IMPROVE- MENTS IN SEWING MACHINES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Andrews, of Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Machinist, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SEWING MACHINES."
Sealed the 24th March 1874, and dated the 7th January 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Andrews at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 7th January 1874.
I, WILLIAM ANDREWS, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES," to be as follows, that is to say :-
The object of my Invention is to simplify and reduce the number of
parts employed in the construction and arrangement of sewing machines,
and at the same time to ensure an easy and efficient action of the
improved portions.
I form a needle arm to slide in a vertical direction up and down upon
a rod or bar secured to the frame of the machine, the needle arm being

page_text: actuated by a crank pin and connecting link, which is attached to the
needle arm and to a friction or gear wheel driven by the main wheel.
The needle end of the needle arm I prefer to make solid therewith, the
needle end being guided by a vertical slot cut through the head of the
machine, which prevents oscillation of the needle when at work; but 5
when preferred I employ a loose needle bar attached to the head of the
presser arm, and operated by the needle arm already described. I also
form the presser foot and bar in one piece, and in the bar portion are
slots for attaching it by means of screws to the head, the bar having
sufficient play to slide as required for the action of the presser foot.
The improvements described are intended to be applied to several
descriptions of sewing machines.
1
My Invention further relates to an improved shuttle arrangement
applicable for shuttle machines. On the front end of the frame of the
machine I secure a shuttle carrier, oscillating on a pin attached to the 1
frame. This shuttle carrier has a slot of convenient form, in which
works a pin attached to a crank on the end of the driving shaft. By
this arrangement a variable motion is given to the shuttle, enabling it
to pass rapidly through the loop in forming the stitch.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Andrews in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 7th July 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ANDREWS, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Machinist, send
greeting.
2
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in
the thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said William Andrews, Her a
special licence that I, the said William Andrews, my executors,
adminstrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Andrews, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time.

page_text: agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might.
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said William Andrews, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately.
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Andrews, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, that is to say :-
The object of this Invention is to simplify and reduce the number of
parts employed in the construction and arrangement of sewing machines,
and at the same time to ensure an easy and efficient action of the
improved portions.
The improvements will be better understood by referring to the
accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation; and Fig. 2, a side elevation of a sewing
machine with some of the improved parts applied thereto.
(a) is the needle arm, which slides in a vertical direction up and
down upon a rod or bar (6) secured to the frame (c) of the machine, the
needle arm (a) being actuated by a crank and connecting link (d),
Fig. 3, which is attached to the needle arm as at (e), and to a friction
wheel (ƒ) driven by the main wheel (9), Fig. 3 shewing the main
wheel (g) removed for more clearly illustrating the crank and con-
necting link (d) and the friction wheel (f).
Instead of the friction wheel (ƒ) and main wheel (g) I sometimes
prefer using a crown wheel (w), Fig. 5, and pinion (x), working edge to
edge with each other. :

page_text: The needle end (h) of the needle arm (a) by preference is made solid
therewith, the needle end (7) being guided by a vertical slot (i) cut
through the head of the machine, which prevents oscillation of the
needle when at work; but when preferred a loose needle bar is attached
to the head of the presser arm (¹), and operated by the needle arm (a),
already described.
The Invention further relates to the formation of the presser foot (k)
and bar (¹) in one piece, as shewn detached in side elevation, and in
the bar portion (¹) are slots (1) for attaching it by means of screws (m)
to the head, the bar (¹), having sufficient play to slide as required
for the action of the presser foot (k).
The improvements described are intended to be applied to several
descriptions of sewing machines.
The Invention also refers to an improved shuttle arrangement shewn
in end elevation and section in Fig. 4, and applicable for shuttle
machines. On the front end (o) of the frame of the machine is secured
a shuttle carrier (p) oscillating on a pin (r) attached to the frame; this
shuttle carrier (p) has a slot (s) of convenient form, in which works a
pin (t) attached to a plate or disc (u) on the end of the driving shaft (v).
By this arrangement a variable motion is given to the shuttle, enabling
it to pass rapidly through the loop made by the needle bar in forming
the stitch.
Having thus described the object and nature of my said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be carried into effect, I claim
without limiting myself to these precise details the combination of the rod a
or bar (6) and needle arm (a) with the guide or slot (i) on the head of
the machine for the purpose of obviating oscillation of the needle when
at work.
I also claim the employment of a loose needle bar operated by the
needle arm (a) in manner herein described.
I also claim the use of gearing, consisting of a crown wheel (w) and
pinion (x), Fig. 5, working edge to edge.
I also claim the formation of the presser foot (k) and bar (k¹), as
described.
I also claim the improved shuttle arrangement described and shewn a
in Figs. 3 and 4.

page_text: And generally I claim the several improvements in sewing machines,
substantially in manner as herein-more fully set forth and specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Andrews, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of July, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.
WILLIAM ANDREWS. (L.S.)