The Sewing Machine

Thomas Saint patented the first sewing machine

Mar 10, 1791

The first workable sewing machine was invented and patented by the British inventor Thomas Saint. The machine was meant to sew leather and canvas, but a model was never built.

Josef Madersperger

Mar 10, 1814

Josef Madersperger, an Austrian tailor, produced a series of machines and received a patent in 1814.

John Adams Doge and John Knowles

Mar 10, 1818

A Vermont churchman John Adams Doge and his partner John Knowles produced a device that could sew a short length of material.

Barthelemy Thimonnier

Mar 10, 1830

A French tailor, Barthelemy Thimonnier, patented the first practical sewing machine. His machine produced the first chain stich.

Walter Hunt

Mar 10, 1834

The first double-thread sewing machine was invented in New York in 1834. At the same time Hunt also invented the safety pin. He later abandoned the project thinking it would throw the seamstress business out of work.

Elias Howe

Mar 10, 1849

Howe patented a sewing machine with a needle and shuttle. His machine could sew straight seams. It was hard for him to sell his machine in America, Howe went to England to sell his machine. He returned and found out that sewing machines were being sold by many manufactures.

Allen Benjamin Wilson

Jun 10, 1850

Wilson invented the rotary bobbin into his own machine and used his irregular four-motion feed for moving the material between stitches.

Issac M. Singer

Mar 10, 1851

Singer was given his first American patent. He put together a rigid-arm sewing machine. His machine also included a table to support the cloth, instead of a feed bar. Singer also produced a presser foot to hold the cloth down on the machine. His invention was also composed of a foot peddle which was used instead of a hand crank.

Singer Sewing Machines

Mar 10, 1852

Singer found a company that became the world's largest manufacturer of sewing machines. He proposed his machine and was awarded 20 additional patents. He began to start advertising his machine.

Singer Sewing Machines

Mar 10, 1854

By 1854, Singer sewing machines were being sold in showrooms. The was $75 for a machine which was very high at the time. He also introduced the installment plan to America and sold thousands of his machines.

The "Combination"

Mar 10, 1856

In 1856, Howe, formed a "Combination" with the companies of Singer, Wheeler & Wilson, and Frover & Baker. He received $5 for each machine sold in the U.S. and $1 for each machine exported. He earned over $2 million dollars.

Helen Blanchard

Mar 10, 1873

Blanchard was an American inventor who received 28 patents. She was the first to invent the zigzag stitching and over seaming.

Joseph M. Merrow

Mar 10, 1877

The world's first crochet machine is invented and patented by Joseph. M. Merrow. This machine is used to sew leather pieces together and is used to sew a blanket stitch.

Toyota

Mar 10, 1946

Toyota built their fist sewing machine in 1946. The Toyota sewing machine was built under Mr. Toyota. He believed that home-use products were functional and beneficial.

Shoe-making Sewing Machine

Mar 10, 1987

Orisol (Computerized Sewing) produced the first Sewing machine to the shoe companies. The company is a manufacture for the leading shoe producers.