POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

Sectioned model 319K Singer sewing machine, 1948-1958

Object No. H8097

The sewing machine evolved slowly, leaving a trail of disappointed inventors. The key inventions proved to be: a needle with its eye at the sharp end; means of looping a thread with itself (chain stitch) or with a second thread (lock stitch); and mechanisms that move fabric forward after each stitch. The sewing machine industry took off in the 1850s when several US companies pooled their patents. They borrowed the 'American system' of high precision mass production from the arms industry and later transferred it to the bicycle and car industries. Singer became the most successful manufacturer by introducing hire purchase and other modern marketing techniques. While the sewing machine destroyed some jobs, it created many more. Because factory-made clothes were cheaper than hand-sewn ones, people bought more of them; because they changed their clothes more often, they bought more washing machines; and all that washing created more lint, so they bought more vacuum cleaners. People smelled nicer, and houses became cleaner. Debbie Rudder