Sewing Machines

[Lost Cause]

I am not very knowledgable in thread count, but the stitching on several original flags and uniforms I have observed in museums (mainly southern) were crudely sewn with a machine or were homespun. What is even more interesting are the patterns seen in person that are not captured in photographs. Also unique is the differences in cloth material.

 

[Tumbleweed]

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

If this is how Mrs. Adams did the laundry I'm sure she would have been thrilled with a washing machine. That's how I understood his promise to buy her the sewing machine; it's something she had to do so and the only other option was many long hours with needle and thread. Had I been in her shoes I would have chosen a newfangled sewing machine over diamonds or pearls!

 

[Northern Light]

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If this is how Mrs. Adams did the laundry I'm sure she would have been thrilled with a washing machine. That's how I understood his promise to buy her the sewing machine; it's something she had to do so and the only other option was many long hours with needle and thread. Had I been in her shoes I would have chosen a newfangled sewing machine over diamonds or pearls!

I was being facetious.

 

[Tumbleweed]

I was being facetious.

I knew you were, Northern Light. I hope my post didn't come across as scolding or snarky because that was not my intent at all and I sincerely apologize if it seemed that way. (Perhaps that last exclamation point made it look a bit too emphatic.) In any event, I hope the dear lady received and enjoyed the gift from her husband.

 

[1950lemans]

Fascinating, fascinating story! I used to play baseball in the abandoned Wheeler mansion on Golden Hill Street in Bridgeport. Golden Hill was named after the Golden Hill Paugassett Indians who had a reservation there. Today a super-expressway runs through the whole place.

It was Wheeler and his partner Wilson who set up shop in Bridgeport just before the Civil War. Bridgeport was only 20 years old but a growing industrial center. They made a fortune from the Civil War. Singer bought out W&W in the early 20th century and built a state of the art plant on the East Side of Bridgeport. Wheeler had patents on parts of the sewing machine.

Elias Howe was also a resident of Bridgeport. He invented the sewing machine at the same time as Isaac Singer (late 1840?) and for a decade they fought it out in court over patents. Howe won and became a rich man from royalties. Elias Howe opened up a sewing machine factory in Bridgeport AFTER the Civil War yet schools and streets are named for him. There's even a statue of him at Seaside Park in Bridgeport.


Reason for this: he was so rich he outfitted the 17th Ct. Vol. Inf. Reg. himself and served as a private from 1862 to 1865. The regiment was stationed where Seaside Park is located.

 

[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.

Here's the patent information that I mentioned: http://www.google.com/patents/US730446

 

[johan_steele]

 

[Northern Light]

Fascinating, fascinating story! I used to play baseball in the abandoned Wheeler mansion on Golden Hill Street in Bridgeport. Golden Hill was named after the Golden Hill Paugassett Indians who had a reservation there. Today a super-expressway runs through the whole place.

It was Wheeler and his partner Wilson who set up shop in Bridgeport just before the Civil War. Bridgeport was only 20 years old but a growing industrial center. They made a fortune from the Civil War. Singer bought out W&W in the early 20th century and built a state of the art plant on the East Side of Bridgeport. Wheeler had patents on parts of the sewing machine.

Elias Howe was also a resident of Bridgeport. He invented the sewing machine at the same time as Isaac Singer (late 1840?) and for a decade they fought it out in court over patents. Howe won and became a rich man from royalties. Elias Howe opened up a sewing machine factory in Bridgeport AFTER the Civil War yet schools and streets are named for him. There's even a statue of him at Seaside Park in Bridgeport.


Reason for this: he was so rich he outfitted the 17th Ct. Vol. Inf. Reg. himself and served as a private from 1862 to 1865. The regiment was stationed where Seaside Park is located.

Interesting that he remained a private! Seems to me that most of the guys who outfitted regiments were at least colonels, but I may be wrong about that.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

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That is cool as all heck, is that one of the company's ' portable' models? WHY are sewing machines interesting? They're hard to collect, no room, they do not go boom, they are not exactly pretty, no one famous would be connected with one- still, you see that, would have to go poke around looking at it, wouldn't you? And seriously fight with your History Hoarder instincts about taking it home.

 

[Northern Light]

That is cool as all heck, is that one of the company's ' portable' models? WHY are sewing machines interesting? They're hard to collect, no room, they do not go boom, they are not exactly pretty, no one famous would be connected with one- still, you see that, would have to go poke around looking at it, wouldn't you? And seriously fight with your History Hoarder instincts about taking it home.

Heh. I have two!

 

[1950lemans]

Interesting that he remained a private! Seems to me that most of the guys who outfitted regiments were at least colonels, but I may be wrong about that.

Yeah he did remain a private. He was the regiment's postmaster. Humble guy I would think.

 

[John Winn]

Hah ! Wheeler & Wilson ! John Winn was a salesman for them after the war. I've got letters written by him on their letterhead. They were the top brand of the day. Way cool !!!

 

[Patrick H]

Very cool topic, in my opinion. The industrial revolution and all that.... It continues to happen today at an ever faster pace. Now, of course, we are dealing with the power of digital information and digital command of our industrial machines. Of course, you all have known that for a very long while. I'm just pointing out that things continue to ramp up at an ever-increasing rate.