536 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



are the three great ones in use. The number sold by each is the 

 best proof of their reapective-merits. 



Mr. Yeeder said that Finkle & Lyon's machine was awarded 

 the first premium at the Franklin Institute, at Philadelphia. 



Adjourned to Thursday evening, December 27th, at half-past 7 

 o'clock p. M. 



i 



American Institute, Polytechnic Association, 

 December 27, 1860. 



Mr. John Bruce in the chair. 



Mr. Rowell exhibited a sample of buttonholes which he said 

 were worked by a sewing machine. He was astonished that the 

 fact of buttonholes being worked by sewing machines was not 

 stated at the last meeting. One of these machines will stitch 

 one hundred buttorfholes per hour, and the work, after having 

 been finished, cannot be unravelled. The work is done by two 

 vibrating needles and an under thread. Three threads are used. 

 By taking the thread out of the needle that goes outside of the 

 cloth you will have the regular Grover & Baker stitch. He pro- 

 cured the specimen of work exhibited from 596 Broadway. The 

 machine for making those buttonholes was patented by Mr. Yo- 

 gel. 



Mr. Koch said that in the other machines the holes had to be 

 drawn in a circle so as to be sewed. 



^r. Rowell. — That has not to be done with this machine. 



Mr. Dibben. — Buttonhole machines are not a new invention. 

 They have been in use since the first exhibition at the Crystal 

 Palace of New York. * During the operation of sewing those but- 

 tonholes, there is great difficulty in keeping the cloth even. It 

 is worked through two pieces of cloth, and sometimes through 

 three and four. . 



A Yisitor. — Does this machine make as good a stitch as the 

 Wheeler & Wilson sewing machine does ? 



Mr. Rowell. — It does better work. 



Yisitor. — -Can it be used for working on embroidery ? 



Mr. Rowell. — It can. 



motive power. 

 Mr. Dibben said, whatever may be the hopes and desires of the 

 community to have extraordinary safe agents for motive power, 

 the one that will be generally used -is the cheapest one, and the 



