All About Inventions and Discoveries
The Romance of modern scientific and mechanical Achievements

The Sewing Machine 367 spoken for several minutes. Then the two, gloomily and in disjointed sentences, discussed their ill-luck. Neither knew what to do to improve their joint for- tunes. Presently the companion, who was more composed and was thinking deeply, remarked quietly : “ Singer, it seems strange that the loose loops of thread should all be on the upper side of the cloth. Those underneath are quite tight.” At these words Singer turned to eye his com- panion closely for a few seconds. His brows puckered, and then, suddenly, all signs of gloomy despair van- ished from his face. Starting up he ran back toward the workshop, his companion hard on his heels, vaguely wondering what was the matter, and whether his friend’s brain had at last given way under the strain. When he reached the workshop Singer was excitedly fumbling with the light, but his hands trembled so that he could scarcely turn the wick. Hastily picking up a screw-driver, the mechanic tightened one or two screws, and again turned the handle. The loops were becoming tighter. A touch here and a turn there to perfect the adjustments and—the work came through the machine perfect. Isaac Merritt Singer had produced the first practical sewing machine. The next step was to take out the patents. True, there were no dominating new features in the new machine for which master patents could be claimed. But Isaac Merritt Singer had done at least as much as Howe. He had taken the groundwork which had been known for fifty years or more, and upon this foundation had assembled features, some of which were his own ideas and were distinctly ingenious, so