File:Bulletin - United States National Museum (1968) (20514257131).jpg

Title: Bulletin - United States National Museum
Identifier: bulletinunitedst2541968unit (find matches)
Year: 1877 (1870s)
Authors: United States National Museum; Smithsonian Institution; United States. Dept. of the Interior
Subjects: Science
Publisher: Washington : Smithsonian Institution Press, (etc. ); for sale by the Supt. of Docs. , U. S. Govt Print. Off.
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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Figure 31.âHunt and Webster's sewing-machine manufactory exhibition and salesroom in Boston, as illustrated in Bullous Pictorial, July 5, 1856; only manufacturing machines are shown. (Smithsonian photo 45771-A.) manufacturing rather than for family use in the home. Singer enjoyed demonstrating the machine and showed it to church and social groups and even at circuses; this personal association then encouraged him to improve its reliability and convenience. He developed a wooden packing case which doubled as a stand for the machine and a treadle to allow it to be operated by foot. Because of the dimensions of the packing case, Singer put the pivot of the treadle toward its center, about where the instep of the foot would rest. This produced the heel-and-toe action treadle, a familiar part of the sewing machine until its replacement by the electric motor. Both hands were freed to guide and arrange the cloth that was being stitched. Singer also added a flywheel to smooth out the treadle action and later an iron stand with a treadle wide enough for both feet. The treadle had been in use for two years before a rival pointed out that it might have been patented. To Singer's chagrin it was then too late for patent laws did not permit patenting a device that had been in public use. A new obstacle appeared in the Singer company's path when Howe demanded $25,000 for infringement of his patent. Singer and Zieber decided to fight, enlisting the legal aid of Edward Clark, a lawyer and financier. Howe's action was opposed on the basis of Hunt's machine of 1834, which they stated had anticipated Howe's invention. While they were resisting, Howe sued three firms that were using and selling Singer machines. The court order required the selling firms and the pur- chasers to provide an account of the profits accrued from the sale and the use of the sewing machines and restrained the firms from selling the machines during the pendency of the suit.59 As ,i result of this action, a 59 William R. Bagnall, in "Contributions to American Eco- nomic History," vol. 1 (1908), MS, Harvard School of Business Library. 'â 'â¢

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