Singer Sewing Machine

# 12

                  The first sewing machine needles were made of bones or animal horns and the first thread was made of animal sinew. Iron needles were invented in the 14th century and eyed needles appeared in the 15th century. However, there were many inventors who attempted to improve sewing needles and sewing machines themselves. The English inventor, Thomas Saint, was issued the first patent for a complete machine for sewing in 1790. However, the patent drawings of his invention did not work. Later on in 1810, Balthasar Krems, invented an automatic machine for sewing caps. He did not patent his function and his machine never really functioned well. After many malfunctions and to many attempts, the first functioning sewing machine was invented by the French tailor, Barthelemy Thimonnier. His machine only used one thread and a hooked needle that made the same chain stitch used with embroidery. Sewing machines, however, got better and better as time passed. For example, Elias Howe's machine was the first to have a needle with an eye at the point.
                  Sewing machines did not go into mass production until the 1850s. This is when Isaac Singer, built the first commercially successful electric sewing machine. The needle on the machine moved up and down rather than side by side and the needle was powered by a foot tread. (About.com)

                        The fact that sewing machines did not into mass production until the 1850s and since Singer's sewing machine was invented in the 1850s, I would guess this picture dates back to the 1860s. This is because it probably took time for this kind of sewing machine to be introduced to the public and become popular, so I would guess this picture is from the 1860s.