block d by screws d³ or other
suitable means. Each slide-bar d has a needle C secured to it, preferably by means
of a a screw c. (Figure 5,); the upper projecting end of the needle is arranged to slide
within a groove extending into the block d, as clearly shown in Figure 7." The shaft
of the needle extends downwards through a slot within the plate d², as shown in
Figure 5, said slots limiting the extent of sliding motion of the bars d¹ and needles
carried by the same.
Each pair of slide-bars d is controlled by a double-armed lever d pivoted as at do
to the plate and capable of being swung to either side within suitable recesses
provided in the plate d².
The forked end of each lever-arm engages with a pin d³ projecting from the slide-
bar d'. Each of the levers d' has a handle or arm do secured or formed to it projecting

page_text: -
from the plate 2 and having an adjusting-screw passing through it which limits
the extent of throw of the lever d, by bearing against the rear face of the
block d.
In Figure 5 the two levers and arms d are shown to keep their central position.
It may be easily seen, that, on turning the levers d in the direction indicated by the
arrows, the slide-bars will be shifted outwards in such a manner as to increase the
distance between the two needles carried by each pair of the slide-bars, as shown by
dotted line, Figure 5, while, on turning the levers in the opposite direction, indicated
by the arrows y, the slide-bars d' are shifted inwards so as to diminish the distance
between the two needles, as indicated by dotted line. The slide-birs d' having been
adjusted into the proper position to produce parallel seams distanced as desired,
are secured within such position by set-screws 16, one set-screw for each
pair of slide-bars being sufficient to stop the lever and the other slide-bar,
accordingly.
By such means, each pair of needles may readily and conveniently be adjusted
to keep the distance required between the two seams to be produced by said
⚫ needles.
The modification shown in Figures 8 and 9 allows of adjusting the four needles
all at a time, or by pairs, as desired. The slide-bars d' according to this modification,
are not connected to each other by double armed levers, as in the former modification
but by screw spindles ds having each a right and left hand thread and passing through
corresponding nuts formed or secured to the slide bars d¹ and projecting towards
each other as shown in Figure 8. The said spindles d8 are arranged to turn within
the block d but without changing their position. On the projecting or outside end of
each of the two spindles as a toothed wheel do is mounted, each gearing with an
intermediate wheel d carried by a shaft d¹ to which motion is imparted by a hand
wheel or a crank or key. On turning said hand-wheel d¹³ the two wheels dio on
the two spindles 8 will be turned and the slide bars d' are thereby shifted outwards
or inwards by the screw threads working within the nuts d of said slide bars.
Accordingly, the distance of the needles is increased as indicated by dotted line z or
diminished as indicated by 2¹, Figure 8.
The two wheels d may be of equal or of different diameter, in the former
case both pairs of needles are adjusted equally towards or from each other, in the latter
case, as shown in the drawings, the speed and throw of the slide-bars d¹ is different
with the right and left hand pair.
To enable the needles to be well adjusted and the two pairs of slide bars to be
shifted separately, one of the two toothed wheels 10, preferably the larger one, may
be loose on its shaft d and coupled therewith by an arm d and a screw d¹ working
within a curved slot of said arm, Figure 9. On lifting the screw d¹, the wheel dio
may be turned loosely on its shaft do without forcing the same to follow.
The slide bars d' in this modification are secured in their desired position by set
screws 16 same as in the former modification.
Each slide-bar d' and needle C secured thereto may be separately removed from
the block d. The same adjusting mechanism of either modification may be employed
with needle holders of an inferior as well as with such of a larger number of
needles.
To the number of needles employed and carried by the needle holder D, an equal
number of shuttles E are correspondingly arranged below the working plate A of the
machine. The said shuttles E work in parallel races formed by longitudinal diaphragms
of a casing F removably secured within a recess of the working plate and fixed
thereto by overlapping flanges and screws f¹ or by any other suitable means such as
a spring catch, lock or dove tail groove or the like. The bottom of said casing F has
a longitudinal slot within which the stem g of a reciprocating slide plate Gis working,
said stem g being connected to the rod g¹ of the driving mechanism. The slide plate G
is guided in dove tail grooves of the casing F and carries the shuttle holders 92, each
of which is adjustable in its position by means of a slot and screw g³ as shown in
Figure 4 for the purpose of adjusting the same with reference to the varying position

page_text: of the needles. The slide plate G is reciprocated in the longitudinal direction of the
casing and the four or several shuttles E each resting in its support or holder g
are simultaneously carried along by the said plate G as the needles pass down and up
again to form the loops and stitches as in sewing machines of other construction.
G is the feed having suitable recesses or holes for the needles to pass, the feed
receives motion from the driving mechanism through any convenient means, which
being well known are not shown in the drawings.
The shuttles may be of any suitable construction as known and used in other sewing
machines, but it is preferred to employ shuttles of a novel and improved construction
as hereinafter described with reference to Figures 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18, the purpose
of said improvement being not only to give the thread the proper tension while passing
from the bobbin, but also and particularly to facilitate the manipulation of carrying
the thread from the bobbin freshly introduced to the paying out orifice.
As shown in Figure 13, the thread passes from the bobbin e¹ round a rod e² arranged
along one side, inside the shuttle then through a hole of a spring e³ arranged along
the other side, inside the shuttle, and out through an orifice or hole e' in the shuttle
side.
To avoid the tiresome threading of the free end through a series of holes provided
in the side of the shuttle, as usual, the thread of this improved shuttle may be readily
carried from the bobbin to its way out, without particular attention and without
requiring its free end to be threaded through any hole. The piece of thread rolled
loose from the bobbin, being seized at any convenient part of its length is first made
to enter into an inclined slot e at the rear end of the shuttle, Figure 16, and then
shifted around the rod e', the free end of which enters a circular hole at the lower end
of the slot e. Being thus made to pass around the rod e², the thread is carried
further between the outside of the shuttle and a spring e rivetted thereto, the free
end of sail spring e is bent to catch behind the edge of the rear end of the shuttle,
Figures 13 and 14. The spring e guides the thread up to the hole e* in the shuttle
side, said hole forming the bottom of a slot passing down from the upper edge of the
shuttle-side. The free end of the thread passes out of the hole e¹ and through a slot
of the spring e, the slack part of the thread, between the hole e and rod e², is
carried down into an inclined slot e7 of a spring e³ riveted to the inside of the shuttle,
as shown in Figures 13 and 17. A yielding tension is given to the thread and the
slotted spring e prevents the same from sliding out of its guide holes while being paid.
out.
Shuttles of this improved construction may with advantage he employed in sewing
machines of any other kind, to replace the shuttles hitherto in use with a series of
guide holes to receive the thread.
The presser foot H is carried by a presser bar I arranged to be lifted by a pivoted
lever i às shown in Figures 1 and 2. The said lever i is formed with two notches i³ i²
instead of the one notch usually employed, and by means of said two notches, the
presser bar I and presser foot. H may be lifted and adjusted into two rests of different
height, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, said lever working against a pin ♬
projecting from the presser bar 1.
may
The presser foot H may be bent upwards at its forward part H' and the hemmer K
be attached to the bent portion H' as shown in Figure 2, to guide the ribbon or
strip of fabrics H2 to be sewn upon the corset or other article of work. The heminer K.
consists of a piece of sheet metal, Figures 10, 11 and 12, bent inwards on both edges
and tapering towards the lower end to fold the edges of the strip into a hem.
metal tongue k is secured to the hemmer K by means of a cross stay said.
tongue preventing the strip H' from sliding out of the open lower side of the
hemmer K.
A
The strip or ribbon H2 passes down to the hemmer from a reel H³ carried by a
bracket or arm H' secured to the frame A¹ and it is guided on its way down by a
suitable guide H' which equally serves to give the strip the proper tension while
passing down.

page_text: For sewing two ribbons or strips H² one over another, two hemmers K K¹
may be secured to the bent portion H¹ of the presser foot H, the one to the upper
side, the other to the lower side, as shown in Figures 27 and 28. The horizontal
part of the presser-foot H, in this case, has a slot across part of its width, said
slot forming the continuation of the upper hemmer K¹ to guide the strip H² to
the lower face of the presser-foot, Figures 25, 26, 27 and 28. Where two strips
or ribbons are to be sewn at a time, a second reel H may be suitably arranged
over or in a proper position with reference to the other reel H³, Figure 1.
The presser-foot H may be readily exchanged for another foot of varying size,
shape or construction, to answer a variety of purposes; several of the shapes are
indicated by Figures 19 to 26.
The presser-foot shown in Figures 19, 20 and 21 serves to enclose and secure
a thread or thin cord within the hems of the strip H. For this purpose, the
lower face of the presser-foot H is provided with two longitudinal grooves /
adjacent and parallel to the sides; into each of said grooves a thread or cord is
fed by a suitable guide or guides, and two needle-holes h' pass through the
presser-foot and the grooves, Figures 19 and 20. Two needles, properly distanced
within the needle holder, perform the two seams which simultaneously hem the
strip and secure the thread within the hems.
In Figures 23 and 24 a similar arrangement is shown, only the groovess h are
larger and deeper and the cords are fastened by four needles, one pair of needles
seaming on both sides of each cord, as clearly shown in Figure 23.
The cords or threads are guided from a hobbin or reel through loops h³ of the
guide H³, Figure 29, which takes the place of the guide H³ in Figure 1.
In Figures 25 and 26 a similar presser-foot is shown in which the grooves h are
replaced by flat guide surfaces 12, to conduct narrow ribbons or strips to be fastened
by sewing, as indicated by the needle-holes h².
A presser-foot of any one of the kinds described and illustrated by Figures 19 to 28,
with a hemmer or hemmers attached to it and with its underside shaped to guide
threads, cords, ribbons or strips through which the needles are to pass, may be
employed for sewing quillings, ruches and similar articles, as well as in the manufacture
of corsets and the like.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A sewing machine adapted to work with two or more needles secured to a
needle-holder and carried by a needle-bar, in connection with a corresponding number
of shuttles simultaneously driven by a common shuttle-driver, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
2. In a sewing machine, the combination with a needle-holder, of two or more
needles and mechanism to adjust the position of said needles with reference to each
other, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. In a sewing machine, the combination with a needle-holder, of two or more
needles, each needle being secured in and carried by a slide-bar, each pair of slide-bars
being under control of a double-armed lever to shift the position of said slide-bars and
needles, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4. In a sewing machine, the combination with the needle-bar, of a needle-holder,
two or more needles, a corresponding number of slide bars guided in grooves of the
needle-holder, a bottom plate to hold the slide bars within the needle-holder and a
double armed lever for each pair of needles to adjust their position with reference to
each other, substantially as and for the purpose described.
5. In a sewing machine, the combination with a needle-holder of two or more
needles, each needle being secured and carried by a slide-bar and each pair of slide-
bars being under control of a screw-spindle with right and left hand thread to shift
the position of said needle-bars and needles, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.

page_text: 6. In a sewing machine, the combination with a needle-holder, of two or more
needles, a corresponding number of slide-bars to carry said needles, a screw-spindle
with right and left hand thread for each pair of needle-bars, a toothed wheel on each
of said screw spindles and a driving wheel arranged to gear with and drive the said
toothed wheels both at a time or singly, as desired, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
7. In a sewing machine, the combination with a needle-holder carrying two or more
adjustable needles, of a casing removably secured within the working plate of the
machine, said casing containing the races for a number of shuttles corresponding to
the number of needles employed, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
8. In a sewing machine, the combination with a casing secured within the working
plate and holding the shuttle-races, of a corresponding number of shuttles secured on
a common slide plate and driving mechanism to reciprocate said slide plate, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
9. In a sewing machine, the combination with a shuttle driving mechanism, of a
slide plate carrying two or more shuttle supports, one or more of which are adjustably
secured on such slide plate, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
10. In a sewing machine the combination with a shuttle driver, slide plate and
shuttle supports, of two or more shuttles, each adapted to pass the thread from the
bobbin to the pay-out-hole through slots, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
11. A shuttle for sewing machines, having an inclined slot in the rear part, a
longitudinal side rod terminating in said slot, a slotted longitudinal spring inside, and
a recessed spring outside of the pay-out-shuttle side, with a pay-out-hole forming the
end of an oblique slot in said shuttle side, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
12. In a sewing machine, the combination with a presser-bar, of a lifting lever
having two notches to engage with a pin projecting from the presser-bar, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
13. In a sewing machine, the combination with the presser-bar, of a presser-foot
and a hemmer, or hemmers secured to the presser-foot, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
14. In a sewing machine, the combination with a presser-bar, of a presser-foot
having on its underside longitudinal grooves or guide surfaces to guide threads, cords
or ribbons intended to be fastened to the work by sewing, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
15. In a sewing machine, the combination with the presser-bar, of a presser-foot
having its front part bent up, and a hemmer, or hemmers secured to the inclined front
part of the presser-foot, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
16. In a sewing machine, the combination with the presser-bar, of a presser-foot
having a cross-slot traversing it and its front part bent up, a hemmer secured to the
upper side of the front part of the presser-foot, a hemmer secured to the lower side
thereof, and two reels delivering two bands, ribbons, or strips of fabrics to be sewn one
over another and guided through the two hemmers, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
17. In a sewing machine, the combination with the presser-foot, of a hemmer or
hemmers consisting of a piece of sheet-metal with its two side edges bent inwards and
tapering from the top downwards, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
18. In a sewing machine, the combination of a needle-head carrying two or
more adjustable needles, a reciprocating slide-plate below said needles carrying a
corresponding number of shuttles, a removable casing forming the shuttle races and
guides for the slide-plate, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
19. In a sewing machine, the combination of a needle-holder carrying two or more
adjustable needles, a reciprocating slide-plate carrying the shuttle-holders, shuttles,
substantially as described and constructed to facilitate the threading, and a presser-bar
with a projecting pin capable of being lifted into two different heights by a lever with
two notches, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
20. In a sewing machine, the combination of a needle-holder carrying two or more

page_text: adjustable needles, a reciprocating slide-plate carrying the shuttle-holders, shuttles
constructed materially as described to facilitate the threading, and a presscr-foot
having its front part bent up to an inclined position, substantially as and for the
purpose described.
21. In a sewing-machine, the combination of a needle-holder carrying two or more
adjustable needles, a reciprocating slide-plate carrying the shuttle-holders, a presser-
bar capable of being lifted into two different heights by means of a lever with two
notches, a presser-foot having its front part bent up to an inclined position and a
hemmer or hemmers secured to said presser-foot, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
22. In a sewing machine, the combination of a needle-holder, two or more needles
adjustably secured in the same, a reciprocating slide-plate to work the shuttles, a
number of shuttles corresponding to the number of needles employed, a presser-bar
arranged to be lifted and adjusted into two different heights, a presser foot having its
front part bent up to an inclined position, two hemmers secured to said presser-foot
and two reels to supply the two bands, ribbons or strips to be sewn, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
23. In a sewing machine, the combination of a needle-holder, two or more needles
adjustably secured in the same, a reciprocating slide-plate to work the shuttles
simultaneously, shuttles constructed substantially as described, a presser-foot having
its front part bent up, a hemmer or hemmers secured to said presser-foot and
longitudinal grooves or guide surfaces worked in the lower surface of the presser-foot,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
a
24. In a sewing machine, the combination of a needle-holder, two or more needles
carried by the same, mechanism to adjust the needles with reference to each other,
removable casing secured in the working-plate below the needles, shuttle races formed
within said casing, a slide-plate carrying the shuttle-holders, shuttles, substantially as
described, a presser-bar lifting lever with two notches, a presser-foot having its lower
face grooved or formed to receive part of the work, two hemmers secured to the bent
up front part of the presser-foot and two reels supplying the bands, ribbons or strips
of fabrics to be sewn to the work, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 20th day of May 1800
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.