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. 



Since the sewing machine has been considered by some as one of the 

 most important inventions of 19th-century America, of equal importance to 

 this story of the invention is the history of the sewing machine's development 

 into a practical, popular commodity. Since many new companies blossomed 

 overnight to manufacture this very salable item, a catalog list of more than 

 one hundred and fifty of these 19th-century companies is included in this 

 study. Still, the list is probably incomplete. Many of the companies 

 remained in business a very short time or kept their activities a secret to avoid 

 payment of royalties to patent holders. Evidence of these companies is 

 difficult to find. It is hoped that additional information will come to light 



