Figure 40. — A dolphin sewing ma- 

 chine based on Clark"s patent of 

 1858. This design was first used by 

 T. J. W. Robertson in 1855, but in 

 his patent issued on May 22 of that 

 year no claim was made for the 

 machine design, only for the chain- 

 stitch mechanism. The same style 

 was used by D. W. Clark in several 

 of his chainstitch patents, but he 

 also made no claim for the design, 

 stating that the machine "may be 

 made in any desired ornamental 

 form." The dolphin-style machines 

 are all chainstitch models of solid 

 brass, originally gilt. Although only 

 about five inches long, they are 

 full-size machines using a full-size 

 needle. (Smithsonian photo 45505.) 



• 



to make a chainstitch. At the forward end of the 

 main shaft was a hook which, as it rotated, carried 

 the loop of needle-thread, elongated and held it 

 expanded while the feed moved the cloth until the 

 needle at the next stroke descended through the 

 loop so held. When the needle descended through the 

 first loop, the point of the hook was again in position 

 to catch the second loop, at which time the first loop 

 was cast off and the second loop drawn through it, 

 the first loop having been drawn up against the lower 

 edge of the cloth to form a chain. 



A Gibbs sewing machine, on a simple iron-frame 

 stand with treadle, sold for approximately $50 

 in the late 1850s, 69 while a Wheeler and Wilson 70 

 machine or a Grover and Baker 71 with the same type 



of stand sold for approximately SI 00. After the 

 introduction of the Gibbs machine, the Singer 

 company 7 - brought out a light family machine in 1858 

 that was also first sold for $100. It was then reduced 

 to $50, but it was not popular because it was too 

 light (see discussion of Singer machines, pp. 34—35). 

 In 1859, Singer brought out its second, more successful 

 family machine, which sold for $75. 



Like the other companies licensed by the "Combi- 

 nation," Willcox and Gibbs company paid a royalty 

 for the use of the patents it held. Although the 

 Willcox and Gibbs machine w : as a single-thread 

 chainstitch machine and the company held the Gibbs 

 patents, the company was required to be licensed to 

 use the basic feed, vertical needle, and other related 



b» Scientific American, vol. 15, no. 21 (January 29, 1859), p. 

 165, and Willcox and Gibbs advertising brochure, 1864. 

 : " Scientific American, vol. 12, no. 8 (November 1, 1856), p. 62. 

 •' Ibid., vol. 1, no. 19 (November 5, 1859), p. 303. 



•- I. M. Singer & Co.'s Gazette, vol. 5, no. 4 (March 1, 1859), 

 p. 4, and a brochure, Singer's New Family Sewing Machine (in 

 Singer Manufacturing Company, Historic Archives). 



17 



