Elias Howe (1819–1867) was not the first person to conceive of a mechanical sewing machine, but in 1846 he became the first inventor to protect the idea with a U.S. patent (No. 4750). In the painting, a model of Howe’s sewing machine sits at his feet. His design contained the three elements common to all modern sewing machines: a needle with the eye at the point, a shuttle operating beneath the cloth to form the lockstitch, and an automatic feed. Several manufacturers pirated his design, but Howe won a number of infringement lawsuits, most famously against Isaac M. Singer. As a result, all American sewing machine manufacturers were required to pay a royalty of $25 per machine to Howe until 1867, when his patent expired. For nearly thirteen years, Howe's royalties were estimated to average about $4,000 a week. This video is featured in the "Men of Progress" section of the American Enterprise exhibition at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. (The video does not include an audio track). Teachers, parents, educators! Check out our resources to use these videos in the classroom here: https://historyexplorer.si.edu/resource/men-progress-video-series Section link: americanhistory.si.edu/american-enterprise-exhibition/videos/men-progress Exhibition link: americanhistory.si.edu/american-enterprise
