---
title: Howe's Sewing Machine
author: Unknown Artist
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17131/howes-sewing-machine/
format: machine-readable-alternate
updated: 2023-04-20
---
# Howe's Sewing Machine
_Authored by Unknown Artist_
## Image File
[](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/17131.png)
## Image Caption
An illustration of the lockstitch sewing machine, invented in 1844 by Elias Howe (1819-1867) in Cambridge, USA. The machine made much stronger fabrics than previously as the stitches did not unravel if the thread broke. The secret was the lockstitch where two threads were put into the cloth, one from below and one from above. The machine was far quicker than a person sewing by hand – 640 stitches per minute compared to the average of 23 by hand. The machine was successfully copied by such manufacturers as I. M. Singer.
From Frank Puterbaugh Bachman's 1918 book *Great Inventors and their Inventions*, American Book Co., New York, USA.
## Cite This Work
### APA
Artist, U. (2023, February 28). Howe's Sewing Machine. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Artist, Unknown. "Howe's Sewing Machine." *World History Encyclopedia*, February 28, 2023. .
### MLA
Artist, Unknown. "Howe's Sewing Machine." *World History Encyclopedia*, 28 Feb 2023, .
## License & Copyright
[Original image](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Elias_Howe_sewing_machine.png) by [**Unknown Artist**](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Elias_Howe_sewing_machine.png). Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 28 February 2023. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Public Domain](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_domain). This item is in the public domain, and can be used, copied, and modified without any restrictions. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.