I. Notes on the Development and Commercial Use of the 



Sewing Machine 



INTRODUCTION 



While researching the history of the invention and 

 the development of the sewing machine, many items 

 of related interest concerning the machine's economic 

 value came to light. The manufacture of the machines 

 was in itself a boost to the economy of the emerging 

 "industrial United States," as was the production of 

 attachments for specialized stitching and the need 

 for new types of needles and thread. Moreover, the 

 machine's ability to speed up production permitted it 

 to permeate the entire field of products manufactured 

 by any type of stitching, from umbrellas to tents. Since 

 this aspect of the story was not completed for this study, 

 no attempt will be made to include any definitive 

 statements on the economic importance of the sewing 

 machine at home or abroad. This related information 

 is of sufficient interest, however, to warrant inclusion 

 in this first Appendix. Perhaps these notes will suggest 

 areas of future research for students of American 

 technology. 



READY-MADE CLOTHING 



Whether of the expensive or the inexpensive type, 

 the sewing machine was much more than a popular 

 household appliance. Its introduction had far-reaching 

 effects on many different types of manufacturing estab- 

 lishments as well as on the export trade. The newly 

 developing ready-made clothing industry was not 

 only in a state of development to welcome the new 

 machine but also was, in all probability, responsible 

 for its immediate practical application and success. 



Until the early part of the second quarter of the 

 19th century, the ready-made clothing trade in the 

 United States was confined almost entirely to 

 furnishing the clothing required by sailors about to 



ship out to sea. The stores that kept these supplies 

 were usually in the neighborhood of wharf areas. 

 But other than the needs of these seamen, there was 

 little market for ready-made goods. Out of necessity 

 many of the families in the early years in this country 

 had made their own clothing. As wealth was acquired 

 and taste could be cultivated, professional seamstresses 

 and tailors were in increasing demand, moved into 

 the cities and towns, and even visited the smaller 

 villages for as long as their services were needed. At 

 the same time a related trade was also growing in 

 the cities, especially in New York City, that of dealing 

 in second-hand clothing. Industrious persons bought 

 up old clothes, cleaned, repaired and refinished them, 

 and sold the clothing to immigrants and transients 

 who wished to avoid the high cost of new custom- 

 made clothing. 



The repairing of this second-hand clothing led to 

 the purchase of cheap cloth at auction — ''half-burnt," 

 "wet-goods," and other damaged yardage. When in 

 excess of the repairing needs, this fabric was made 

 into garments and sold with the second-hand items. 

 Many visitors who passed through New York City 

 were found to be potential buyers of this mer- 

 chandise if a better class of ready-made clothes was 

 made available. Manufacture began to increase. 

 Tailors of the city began to keep an assortment of 

 finished garments on hand. When visitors bought 

 these, they were also very likely to buy additional 

 garments for resale at home. The latter led to the 

 establishment of the wholesale garment-manufactur- 

 ing industry in New York about 1834—35. 



Most of the ready-made clothing establishments 

 were small operations, not large factories. Large 



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