Figure 30. — I. M. Singer & Co. New York showroom of the mid- 1850s, as illustrated in Frank Leslie's 

 Illustrated Newspaper, August 29. 1857; only manufacturing machines are shown in this illustration. (Smith- 

 sonian photo 48091-B.) 



the feed motion of the cloth in the reverse direction, and 

 the final upward motion of the needle, as described, so 

 that the two threads shall be drawn tight at the same 

 time, as described. 



2. Controlling the thread during the downward motion 

 of the needle by the combination of a friction-pad to 

 prevent the slack above the cloth, with the eye on the 

 needle-carrier for drawing back the thread, for the 

 purposes and in the manner substantially as described. 



3. Placing the bobbin from which the needle is supplied 

 with thread on an adjustable arm attached to the frame, 

 substantially as described, when this is combined with 

 the carrying of the said thread through an eye or guide 

 attached to and moving with the needle-carrier, as 



described, whereby any desired length of thread can be 

 given for the formation of the loop without varying the 

 range of motion of the needle, as described. 



The feeding described in the Singer patent was "by 

 the friction surface of a wheel, whose periphery is 

 formed with very fine grooves, the edges of which are 

 slightly serrated, against which the cloth is pressed 

 by a spring plate or pad.'' Although claimed by the 

 inventor in the handwritten specifications, it was not 

 allowed as original. 



The machines manufactured by the Singer com- 

 pany (fig. 29) were duplicates of the patent model. 

 These machines were quite heavy and intended for 



32 



