-1 



Figure 28. — Singer's patent model, 1851; a com- 

 mercial machine was used, bearing the serial 

 number 22. (Smithsonian photo 45572-D.) 



In late December 1850 Singer had bought Phelps 1 

 interest in the company. Whether the first applica- 

 tion was later abandoned by Singer or whether it was 

 rejected is not known, 56 but a patent on the first 

 application was never issued. The final disposition 

 of this first machine has remained a mystery. 57 



A few machines were manufactured in late 1850 

 and early 1851, and these attracted considerable 

 attention; orders began to be received in advance 

 of production. The pending patent application did 



"" 11 . i patent was not approved, for any reason, the records 

 were placed in an "Abandoned File." In 1930 Congress 

 authorized the disposal of the old "Abandoned Files," requiring 

 them to be kept for twenty years only. There are no Singer 

 Company records giving an account of the first patent 

 application. 



57 Its whereabouts was unknown as early as 1908, as stated 

 in the Sewing Machine Times (Aug. 25, 1908), vol. 18, no. 418. 

 Models of abandoned patents frequently remained at the 

 Patent Office. Approximately 76,000 models were ruined 

 in a Patent Office fire in 1877. In 1908 over 3000 models of 

 abandoned patents were sold at auction. Either incident 

 could account for the machine's disappearance. 



Figure 29. — Singer's Perpendicular Action sewing 

 machine, an engraving from Illustrated News, 

 June 25, 1853, which states: "The sewing machine 

 has, within the last two years acquired a wide 

 celebrity, and established its character as one of the 

 most efficient labor saving instruments ever intro- 

 duced to public notice .... We must not forget 

 to call attention to the fact that this instrument is 

 peculiarly calculated for female operatives. They 

 should never allow its use to be monopolized by 

 men." (Smithsonian photo 48091 D.) 



not delay the manufacture, and a number of machines 

 were sold before August 12, 1851, when the patent 

 was granted. The patent model is shown in figure 

 28. 58 It made a lockstitch by means of a straight 

 eye-pointed needle and a reciprocating shuttle. The 

 patent claims, as quoted from the specifications, were 

 as follows: 



1. Giving to the shuttle an additional forward motion 

 after it has been stopped to close the loop, as described, 

 for the purpose of drawing the stitch tight, when such 

 additional motion is given at and in combination with 



58 The patent model of 8,294 i^ i inn lime that bears the serial 

 number 22; it was manufactured before April 18, 1851, the 

 date it was recorded as received by the Patent Office. 



:i 



