Invention of the Sewing Machine and Elias Howe The sewing machine was, and is a very important invention, because it helped clothing become a more mass produced item, made it faster to work, and helped other industries grow. Although different versions of it had been invented before, Elias Howe created the modern sewing machine in 1846. Other machines were then built, but Howes was the version that stuck, and had some improvements made to throughout the years. When the machine became electric, it was much more common to have at ones home. Some women were not very happy about this invention, as they thought it would “infringe on their craft as skilled seamstresses.” However, most were overall happy as this would lighten the workload and make …show more content…
Sewing machines were helping many not only to get work done faster but even to be able to do it in the first place. Elias Howe for example, who was born with a physical disability that made it painful and more difficult for him to work. When he was working from home for a while due to his disability, his wife would take up some jobs sewing, and Howe realized that if he could invent a practical and easily usable sewing machine it could “solve all of his family's financial and physical difficulties.” So he became very passionate about this project. However, it was very difficult for Howe to accomplish his goal since he had very little money to start with, and inventions take a lot of time and money. He did not have the supplies he needed or the space to work. But fortunately, he knew all the right people and was able to get everything he needed including space to work. He was a fast worker and within three years he was able to accomplish his goal. He built several models and tried as hard as he could to get the public interested. The first time he showcased his machine, although it was able to complete five seams before the seamstresses he was racing against were able to complete even one, he didn’t receive any order for his machine. But he continued to advertise it and update it and eventually he was successful. This was very fortunate for him, because after two years of working, his investor had become tired of earning nothing. He continued on to make more machines and sell them. Elias even “went to England to work on a new machine specifically adapted for corset making, and he sold one of his original machines to Thomas.” However he was not very successful in England, and when he heard that his wife was ill, he pawned what he had and returned to the states. But when he returned he realized his sewing machine had become very successful