9 RISE OF THE MACHINE

Given the ubiquity of the Singer name in the field of sewing machines, one would be forgiven for assuming that it was Isaac Merritt Singer who invented the modern sewing machine. Not so. It was actually Elias Howe, who first developed a working model, patented in 1846. Singer patented his version in 1851, but it was his company’s aggressive business tactics of doorto-door sales and rapid expansion that allowed it to corner the market. The impact on households was huge with sewing jobs cut from hours to minutes, allowing women to go out and find jobs in the new factories.