An invention that has had a profound impact on our use of fabrics and on the nation’s economy was patented this week in 1851 — the home sewing machine, developed by Isaac Singer. The idea of the sewing machine — and some working models — went back to nearly a century before 1851. But Singer’s simple, sturdy machine was the first to be a commercial success. While far fewer people sew at home as avidly as was done in the past, the modern and industrial versions of Singer’s machines are the thread that runs through the nation’s $153 billion a year apparel and piece goods industry. Some 16,000 establishments employ about 200,000 workers in the manufacture of clothing. You can find current data on the country’s economy by downloading the ‘America’s Economy’ mobile application at <www.census.gov/mobile>.
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Thank you to the author(s) of “Rose’s Stores, Inc. Up to 1986”; one of the many ‘self-published’ books in the library. The book has 50 – 70 unnumbered and undated pages of scanned images of the original pages that had filled someone’s 3-ring binder. The book’s author or not credited. The book reads in part like an annual update of each year of the company from 1915 through 1985. Details include early family history, driver safety awards, all levels of management promotions, even eulogies. The books has a happy encouraging ending, “gross sales at the end of the year (1985) amounted to $1,009,208,000 with a net earnings of $20,322,000.”
Is there a volume two pending publication?