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First sewing machine was patented by Thomas Saint
He was an Englishman, and he built his sewing machine during the first industrial revolution. It was meant to sew leather and canvas, but a working model was never built. -
Australian tailor, Josef Madersperger, presented his first machine
It took him seven years to put this one together, which imitated a human hand, and in 1839 he came out with another which imitated the weaving process using chain stitch. -
Walter hunt invented the lockstitch machine
He eventually lost interest in his machine and sold it without patenting it. -
John Greenough patented the first machine in the US
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Elias Howe gets his first patent
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Singer was granted his first American patent
He used many other manufacturer's ideas and put together a foot pedal, which was also told to be patented. When Howe saw Singer's machine he claimed it was very similar to his and Singer lost his case and had to pay Howe $1.15 per machine sold. -
Howe returns to America and finds people infringing his patent
Among them, Isaac Singer, and many others. Howe won his case and was granted the right to claim royalties from the manufacturers who used his idea. -
Sewing Machine combination was formed
Consisted of Singer, Howe, Wheeler and Wilson, and Grover and Baker. These four companies had to obtain a license and pay $15 per machine. -
James Gibbs creates first chain-stitch single-thread
He was also partners with James Willcox and they had the Willcox & Gibbs Sewing Machine Company which is still around today. -
Helen Blanchard patented the first zig-zag stitch machine
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Sewing machine combination ends
Last patents expired on machines -
Merrow invents first crochet stitch machine
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Merrow wins lawsuit against Willcox & Gibbs for the rights of the original crochet stitch
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Electric sewing machines are now in wide usage
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Toyota built their first sewing machine
Mr.Toyota said that home-use products must be functional yet beautiful -
Singer made the first portable sewing machine
Now widely used, usually under 11 pounds and run on batteries. -
Orisol introduced the first industrialized sewing machine to the shoe-making world