The Invention of the Sewing Machine

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The Proceedings, begun in 1878, are intended for the publication, in separate form, of shorter papers from the Museum of Natural History. These are gathered in volumes, octavo in size, with the publication date of each paper recorded in the table of contents of the volume.

In the Bulletin series, the first of which was issued in 1875, appear longer, separate publications consisting of monographs (occasionally in several parts) and volumes in which are collected works on related subjects. Bulletins are either octavo or quarto in size, depending on the needs of the presentation. Since 1902 papers relating to the botanical collections of the Museum of Natural History have been published in the Bulletin series under the heading Contributions from the United States National Herbarium and, since 1959, in Bulletins titled "Contributions from the Museum of History and Technology," have been gathered shorter papers relating to the collections and research of that Museum.

This work forms volume 254 of the Bulletin series.

Frank A. Taylor Director, United States National Museum

For sale by Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402--Price $2.75

Contents

Preface vii

Acknowledgments viii

1. Early Efforts 1

2. Elements of a Successful Machine 17

3. The "Sewing-Machine Combination" 39

4. Less Expensive Machines 43

Appendixes 55

I. Notes on the Development and Commercial Use of the Sewing Machine 57

II. American Sewing-Machine Companies of the 19th Century 65

III. Chronological List of U.S. Sewing-Machine Patent Models in the Smithsonian Collections 125

IV. 19th-Century Sewing Machine Leaflets in the Smithsonian Collections 134

V. A Brief History of Cotton Thread 135

VI. Biographical Sketches 137

Bibliography 144

Indexes 147

Geographical Index to Companies Listed in Appendix II 149

Alphabetical Index to Patentees Listed in Appendix III 151

General Index to Chapters 1-4 155

Preface

It had no instrument panel with push-button controls. It was not operated electronically or jet-propelled. But to many 19th-century people the sewing machine was probably as awe-inspiring as a space capsule is to their 20th-century descendants. It was expensive, but, considering the work it could do and the time it could save, the cost was more than justified. The sewing machine became the first widely advertised consumer appliance, pioneered installment buying and patent pooling, and revolutionized the ready-made clothing industry. It also weathered the protests of those who feared the new machine was a threat to their livelihood.

The practical sewing machine is not the result of one man's genius, but rather the culmination of a century of thought, work, trials, failures, and partial successes of a long list of inventors. History is too quick to credit one or two men for an important invention and to forget the work that preceded and prodded each man to contribute his share. It is no discredit to Howe to state that he did not invent the sewing machine. Howe's work with the sewing machine was important, and he did patent certain improvements, but his work was one step along the way. It is for the reader to decide whether it was the turning point.