Old Sewing Machines by Carol Head

Old Sewing Machines by Carol Head

In 1790, Thomas Saint took out a patent on a machine for sewing leather. Though he probably made only an experimental model, it was the first ever sewing machine. The key to producing a successful sewing machine is that its needle, unlike the needle in hand sewing, must not pass right through the material to form the stitch, because a continuous supply of thread is required. In 1807, Edward Chapman invented a machine using such a needle, with the point and the eye at the same end. By the middle of the nineteenth century, significant developments had been achieved in Europe and the United States, and in 1850, Isaac Merritt Singer, whose name was to become synonymous with sewing machines, made his first machine. Singer combined technical ability with marketing flair, but he did not lack capable rivals, among them Allen B. Wilson. As a result, the manufacture and use of sewing machines grew rapidly in North America and Europe, including Britain.

As a textile teacher (now retired) Carol Head taught boys and girls how to use and enjoy twentieth century machines with great success. Her interest in nineteenth-century machines began when she purchased a Willcox & Gibbs chain stitch machine. As her fascination for old sewing machines developed, she formed a collection and researched into early manufacturers.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780852635919
ISBN 10	0852635915
Title	Old Sewing Machines
Author	Carol Head
Series	Shire Album
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Year published	2004-03-01
Number of pages	32
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.