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Who Was Isaac Singer?
In 1850, Isaac Singer revolutionized the textile industry with the invention of a sewing machine capable of operating at an impressive 900 stitches per minute. By 1857, he formed a partnership with Edward Clark, establishing I.M. Singer & Company, which rapidly ascended to become the largest sewing machine manufacturer in the world by 1860. The company was incorporated in 1863 under the name Singer Manufacturing Company.
Early Years
Isaac Merritt Singer was born on October 27, 1811, in Pittstown, New York, and grew up in Oswego, New York. He left home at the age of 12 with limited formal education, embarking on a series of unskilled labor jobs. As a teenager, Singer began an apprenticeship as a mechanic; however, his burgeoning interest in acting led him to abandon this path and form a traveling theater troupe. During his time with the Merritt Players, Singer’s lifestyle was marked by promiscuity, resulting in the birth of approximately 15 illegitimate children. After nearly a decade of touring, financial difficulties compelled the troupe to disband.
Machinist and Inventor
Following the collapse of his acting career, Singer returned to the mechanics field. In 1839, he made his mark as an inventor by patenting a rock-drilling machine for the government while working in Illinois. A decade later, he developed a wood-and-metal carving machine and opened a factory for its production; however, this venture was short-lived due to an explosion that destroyed the facility.
By 1850, Singer found himself working as a sewing machine repairman in a machine shop. When tasked with repairing a Lerow and Blodgett sewing machine, he took the initiative to design and build a superior model within days. His innovative sewing machine featured a suspended arm and a horizontal bar that housed the needle, allowing for continuous stitching on any part of an object, including curves. Additionally, his design incorporated a presser foot, achieving an unprecedented sewing speed of 900 stitches per minute. Despite his groundbreaking contributions, Singer’s machine drew upon foundational principles established by inventor Elias Howe, leading to a patent infringement lawsuit that Howe won when Singer applied for his patent.
Singer Manufacturing Company
Despite legal challenges, Singer was able to continue producing his sewing machine. In 1857, he formed a partnership with Edward Clark, leading to the establishment of I.M. Singer & Company. Utilizing a mass-production facility in New York, they developed movable parts for their sewing machines, significantly reducing production costs. This innovation enabled them to offer the machine to the average housewife at an accessible price of $10. Within a year, the company expanded its operations, opening three additional plants in New York.
As the years progressed, Singer continued to refine and enhance his designs. By 1860, the company had emerged as the largest sewing machine manufacturer in the world. In 1863, Singer and Clark incorporated the business under the name Singer Manufacturing Company. At this point, the company had secured an impressive 22 patents, while Singer himself was already a year into his retirement. The company further broadened its reach by launching its first overseas factory in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1867. Nearly a century later, in 1963, the corporation was renamed Singer Company.
Death
Isaac Singer passed away a multimillionaire on July 23, 1875, in Torquay, Devon, England.