Humans—Homo sapiens—first evolved in Africa and were biologically adapted to life in a warm climate. When humans left Africa and began their migrations north into Europe and Asia, they had to adapt to a colder environment. One of the innovations that made this possible was clothing, more specifically, tailored clothing which was made to fit the human body. Tailored clothing required sewing.
At some point in the ancient past, humans invented the sewing needle. In their book From Lucy to Language, Donald Johanson and Blake Edgar report:
“Bone needles almost indistinguishable from modern sewing needles have been found at a 26,000-year-old site in Central Europe, and at western European sites dating to 23,000 years ago in the Solutrean period.”
As humans moved into the industrial age and mass production of goods became more common, the sewing machine was invented. The first sewing machine was invented by a French tailor, Barthélemy Thimmonier. While he was soon producing military uniforms with his new machines, his innovation was strongly opposed by professional tailors who destroyed his machines and drove him out of town.
The next step in developing a sewing machine happened in Boston, Massachusetts. Machinist Elias Howe patented his sewing machine in 1846. He then tried to sell his new machine to American manufacturers. In his book Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things, Charles Panati reports:
“Impressed as American manufacturers were, they balked at the machine’s three-hundred-dollar price tag, and they also feared the threats by organized groups of tailors and seamstresses.”
Disheartened and destitute, Elias Howe took his family to England. While Howe was in England, another Boston machinist, Isaac Singer, patented a superior sewing machine which sold for about $100. The Singer machine, however, used the special stitch which Howe had patented. The court case between Howe and Singer lasted until 1853, at which time the courts awarded Howe a royalty on every Singer machine sold.
Shown below are some of the sewing machine museum displays.
Deschutes Historical Museum, Bend, Oregon
According to the Museum display:
“Although the needle was in use 40,000 years ago, it wasn’t until the year 1830 that the first sewing machine came into use. A tailor could make about thirty stitches a minute—the simplest machine made 200 stitches a minute! Tailoring was such a big business at the time that the originator of the machine (in France) was run out of town and his factory destroyed. Unfortunately, he never recovered from the loss and died in poverty.”
Wenatchee Valley Museum, Wenatchee, Washington
Hagerman Valley Historical Museum, Hagerman, Idaho
East Benton County Museum, Kennewick, Washington
Historical Museum at Fort Missoula, Missoula, Montana
Fort Steele Heritage Village, British Columbia
Nevada City Living History Museum, Nevada City, Montana
Sedman House, Nevada City Living History Museum, Nevada City, Montana
Wells Hotel, Garnet Ghost Town, Montana
Hulda Klager Farmhouse, Woodland, Washington
Miracle of America Museum, Polson, Montana
National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh
Heritage Museum, Libby, Montana
Renton History Museum, Renton, Washington
Museums 201
The museum display photo tours in Museums 201 show similar displays from several museums. More from this series:
Museums 201: Ancient Beds (photo diary)
Museums 201: Model railroad dioramas (photo diary)
Museums 201: Wood-fired kitchen ranges (photo diary)
Museums 201: Mining Displays (photo diary)
Museums 201: Washing machines (photo diary)
Museums 201: Electric ranges and refrigerators (photo diary)
Museums 201: Antique farming equipment (photo diary)
Museums 201: Gas stations and garages (photo diary)