PROCEEDINGS OF THE POLYTECHNIC ASSOCIATION. 523 



The Chairman. — All the tailings of North Carolina can be pur- 

 chased for a nominal sum. 



SEWING MACHINES. 



Mr. Babcock said the practicability of sewing seams 20 years 

 ago, by the use of machines, was considered impossible. He 

 thought that although they would cause a reduction in the price 

 of clothing, in the end they would cause an advance in the price 

 of labor. The sewing machine was not the offspring of one in- 

 ventive mind, but of a number. 



Mr. Johnson wished to know if they could not get at the me- 

 chanical bearing and early history of the sewing machine. He 

 was told that the change stitch was used on German cloths 

 a number of years ago. 



Mr. Dibben admitted that the stitch was to be found on cloths 

 a great number of years ago. He thought that the same amount 

 of work could be done by ancient machines that is done at pre- 

 sent by modern ones, with the exception of the lock stitch, of 

 which Mr. Howe had gained the credit of being the first inventor. 

 He (Mr. Howe) held his invention for a considerable time with- 

 out making use of it. About 1850, other parties commenced to 

 see if they could not improve on Mr. Howe's machine. Mr. 

 Singer began with a few machines in the Bowery, and ninety-nine 

 out of every hundred tailors laughed at the idea of using them. 

 About the same time Mr. Wilson commenced with others. Mr. 

 Grover, of Boston, also commenced about the same time. After 

 the exhibition of a number of sewing machines at one of their fairs, 

 the question arose as to "how we should get sewing machines?" 

 In England they fiercely contested Mr. Howe's sewing machine, 

 but he finally triumphed, notwithstanding the obstinacy of that 

 nation. There is no machine in existence that is not amenable 

 to Mr. Howe's patent. 



Chairman. — Who is the next inventor, that has established his 

 invention as important in its results ? 



Mr. Dibben. — The next practical man to whom the people owe 

 a debt of gratitude, is Mr. Wilson, then Grover, and next Singer. 



Mr. Wood. — The rotary hook and feed improvement is the next 

 important improvement. Howe's invention consisted in the for- 

 mation of a seam by a needle, shuttle and two threads. The 

 needle acted horizontally, and the cloth being suspended on the 

 baster plate, the needle passed through the cloth, and the shuttle 

 passing through at the other side interlocked. The feed appara- 



