Sewing
shears.
On
October 5th 1858 Joseph E. Hendrick patented
his revolutionary sewing machine "shears"
in the USA. The basic concept of the machine is best explained
using Hendrick's own words:
"The
nature of my invention consists in the application of sewing mechanism
to a device similar to shears, whereby the opening and shutting
of the shears performs the functions of sewing. Thereby a very
simple, portable, cheap, and efficient machine is constructed,
that can be used in the hand in a manner similar to shears, and
applied to the work instead of the work being applied to it; or
the said shears may be screwed to the table or other convenient
place or support and the cloth presented to the 'sewing-shears'."
The
simple chain stitch design incorporated a toothed wheel to feed
the cloth. The machines were made from brass, this being finished
in silver plate. The company of Nettleton & Raymond, Bristol,
Connecticut, are attributed as the manufacturers. Production of
the machine appears to have been very short-lived.
The
basic principle of scissors or shears type was revisited more
than 20 years later. W. F. Thompson's patent
saw the light of day in the UK on 21st October 1884.
A lockstitch mechanism was featured this time, a tiny boat shuttle
carried the lower thread, the whole being reciprocated in a radial
arc. Cloth feed was achieved by a walking presser foot. Production
machines were made from steel, this being nickel plated. Construction
was of a high quality, and manufacture lasted a number of years.
Extant examples are stamped "American
Hand Sewing Machine Co." There was no provision for a
table clamp with these machines, although high quality separate
bobbin winders were provided.
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