Humans have sewn by hand for thousands of years. It was said that the first thread was made from animal muscle and sinew . And the earliest needles were made from bones. Since those early days, many people have been involved in the process of developing a machine that could do the same thing more quickly and with greater efficiency. 

Charles Wiesenthal, who was born in Germany, designed and received a patent on a double-pointed needle that eliminated the need to turn the needle around with each stitch in England in 1755. Other inventors of that time tried to develop a functional sewing machine, but each design had at least one serious imperfection. 

Frenchman Barthelemy Thimonnier finally engineered a machine that really worked. However, he was nearly killed by a group of angry tailors when they burned down his garment factory. They feared that they would lose their jobs to the machine. 

American inventor Elias Howe, born on July 9, 1819, was awarded a patent for a method of sewing that used thread from two different sources. Howe's machine had a needle with an eye at the point, and it used the two threads to make a special stitch called a lockstitch. However, Howe faced difficulty in finding buyers for his machines in America. In frustration, he traveled to England to try to sell his invention there. When he finally returned home, he found that dozens of manufacturers were adapting his discovery for use in their own sewing machines. 

Isaac Singer, another American inventor, was also a manufacturer who made improvements to the design of sewing machines. He invented an up-and-down-motion mechanism that replaced the side-to-side machines. He also developed a foot treadle to power his machine. This improvement left the sewer's hands free. Undoubtedly, it was a huge improvement of the hand-cranked machine of the past. Soon the Singer sewing machine achieved more fame than the others for it was more practical. It could be adapted to home use and it could be bought on hire-purchase. The Singer sewing machine became the first home appliance, and the Singer company became one of the first American multinationals. 

However, Singer used the same method to create a lockstitch that Howe had already patented. As a result, Howe accused him of patent infringement . Of course, Elias Howe won the court case, and Singer was ordered to pay Howe royalties . In the end, Howe became a millionaire, not by manufacturing the sewing machine, but by receiving royalty payments for his invention.
What was Isaac Singer's occupation?
What product did he improve upon?
And who was Elias Howe?
When was his birthdate?
What do these two men have in common regarding their nationality?
Was sewing a new or old practice?
For how long has it been happening?
And how did they do it?
What was different about what these inventors were creating?
Who ended up in a legal battle?
What was the reason?
inventor
Isaac Singer, another American inventor
sewing machines
Isaac Singer, another American inventor, was also a manufacturer who made improvements to the design of sewing machines
an inventor
American inventor Elias Howe
July 9, 1819
Elias Howe, born on July 9, 1819
Both are from America
American inventor Elias Howe
old
Humans have sewn by hand for thousands of years
thousands of years
Humans have sewn by hand for thousands of years
used bones
And the earliest needles were made from bones
tried to make a sewing machine
Other inventors of that time tried to develop a functional sewing machine
Singer and Howe
However, Singer used the same method to create a lockstitch that Howe had already patented
Singer used the same method to create a lockstitch that Howe had already patented
Singer used the same method to create a lockstitch that Howe had already patented