Whats the difference between Issac Singers and Elias Howes sewing machines?
Both machines used the same two thread lock stitch that was patented by Howe in the 1840’s. Unfortunately Howe’s original hand crank machine had a fatal design flaw that doomed it, it had no forward fabric feed mechanism. That’s why he abandoned the sewing machine when he moved to England. Singer came up with the feed mechanism and used Howe’s patented lock stitch. Howe was dismayed to see his Lock stitch on Singer’s machine and this led to one of the greatest patent infringement cases in the history of corporate law. it’s still used as a precedent to this day. When Howe began making machines anew in the 1860’s they used a refined multi-part feed mechanism which was protected by a patent. Not a lot is said about the original machine, few are still in existence and I think maybe one or two are in working order -because there is more interest in the lurid tales of Singer’s multiple wives, many mistresses and dozens of children. Here’s an article that half way down explains Howe’s origina
