Sewing Machines

[johan_steele]

I was doing some research for my father and came across some rather interesting info. Thoought I would share it.

 

[johan_steele]

This came out af an 1863 catalog.

 

[Northern Light]

It must have seemed like a miracle for some women!

 

[AndyHall]

Very expensive at $85, but worthwhile all the same.

 

[major bill]

I thought I might give an example of how many sewing machines were used to make uniforms. When Samual Sykes was making uniforms for Michiagn recruits in 1861 he was using 100 workers and 20 sewing machines and they were using 1,440 yards of cloth per day. In the entire city of Detroit there were 400 workers using 100 sewing machines. So 1 worker in 4 or 1 worker in 5 was using a sewing machine.

 

[Albert Sailhorst]

WOW!!.....Eighty-Five bucks!!......Shoot, an Infantry Private would have to fight for almost 7 months' worth of pay (at $13 a month in 1863) to be able for his wife to afford such a machine!!.....All I can say is "WOW"!!!
Thanks for sharing!!

 

[Northern Light]

Very expensive at $85, but worthwhile all the same.

Think of all the hours of hand sewing that must have saved, especially if you weren't very good at hand-work. No more hand-hemming sheets and towels.

 

[chellers]

This came out af an 1863 catalog.

Interesting is the comparison of time required by hand and by machine. Thanks for posting.

 

[Drew]

Very expensive at $85, but worthwhile all the same.

Yes, a lot of money at the time, but worth it in terms of productivity. My mother's still got her sewing machine, all metal and hung inside a really nice wood cabinet. I'll have to ask if she remembers what it cost, but it's nearing 60 years old and still works. They knew how to make things that lasted, back in the day.

 

[AndyHall]

Interesting is the comparison of time required by hand and by machine. Thanks for posting.

Original painting by Mort Kunstler of a demonstration by Elias Howe of his first sewing machine, in 1845. This one was powered by hand -- no foot pedal yet -- but he still outpaced five trained seamstresses. The machines were indeed expensive, but they cut production time and labor drastically.

 

[Northern Light]

View attachment 48332
Original painting by Mort Kunstler of a demonstration by Elias Howe of his first sewing machine, in 1845. This one was powered by hand -- no foot pedal yet -- but he still outpaced five trained seamstresses. The machines were indeed expensive, but they cut production time and labor drastically.

Remember the scene from "Fiddler on the Roof" when Motel the tailor gets his new sewing machine and everyone in the village comes running? That is what this reminds me of!

 

[ole]

Ummmmm. Did anyone notice that it was an industrial strength machine? Not something for the mom who made her kid's clothes.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Seems it must have been A huge deal for Conn.- and sewing machines.

Inside that huge factory

Their shop front in Bridgeport

Love this sewing machine where they tried very hard to have it be part of the room's décor. Did very well!

 

[18thVirginia]

Had my grandmother's treadle machine for awhile--they sew an incredibly strong stitch. That must have been helpful for uniforms.

Looking for something on Fold3, I came across an application for a patent for a kind of sewing machine foot by a great-grandmother. Had never heard it mentioned in the family.

 

[Barrycdog]

William Austin Leyden, Major of the 9th Battalion Georgia Artillery brought the first sewing machine of his own design to Atlanta. He sold it to Cornelius R. Hanleiter ( Editor of the Southern Confederacy Paper and in Jo Thompson Artillery)

 

[donna]

I always remember my Granny's old Singer sewing machine. I sure wish I had it. But it was sold at auction after my grandfather passed away and my Granny went to Senior Home. I was still young and didn't know about the auction. If did would have had no money at the time to bid.

I remember her making clothes for my dolls. She would use old scraps and make such pretty outfits for them. Thank goodness we have our memories.

 

[johan_steele]

I have a transcribed letter from the Goodhue Cty MN Hysterical society referencing a paymaster buying a mahogony cased sewing machine for his wife while in Missouri and sending it home to her.

(Snipped for detail)

Letter of Samuel Emery Adams; Lt Col
Pay Department, U.S. ARMY
St Louis, Missouri 22 May 1863

...I shall get a sewing machine as soon as I know whether I am transferred to Minnesota, or remain here for the winter. I am going to buy the best in a mahogany case worth about $90, which you can keep as long as you live.

 

[Northern Light]

I have a transcribed letter from the Goodhue Cty MN Hysterical society referencing a paymaster buying a mahogony cased sewing machine for his wife while in Missouri and sending it home to her.

(Snipped for detail)

Letter of Samuel Emery Adams; Lt Col
Pay Department, U.S. ARMY
St Louis, Missouri 22 May 1863

...I shall get a sewing machine as soon as I know whether I am transferred to Minnesota, or remain here for the winter. I am going to buy the best in a mahogany case worth about $90, which you can keep as long as you live.

So thoughtful, sort of like buying your wife a washing machine for her birthday!

 

[Lost Cause]

There is quite the stark contrast between stitch work in original flags and uniforms displayed in museums compared to modern reenactment cloth.

 

[James B White]

There is quite the stark contrast between stitch work in original flags and uniforms displayed in museums compared to modern reenactment cloth.

You mean in the machine stitching? One thing I've noticed is that period machine stitching was often set higher than modern machines, in the range of 15 or more per inch. It's easy to set modern machines that high and if one is mimicking a period lockstitch machine like the Wheeler and Wilson, the result is indistinguishable, but it's just not the modern habit to set it so high.

I don't know if the higher count really makes lockstitch stronger, but I suspect it made chain stitches much less likely to unravel.