In 1790, Thomas Saint took out a patent on a machine for sewing leather. Though he probably made only an experimental model, it was the first ever sewing machine. The key to producing a successful sewing machine is that its needle, unlike the needle in hand sewing, must not pass right through the material to form the stitch, because a continuous supply of thread is required. In 1807, Edward Chapman invented a machine using such a needle, with the point and the eye at the same end. By the middle of the nineteenth century, significant developments had been achieved in Europe and the United States, and in 1850, Isaac Merritt Singer, whose name was to become synonymous with sewing machines, made his first machine. Singer combined technical ability with marketing flair, but he did not lack capable rivals, among them Allen B. Wilson. As a result, the manufacture and use of sewing machines grew rapidly in North America and Europe, including Britain.
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Book Description
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About the Author
As a textile teacher (now retired) Carol Head taught boys and girls how to use and enjoy twentieth century machines with great success. Her interest in nineteenth-century machines began when she purchased a Willcox & Gibbs chain stitch machine. As her fascination for old sewing machines developed, she formed a collection and researched into early manufacturers.
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyed, but left me dangling for more...,
By Lady Carrie (Lebanon, OR) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Old Sewing Machines (Shire Library) (Paperback)
Great reference for the oldest sewing machines only, ie from late 1700's to 1880's. If you want turn of the 20th century you're out of luck with this one. Nice pictures of the oldest machines. Describes their actions and functionality. Documents origins - Europe and America primarily. Note the number of pages (is a small, short book).
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