Figure 20. — Blodgett & Lerow sewing machine, 1850, as manufactured by A. Bartholf, New York; the 

 serial number of the machine is 19. At right, an original brass plate from the same type of machine with 

 needle arm and presser foot and arm, serial number 119; the plate, however, does not fit the machine 

 correcdy. (Smithsonian photo 48440-D; brass plate: 48440-K.) 



his application for his patent extension, 41 that he 

 made only one machine in 1850-51. In 1852 he 

 advertised 4 - territorial rights and machines, but 

 apparently did not realize any financial success until 

 he sold a half interest in his patent to George Bliss in 

 November 1852. 43 Bliss later began manufacturing 

 machines that he initially sold as "Howe's Patent"; 

 however, these machines were substantially different 

 from the basic Howe machine. 



On May 18, 1853, Elias Howe granted his first 

 royalty license to Wheeler, Wilson & Company. 

 Within a few months licenses were also granted to 

 Grover & Baker; A. Bartholf; Nichols & Bliss; J. A. 

 Lerow; Woolridge, Keene, and Moore; and A. B. 

 Howe, the brother of Elias. These licenses granted 

 the manufacturer the right to use any part of the 

 Howe patent, 44 but it did not mean that the machines 



41 Op. cit. (footnote 34). 



« New York Daily Tribune, Jan. 15, 1852, p. 2. 



43 See Howe's biographical sketch, p. 141. 



44 Op. cit. (footnote 34). Attachments A and B are copies of 

 Judge Sprague's decisions. 



were Elias Howe machines. When a royalty license 

 was paid, the patent date and sometimes the name 

 was stamped onto the machine. For this reason, 

 these machines are sometimes mistakenly thought to 

 be Elias Howe machines. They are not. 



Howe was also prevented from manufacturing a 

 practical machine unless he paid a royalty to other 

 inventors. Three of the major manufacturers and 

 Howe resolved their differences by forming the 

 "Sewing Machine Combination." Although Howe 

 did not enter the manufacturing competition for 

 many years, he profited substantially from the 

 royalty terms of the combination. In 1860, he 

 applied for and received a seven-year extension on 

 his patent. 



There were Howe family machines for sale during 

 this period, but these were the ones that Amasa 

 Howe had been manufacturing since 1853. The 

 machine was an excellent one and received the 

 highest medal for sewing machines, together with 

 many flattering testimonials, at the London Inter- 

 national Exhibition in 1862. After the publication 

 of this award the demand for (Amasa) Howe sewing 



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