[October, 
AMERICAN AGrRICULTURIST 
1873.] 
PORTABLE FAMILY SEWING MACHINE 
The absurdity of making a 
PERPETUAL MOTION 
was forcibly impressed on the mind of the writer when a 
boy by an illustration of a negro propelling what his hope¬ 
ful master claimed to be almost the desired result. The 
weary, worn son of Africa, while tugging at the crank, 
with laggard movement, despondingly inquired, " Masser, 
I when will dis machine run widout my turnin’?” “ O pres¬ 
ently, Cully, all I have to do is to add a few more wheels.” 
“ Ue "to’ wheels ye has, masser, de harder it will turn.” If 
this pertinent idea of the old negro had been duly consid¬ 
ered by many who have sought to improve the Sewing 
Machine, it would have long since been divested of many of 
Its complications. 
Additions are by no means sure of being improvements— 
on the other hand, they are very liable to increase compli¬ 
cations, and render it far more liable to get out of order, 
While the increase of power to propel it is the inevitable 
'result. 
But be who can by his inventive genius so reduce',the 
number of parts as to divest it of all complications, render¬ 
ing it so s mple that all can understand it, so light to run 
that even a child can become an expert and never weary by 
its use, can never do it by addition, he must go a little fur¬ 
ther in his arithmetic and study subtraction. And in the 
ratio of the number of parts subtracted the complexities 
l are reduced, the liability to get out of order is lessened, and 
I the power necessary to run it is diminished. When these 
well-known facts are duly considered, the great value of the 
BECKWITH POIITABLE FAMI1.Y SEWING 
MACHINE will be fully appreciated. This Machine does 
away with all complications, and with the movement of 
only TWO PARTS (the Needle-Arm and Looper, both sim- 
i Pie and strong) it makes the stitch, feeds the goods, half 
> guides the cloth, sews on braid, gathers and tucks, fastens 
|! Its seam, hems and embroiders. Remember, the movement 
[i of only TWO PARTS does all this, rendering the Machine 
truly a symbol of Simplicity, of Strength, of Durability, and 
of real practical Utility. Why are ladies so often bewil¬ 
dered In using their Sewing Machines? Ans. Because one 
part among fifty others gets out of order, which makes it 
very difficult to find the trouble. Why can all so easily use 
the Beckwitli ? Ans. Because, with the movement of only 
two parts, they are readily seen and always understood. 
JOHN 13 . G70XJG7II 
once remarked that he once met a man who said he knew 
only two tunes ; one was Old Hundred, and the other wasn't. 
If any lady is as limited in her knowledge of machinery as 
this man was of music, the Beckwith is the Machine for her. 
Our Semi-Guiding Feed requires the assistance of only 
one hand, or even one linger, to follow any line or curve, 
which leaves the right hand entirely at liberty to ply the 
Wheel to any desired speed, which runs as easily and smooth 
as a well-balanced wheel, which entirely obviates the neces¬ 
sity of the Toilsome Tread of the Treadle. 
From the many thousands of delighted purchasers of our 
$10 and $12 Machine during the past two years we have let¬ 
ters commending its merits sufficient for a good-sized vol¬ 
ume, a sample of which we here insert. 
TESTIMONIALS. 
The following letter from Messrs. Orange Judd & Co., 
proprietors of the American Agriculturist, maybe regarded 
as the most convincing testimony that could be produced of 
the merits of the Beckwith Sewing Machine and the 
character of the manufacturers: 
New York, April 4,1873. 
In reply to the question, " What do vou think of the 
Beckwith Sewing Machine and the Company which 
manufacture it?" we can say. during the last eighteen months 
we have sold and given as premiums many hundreds of the 
$!0 and $12 Machines. In many eases they have been very 
highly commended ; in very few cases lias auv dissatisfac¬ 
tion been expressed, and we have reason to ‘believe that 
they have given almost universal satisfaction. The man¬ 
agers of the Company we believe to be reliable gentlemen. 
ORANGE JUDD & CO. 
Hudson, Mich., July 13, 1873. 
I would not take $100 for it if I could not get another one 
just like it, and would not exchange even for the best $75 
machine I ever saw. Miss ROSA I. CARVER. 
Fincastle, Va., July 21,1873. 
Having tested its merits I find it a perfect little bijou. I 
would not be deprived of its valuable services for anvpecu- 
niary consideration. It is the personification of simplicity; 
almost any child can become an expert. I greatly prefer 
the hand-power Beckwith to any complicated treadle ma¬ 
chine I ever saw. LIZZIE M. FOSTER. 
It is now nearly a year since we have sold at retail price 
the $12 Machine on 30 days’ trial, having sent thousands all 
over the country with no instruction save what goes with 
every Machine. The money to be refunded if the Machine 
did not give satisfaction. By a careful, reference to our 
hooks we And that only 16 purchasers have returned their 
machines, to all of whom the money (less the express 
charges) was promptly refunded. Wc here insert their 
names and address, to whom any are at liberty to refer, to 
prove that at least there is one firm in New York who will 
do as they agree in refunding money. Those marked 
“ Vicinity of N. Y.” came to our store, and we did not take 
their address. 
1873. Jan. 25. Mrs. Johnstons, Armenia, Dutchess Co„N.Y. 
Feb. 25. Ivattie Wittick. Vicinity of N. Y. 
“ 26. Mrs. Fairfax, 2dG New Jersey Av.,Wash., D.C. 
Mar. 19. Mrs. Crawfords, Slatesville, N. C. 
“ 24. G. Gardners, Vicinity of N. Y. 
“ 24. Mrs. Guest, do. do. 
Apr. 14. Mrs. Wagner, do. do. 
“ 14. Mrs. Knapp, do. do. 
“ 14. Mrs. Earles, do. do. 
“ 22. Mrs. G. W. Palmers, Abingdon Station, Lu¬ 
zerne Co., Pa. 
May 10. Mrs. Birnev. Vicinity of N. Y. 
“ 10. Mary Ann Peabody, Pet'ersburgh, Va. 
“ 16. F. Willig, Glendale, Mass. 
July 7. C. F. Hatch, Boston, Mass. 
” 16. A. Bedford, Waverly, Pa. 
Aug. 8. Mrs. C. W. Mabry, La Grange, Ga. 
Tlie respective merits of the $12 and $20 Machines can best 
be understood when we assure the public that when both 
are seen and examined in our Store on Broadway—the 
thoroughfare of the world—we never have been able to sell 
a single $12 Machine, while hundreds of anxious purchasers 
who could not at once be supplied have not only left their 
orders, but also tlieir $20, to secure one at the earliest possi¬ 
ble day, patiently waiting, rather than purchase any other 
machine. We do not mention this to disparage the judg¬ 
ment of those who admire our $10 and $12 Machines, nor in 
the least to detract from tlieir great merits, but simply to 
illustrate tlieir comparative merits, and to impress upon 
your minds that the unanimous expression of all who have 
seen tlie two, side by side, is entirely in favor of the $20 
Machine. 
The following pithy letter from one of the purchasers of 
our $20 Machine we are kindly permitted to publish: 
New York, Aug. 12,1873. 
Beckwith Sewing Machine Co. : 
Gentlemen —Having tested "Becky’s” capabilities as a 
seamstress, I am fully prepared to say that "Beck”—with 
tlie guidance of her mistress—is a perfect worker; quiet and 
content with an out-of-the-way corner, she untiringly turns 
off yard after yard of stitching, cheerfully humming the 
while, 
“ How doth the little busy B- 
Improve each shining hour. 
To gather ” ruffles, tuck and hem. 
By simple oue-liand power. 
Respectfully yours. 
Margaret S. Felt, 323 West 31th St. 
To which we could do no less than brieily reply, as follows: 
New York, Aug. 13, 1873. _, 
Mrs. Margaret S. Felt : Dear Madam— 
We received your charming ssive, 
And in rapture o’er it dwelt. 
Which, embellished by your genius, 
Every thought was truly Uilt. 
We were sure that little " Becky ” 
Would perform her daily toil. 
Ever heeding your suggestions. 
Asking hut a drop of oil. 
To our generous patrons who are not yet supplied wc are 
happy to say that not many days can now elapse before 
your orders shall be filled. Were we not now sending 
machines to many of you daily, and did we not feel assured 
that all who are waiting could soon be supplied, we could 
not again in this manner appeal to the “ wide world," who 
will sooner cr later gladly possess this last and best mechan¬ 
ical gift to woman. 
On the receipt of $3 we will receive your order; tlie bal¬ 
ance of $15 can be paid to the Express Co. when they deliver 
the Machine to you; or, if you prefer, you can send P. O. 
Order for the whole amount. For full description of 
Machine see May No. American Agriculturist, page 192, 
or sen 1 for Circular; but, better than all, solid at once for 
a Machine. 
BECKWITH SEWING MACHINE COMPANY, 862 Broadway, near !7tEi Street, i\2ew York. 
