. Bulletin - United States National Museum. Science. Figure 96.—A. B. Howe sewing machine of about 1860. (Smithsonian photo 45525-C.) Figures 96, 97, and 98.—The Howe machines. It is difficult for many to believe that the stamped legend "Elias Howe patent, Sept. 10, 1846'" does not certify that a machine is an original Howe. Although Elias Howe was granted a patent for the lockstitch machine in 1846, he did not establish a sewing-machine factory for about twenty years. Early in the 1850s and later through the "Combination," however, he licensed others to make machines using
. Bulletin - United States National Museum. Science. Figure 96.—A. B. Howe sewing machine of about 1860. (Smithsonian photo 45525-C.) Figures 96, 97, and 98.—The Howe machines. It is difficult for many to believe that the stamped legend "Elias Howe patent, Sept. 10, 1846'" does not certify that a machine is an original Howe. Although Elias Howe was granted a patent for the lockstitch machine in 1846, he did not establish a sewing-machine factory for about twenty years. Early in the 1850s and later through the "Combination," however, he licensed others to make machines using his patent. These machines bore that patent date for which a royalty was being paid. Among his early licensees was his elder brother Amasa who organized the Howe Sewing Machine Co. in 1854. The Amasa Howe machines were very good ones, and in 1862 Amasa won the prize medal at the London International Exhibition. This immensely increased the popularity of the machine and Elias offered to join Amasa by building a large factory at Bridgeport, Connecticut, to fill the increasing demand for more machines. The machines produced at Bridgeport, however, although imitating the Amasa Howe machines, proved inferior in quality. Amasa found that, rather than helping his business reputation, his brother's efforts were hurting him, and he severed business relations with Elias. Because of their brief association, the 1862 prize medal awarded to A. B. Howe was sometimes credited to Elias. The latter did receive awards for his patent, but never for his manufactured machines. When the two brothers dis- solved their joint venture, Elias attempted to call his new company the Howe Sewing Machine Co., but Amasa's claim that this name had been his exclusive property for many years was upheld by the courts. Elias then omitted the word '"Sewing" and called his company simply the Howe Ma- chine Co. After Elias died in 18b7. the company was run by his sons-in-law, the Stockwell brothers. To
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Keywords: ., bookauthorun, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectscience
