Clothing and Sewing

Introduction

To 1790

1790-1799

1800-1809

1810-1819

1820-1829

1830-1839

In 1832, John Ireland Howe of Salem, NY, invented a totally automatic machine to make pins based on similar machinery in use in England since 1824.   He improved the machine in 1833 to obtain foreign patents.   In 1835, his Howe Manufacturing Company began pin production. ^{Carruth 189}   Pins are associated with textiles since they are required to hold together parts of the cloth before sewing.

1840-1849

In 1846, Elias Howe invented the first sewing machine with an eye-pointed needle.   This machine was the prototype for all subsequent sewing machine inventions that made clothing production more productive by performing the equivalent work of more than 5 hand sewers.   It was also the first machine to significantly lightened women's sewing work in the home. ^{Asimov 355}

In 1849, a safety pin was patented by Walter Hunt of New York City. ^{Carruth 233}   Safety pins, like straight pins, are required to hold fabrics together before sewing.

1850-1859

In 1851, Isaac Merrit Singer was issued a patent for a sewing machine.   It was different from Howe's machine in that it had a continuous stitching action.   However, it infringed on Howe's patent.   Later, Singer made patent-protected improvements. ^{Carruth 241}

In 1857, James Ethan Allen Gibbs of Mill Point, VA, invented a twisted-loop, rotary hook sewing machine.   In 1858, he established a partnership with James Wilcox of Philadelphia to help him market his machine.   Gibbs continued to make improvements on his machine for years. ^{Carruth 257}

1860-1869

In 1863, Ebenezer Butterick, a tailor and shirtmaker from Sterling, MA, received a patent for children's paper clothes patterns.   They were very successful and extended to adult clothes using tissue paper.   In 1871, 6,000,000 patterns were sold. ^{Carruth 279}

1870-1879

1880-1889

In 1882, Henry W. Seely of New York City was granted a patent on an electric flatiron. ^{Carruth 333}

1890-1899

In 1889, the first electric sewing machine was produced by the Singer Manufacturing Co. of Elizabethport, NJ. ^{Carruth 351}

1900-1909

In 1893 (1891?), Whicomb L. Judson invented the slide fastener, or "zipper".   It consisted of a series of hooks and eyes that mesh with a slider.   An improved version with a meshed tooth type of slide was invented by Gideon Sundbach in 1913. ^{Carruth 365}

1910-1919

1920-1929

In 1900, 12,572 dozen pairs of silk stockings were sold, a ratio of one pair for every 2,000 Americans.   This compared to 18,088,841 pairs sold in 1921, one pair for every 6 people. ^{Carruth 387}

1930-1939

1940-1949

1950-1959

1960-1969

1970-1979

1980-1989

1990-1999