

Figure 23. — Wilson's patent model, 1850. 

 (Smithsonian photo 45504-H.) 



Figure 24. — Wilson's prepatent model for his 

 rotary hook, 1851. (Smithsonian photo 45506-E.) 



claimed control of the double-pointed shuttle. Al- 

 though this claim was without justification, as can be 

 seen by examining the Bradshaw patent specifica- 

 tions, Wilson did not have sufficient funds to fight the 

 claim. In order to avoid a suit, he relinquished to 

 A. P. Kline and Edward Lee, a one-half interest in his 

 U.S. patent 7,776 which was issued on November 12, 

 1850 (fig. 23). 



Inventor Wilson had been associated with Kline 

 and Lee (E. Lee & Co.) for only a few months, when, 

 on November 25, 1850, he agreed to sell his remaining 

 interest to his partners for $2,000. He retained only 

 limited rights for New Jersey and for Massachusetts. 

 The sale was fruitless for the inventor, as no payment 

 was ever made. How much money E. E. Lee & Co. 

 realized from the Wilson machine is difficult to 

 determine, but they ran numerous ads in the 1851 

 and 1852 issues of Scientific American. A typical one 

 reads : 



A. B. Wilson's Sewing Machine, justly allowed to be the 

 cheapest and best now in use, patented November 12, 

 1850; can be seen on exhibition at 195 and 197 Broadway 

 (formerly the Franklin House, Room 23, third floor) or 

 to E. E. Lee & Co., Earle's Hotel. Rights for territory 

 or machines can be had by applying to George R. 

 Chittenden, Agent. 48 



Figure 25. — Wilson's rotarv-hook patent model, 

 1851. (Smithsonian photo 45505-B.) 



Another reads: 



A. B. Wilson's Sewing Machine . . . the best and only 

 practical sewing machine — not larger than a lady's 

 work box — for the trifling sum of $35. 49 



Wilson severed relations with Lee and Kline in 

 early 1851 shortly after meeting Nathaniel Wheeler, 

 who was to become his partner in a happier, more 



« Scientific American 'Dec. 6, 1851 ), vol. 7, no. 12, p. 95. 



Ibid. (Sept. 20, 1851), vol. 7, no. 1, p. 7. 



27 



