Who Patented The First Sewing Machine?
The events that led to the invention of the sewing machine, are often debated among sewing enthusiasts. After reading several historical accounts, I can understand the challenges. Who invented the sewing machine? Howe, Singer, or somebody else? After sorting through dozens of accounts, here is a glimpse of sewing history.
The patent filed by Elias Howe in 1846 certified the first practical sewing machine.
The patent described a process that used thread from two different sources The top thread passed through a curved needle with an eye at the pointed end. The needle would pierce through the fabric, while another thread contained in a shuttle passed through and caught the first thread forming a locked stitch.
Elias Howe had done it! His lockstitch machine could put out (250spm) as much as five speedy experienced hand sewers.
Russel Conwell in 1877, suggests that it was not actually Elias Howe to completed the invention. Rather, he suggests, it was his upset wife who got tired of waiting on her husband.
We will never know the truth about exactly how it was done, but difficulties marketing the device and struggles over patent rights drained the Howe family of even greater success.
Almost immediately, the competition launched their own sewing machine products. Men like Isaac Singer and Allen Wilson seized upon Howes design, altered it and marketed their own products.
Soon, significant advances were made to Howes original designs making the new sewing machine more efficient and user friendly. Isaac Singer introduced his foot driven model which employed the soon popular treadle device. Many contemporary devices used hand crank devices to power the sewing machine.
Prior to Elias Howe filing his patent, someone else had already produced a working model of a lockstitch machine using two threads like Howes invention, but he never filed a patent. His name was Walter Hunt and the year was 1834 ” twelve years earlier than Howe. Hunt had stopped working on his invention due to social pressures among garment workers fearful of losing their jobs to a machine. Still, Elias Howe later sued Hunt for patent infringement.
The patent wars dragged on and on. One legal battle after another drained Howes energy and resources. He finally won the court battle in 1854, but in a sense the patent battles robbed him of his potential marketing success.
Elias Howe was certainly successful with his invention of the sewing machine. Earning about two million dollars, he became a wealthy man, but the potential of his invention was realized far more by his competitors.
Elias Howe is a name forgotten by most even among avid sewers. His competitor, however, Isaac Singer has become well known even among those who do not sew. Due to Isaac Singers success at marketing and improving the sewing machine, the Singer brand continues to be the best known brand of sewing machines.
Communities were desperate to get their hands on this exciting new invention. Towns would join together to buy one machine for the whole town. Soon the sewing machine became a necessary appliance for every home. By the 1950s every home expected to have a sewing machine and a vacuum cleaner.
