Figure 75. — Beckwith sewing machine. 1871. Among 

 the inventors whose patent claims were "to produce 

 a cheap and effective sewing machine" was William 

 G. Beckwith. His machine was first manufactured 

 by Barlow & Son, and it realized considerable 

 success in the few years of its production. The 

 earliest model was operated like a pair of scissors or 

 with a cord and ring as illustrated. Beckwith later 

 added a hand crank. The machine was purchased 

 in Crewe, Cheshire. England; it is stamped "Pat. 

 April 18. 71 by Wm. G. Beckwith, Foreign Pats. 

 Secured, Barlow & Son Manuf. N.Y., [serial 

 number] 706.'' By 1874 the machines were marked 

 'Beckwith S.M. Co." and two 1872 patent dates 

 were added. 



Using serial numbers, machines may be dated 

 approximately as follows: 1 — 3500, 1871; 3501 — 

 7500, 1872; 7501—12500, 8173; 12501 — 18000, 

 1874; 18001—23000. 1875; 23001—?, 1876. 

 (Smithsonian photo 46953-C.) 



Jll. 



Figure 76. — Boudoir sewing machine, 1858. This 

 machine, a single-thread, chainstitch model was 

 based on the patents of Daniel Harris, dated 

 June 9, 1857. June 16, 1857. and October 5. 1858. 

 Manufactured primarily by Bennett in Chicago in 



1859, it also may have been produced in the East, 

 although no manufacturer's name can be found. 

 In 1860, the Boudoir, also called Harris's Patent 

 sewing machine, was exhibited at the Massachusetts 

 Charitable Mechanics Association Exhibition where 

 it won a silver medal for "its combination of parts, 

 its beauty and simplicity, together with its ease of 

 operation." At this time the machine was described 

 as making a ""double lock stitch" (another name for 

 the double chainstitch). It was also described as 

 having been before the public for some time and com- 

 bining '"the improvements of others for which the 

 parties pay license." The machine head was posi- 

 tioned on the stand similarly to that of the West & 

 Willson (fig. 127) and stitched from left to right. 



It is not known exactly how many of these machines 

 were made or how long they were in vogue. Manufac- 

 ture, although probably ceasing in the 1860s, is known 

 to have been discontinued before 1881, when a list of 

 obsolete sewing machines was published in The 

 Seu ing Machine Neu r. (Smithsonian photo P63199.) 



