THE SEWING MACHINE 343 



The sewing machine patented by Elias Howe, jr., 

 September 10, 1846, technically marks the beginning of 

 the industry in the United States. At this time the sewing 

 machine was still in the experimental stage, and it was not 

 until several years later that its manufacture became an 

 established industry. After that its growth was rapid; 

 and owing to the untiring energy and the ability of the in- 

 ventors who applied themselves to the work of perfecting 

 the sewing machine, it has attained in a few years a very 

 important place among the industries of the country, and has 

 come to be regarded as almost a household necessity. 



Howe's invention combined the eye pointed needle with 

 the shuttle for forming the stitch and the intermittent feed 

 for carrying the material forward as each stitch was formed. 

 The device for thus feeding the cloth consisted of a thin strip 

 of metal provided with a row of pins on one edge, upon which 

 the material to be sewed was carried in a vertical position. 

 The cloth was fed the length of the plate, and had to be 

 rehung as often as the plate had traversed its full length 

 on the machine. The curved, eye pointed needle used was 

 carried on the end of a vibrating lever, which also carried 

 the upper thread. The shuttle, which passed the lower 

 thread between the needle and the upper thread, was driven 

 in its race between two strikers carried on the end of vibrating 

 arms worked by cams. It is not known that any of Howe's 

 machines were ever put upon the market. In his applica- 

 tion for renewal of patent he only claims to have built three 

 machines, and one of these was deposited as a model in the 

 United States patent office. 



Not meeting with any success in securing capital in this 

 country with which to forward his plans, Mr. Howe was com- 

 pelled to dispose of his patent, and with the proceeds went 

 to England, where his rights to a patent had been sold to 

 a corset manufacturer for about one thousand dollars. Mr. 

 Howe engaged to work for this manufacturer at a small 

 salary, while perfecting the machine, and adapting it to the 

 manufacture of corsets. Failing in this he returned to the 

 United States in extreme poverty, and upon his arrival at 

 Boston, found that sewing machines infringing on his patents 



