Sewing Machines 1793 ~ 1860

French tailor, Barthelemy Thimonnier (1793-1857). In 1830, first practical sewing machine(hook-tipped needle moved downward by a cord-connected foot treadle and returned by a spring)1841 eighty of his machines were being used to sew the French army uniforms.

Walter Hunt (1796-1860) of New York. In 1834, the earliest idea for a double-thread sewing machine (reciprocating eye-pointed needle)It worked in combination with a shuttle carrying a second needle, making an interlocked stitch comparable to that of the modem machine.

Elias Howe (1819-1867) of Massachusetts. In 1846, sewing machine presented any real competition to hand-sewing (eye-pointed needle and shuttle with a grooved). This lock stitch machine could only sew straight seams.

Issac M. Singer (1811-75). In 1851, first rigid-arm sewing machine. He invented a foot treadle instead of a hand crank. (a table to support the cloth horizontally, a vertical presser foot to hold the cloth down against the upward stroke of the needle, and an arm to hold the presser foot and the vertical needle-holding bar in position over the table). Parts of Singer's machine were based on Howe's work.

~ Main Changes ~

Economics:

At that time, the economics was not very good because of slavery. It had a great gap between the rich and the poor. Basically, the trade had the control of the economics in the United States. Fortunately, because of the trade, the cotton gin was so popular, and cotton got invented, and then somebody invented the sewing machine. When the first practical sewing machine got invented, it actually was very popular because anyone can use it. Then the sewing machine was spread to the French army, there were eighty of them were sewing the French army uniform. The second sewing machine was the first double-thread machine, so it was even more popular then the first practical ones. The third machine had not a very big difference from the second one, so it was not as popular as the second one. The forth machine was based on the second machine, but it actually had a real break through, it was the most popular among those four kinds of sewing machines. The four one was actually the closest machine compare to today. Therefore, the economic went up and down, depended on people and inventions.


Intellectual:

At that time, most people were focusing on civil war, slavery, and the trade. The rich and the traders were pretty much only use their brains on their trades; on how they can increase the trade, and how they can make more money and profit. In fact, the trade was one of the main sources that support the United States. Because of the trade, people started to think and invented things that would increase the trade. Since cotton was one of the main item for the trade, there were several inventions were just for that. For example, the cotton gin was invented and it was wide spread through the United States, and then somebody invented the sewing machine. Since the first practical sewing machine was so popular, somebody else invented a double-thread sewing machine, and another inventor improved it, and then another inventor improved it even better. There were four inventors of the sewing machine. Generally, people just use their brains on improvements of the trade, so they could make more money and profit.

~ Connection ~

Back then, people use sewing machines very often, it was necessary to have a sewing machine for a normal family, so they could make their own clothes. Today, we only buy clothes from clothing store; very few people make their own clothes. At that time, sewing machines were very important, as important as to clothing factories today. Today’s sewing machines are actually kind of different from the old ones. It has more functions, so people don’t use the old ones anymore, but there are some old machines that still exist. The appearance has not much difference; today’s machines just look more modern. Sometimes, in some historical town, they would make little cute models of the old sewing machines. Something cute and historical to keep.

Primary Documents (1)

Treaty with Hanover of Commerce and Navigation; June 10, 1846.

The high contracting parties agree that whatever kind of produce, manufacture, or merchandize of any foreign country, can be, from time to time, lawfully imported into the United States in their own vessels, may also be imported in vessels of the kingdom of Hanover, and no higher or other duties upon the tonnage or cargo of the vessel shall be levied or collected, whether the importation be made in a vessel of the United States or in a Hanoverian vessel.

And in like manner, whatever kind of produce, manufacture, or merchandise of any foreign country, can be, from time to time, lawfully imported into the kingdom of Hanover in its own vessels, may also be imported in vessels of the United States; and no higher or other duties upon the tonnage or cargo of the vessel shall be levied or collected, whether the importation be made in vessels of the one party or the other.

Whatever may be lawfully exported or re-exported by one party in its own vessels to any foreign country may, in like manner, be exported or re-exported in the vessels of the other. And the same duties, bounties, and drawbacks shall be collected and allowed, whether such exportation or re-exportation be made in vessels of the one party or the other. Nor shall higher or other charges of any kind be imposed in the ports of the one party on vessels of the other, than are or shall be payable in the same ports by national vessels.

And further, it is agreed that no higher or other toll shall be levied or collected at Brunshausen or Stade, on the River Elbe, upon the tonnage or cargoes of vessels of the United States, than is levied and collected upon the tonnage and cargoes of vessels of the kingdom of Hanover; and the vessels of the United States shall be subjected to no charges, detention, or other inconvenience by the Hanoverian authorities, in passing the above-mentioned place, from which vessels of the kingdom of Hanover are or shall be exempt. .

Primary Documents (2)

British-American Diplomacy
Treaty with Great Britain, in Regard to Limits Westward of the Rocky Mountains June. 15, 1846

From the point on the forty-ninth parallel of north latitude, where the boundary laid down in existing treaties and conventions between the United States and Great Britain terminates, the line of boundary between the territories of the United States and those of her Britannic Majesty shall be continued westward along the said forty-ninth parallel of north latitude to the middle of the channel which separates the continent from Vancouver's Island, and thence southerly through the middle of the said channel, and of Fuca's Straits, to the Pacific Ocean: Provided, however, That the navigation of the whole of the said channel and straits, south of the forty-ninth parallel of north latitude, remain free and open to both parties.

Bibliography

<http://www.moah.org/exhibits/virtual/sewing.htm>
This website is no longer available.
I choose this website because it had all the information about the sewing machines and the inventors. Also, the effects to the society. It is easy to read.

Primary Documents Sources:
Mann, Dudley. "Treaty with Hanover of Commerce and Navigation; June 10,1846." n.d. 20 Nov. 2008 <http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/han1846.asp>.

Buchanan, James. "British-American Diplomacy Treaty with Great Britain, in Regard to Limits Westward of the Rocky Mountains" n.d. 20 Nov. 2008. <http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/br-1846.asp>.