10S TEAR-BOOK OF FACTS. 



does not exceed 10,000, and even of these a large proportion are of 

 American manufacture. This may be accounted for by the fact that 

 machines made in America are much superior in workmanship and 

 finish to those made in this country. Our mechanics do not seem to 

 have yet learned to manufacture sewing-machines. Even the needles 

 made in England are not equal to American-made needles. Our 

 needle-makers have yet to learn this branch of their trade. 



At the late meeting of the Loyal Cornwall Polytechnic Society, 

 Messrs. Newton, Wilson, and Co., of High Holborn, London, 

 exhibited eleven of their very elegant-looking Sewing-machines, in- 

 cluding two highly ornamental and beautiful lady's boudoir machines ; 

 eight of the handsome machines invented by G rover and Baker, 

 Boston, United States ; and a cottage machine. In addition to 

 these, they also exhibited a binding machine, which puts on the 

 binding without the necessity of previously tacking it. To one of 

 Grover and Baker's machines is attached Newton and Wilson's 

 patent hammer, and as this turns down the head or seam, the double 

 process of folding the hem and stitching is carried on at the same 

 time. This machine is calculated to work comfortably at the rate of 

 1500 stitches per minute, but it can be worked up to 1S00 a minute. 

 The prices of the machines vary from five to thirty-five guineas. The 

 machines were exhibited in operation by an agent of Messrs. Newton 

 and Wilson, and formed objects of general interest and curiosity. The 

 process of working the machine is very light and simple, consisting 

 merely of the pressure of the foot upon a board or plate at rapid 

 intervals, something very like the motion of the foot in turning the 

 spinning wheel in former times. 



Mr. W. Tillie has patented an invention, the first part of which 

 is intended to be applied to a number of sewing-machines driven by 

 hand, steam, or other power, and has for its object the stopping of 

 any of the machines upon a thread breaking either accidentally, or 

 on the work any of the machines have to do being completed. The 

 invention applies, secondly, to the use of a clamping guide, which 

 directs the cloth to the needle, and which is capable of adjustment 

 in one direction in order that the stitching may take place at the 

 desired distance from the edge, and in another direction according to 

 the thickness of the fabric. — Selected and Abridged Jrom lite Me- 

 chanics' Magazine. 



wiavim; i;y M.v;xi:TO-KT.KCTi;i<'nY. 

 M. Bonf.lli, of .Milan, director of the Sardinian telegraphs, by 

 means of his Electric Loom, lias sot aside the complicated and costly 

 appliances necessary to the Jaoquard looms, by the use of electricity. 

 The little bobbins or ban which hold up the thread of the warp in 

 the Jacquard loom In- makes into eleotro-magnets In the nana] way. 

 The design is painted on a sh el of tinfoil, with the portions not 

 used 111 the pattern covered with a non-oonduoting varnish. The 

 pattern paaaea slowly over a roller under an immense Dumber of 

 . communicating by tine insulated wires with the bobbins, 



