THE SEWING-MACHINE 



crease the curve of the needle and contract the space 

 for turning and handling the work. Singer's arrange- 

 ment of the rigid overhanging arm made it practicable 

 to enlarge the machine to any desired extent, and added 

 great solidity and strength to the machine, thus making 

 it available either for doing the heaviest kinds of work 

 or for sewing the lightest fabrics. The general style 

 of the original Singer machine has been universally 

 copied, and serves as a model for most of the machines 

 now manufactured. 



"The work of adapting the sewing-machine to the 

 various kinds of stitching required in the variety of 

 manufacturing and mechanical industries to which 

 it has been applied, was early taken up by Isaac M. 

 Singer, Allen B. Wilson, and others, and has been 

 successfully continued by later inventors. Machines 

 stitching with waxed thread have been perfected for 

 use in the factory manufacture of boots and shoes, 

 as well as in the manufacture of saddlery and harness 

 and various other articles of leather. Heavy-power 

 machines are used in the manufacture of awnings, 

 tents, sails, canvas belts, and articles of a like nature. 

 Specially constructed machines for stitching gloves, 

 and others for sewing the seams of carpets, sewing 

 the ends of filled bags, stitching brooms, embroider- 

 ing, and doing various other work, are produced by 

 the leading sewing-machine manufacturers. Machines 

 for working button-holes and sewing on buttons have 

 been made very effective in their operation, and pro- 

 duce a quality of work equal to the hand product at a 

 greatly increased rate of speed. 



[101] 



