Saturday, August 24, 2013

Not Really That New...!

Some of the things we think of as being fairly new are really older than we think!

Too bad that often the folks that come up with the original idea don't get the credit due them. Such was almost the case with the Sewing machine!

Sewing Machine



The sewing machine is an invention that was chased by many, many people through the 1700s and early 1800s. Many inventors pitched in ideas, and some created prototypes that turned out to be impractical.

The first working machine was put forth by Elias Howe, who was awarded a patent for a machine on September 10, 1846. He was having a surprisingly hard time gathering any interest in America (perhaps because of all the decades of false starts), so he tried his luck in England, where he wasn’t faring much better at the time his wife died. During the time Howe was traveling back to America and dealing with her death, however, sewing machines took off in popularity. Howe was able to successfully defend his patent in court—his biggest victories were against Walter Hunt and Isaac Singer, which is a name you may know as being associated with sewing machines to this day. The resulting settlements and royalties made Howe extremely rich and his company very successful.

I'll bet there are a lot of quilters and hobbyist that owe a lot to Mr. Howe, don't you? Heck, even the tailors could throw him a "Thank You" now and then!

Coffee out on the patio this morning. Who cares if it sprinkles?

10 comments:

Chickenmom said...

Interesting, Mr. Hermit - I learned to sew on an old treadle machine like that! Nice and cool here at 52. Have you given all the kittens names yet?

Sunnybrook Farm said...

I still have one of those machines but don't know how to use it, just keep it as it was grandma's. Coffee inside this morning, a little cool out side.

linda m said...

My grandma had a treadle sewing that learned to sew on. Nice outside here this morning. Have a great weekend.

Dizzy-Dick said...

When I was a kid my Mom had a sewing machine that looked like that one. It was run with a treadle that you operated with your feet.

Sixbears said...

39 this morning. A bit brisk, but I'm still wearing shorts. It's supposed to warm up to the 70s.

We can thank the invention of the sewing machine for cheap clothes. Imagine how expensive handsewing would be.

JO said...

My dad was in the garment business so I have seen many kinds of sewing machines and this was one of many. My dad could fix the worst of them too. I have one of the very early portable ones in pristine condition. Unfortunately they were so well made that there are lots of them still around so the value isn't very high.

A little bit of a sprinkle won't hurt anything. We are having another beautiful morning here.

HermitJim said...

Hey Phyllis...
My sister has one that was passed down from older members of the family. Really something!

No names yet for the kitties, I'm afraid.

Thanks for coming over this morning!



Hey Sunnybrook...
Many of our generation learned to sew on a machine like that!

Wish it were a little cooler here.

Thanks for dropping by today!



Hey Linda...
It's really amazing just how long those things can last!

Have a great day, and thanks for coming over today!



Hey Dizzy...
I think that most of us have at least seen one of those! Pretty cool bit of engineering!

Many thanks for coming by today!



Hey Sixbears...
Only 80 degrees this morning at 9:00AM. Ready for some cool days!

Thanks goodness for no more hand sewing! Couldn't afford it!

Thanks for dropping in today!

HermitJim said...

Hey Jo...
Many folks would like to have one of those! I have a portable version in a wooden case!

I appreciate you coming over, sweetie!

Anonymous said...

I can't use a sowing machine even if I tried but I do think those old ones are really beautiful! Especially those that didn't use electricity. I have a couple old ones but unfortunately they have made them go on electricity. Smells very strange when I've tried to make them start :-) :-) :-)

Have a great day!
Christer.

Mamahen said...

My first machine was one of these....I was 13 at the time. Lost it in a house fire many years later. Loved that old machine.