Singer, Isaac Merrit

Singer, Isaac Merrit

▪ American inventor
born Oct. 27, 1811, Pittstown, N.Y., U.S.
died July 23, 1875, Torquay, Devon, Eng.

      American inventor who developed and brought into general use the first practical domestic sewing machine.

      At the age of 19 Singer became an apprentice machinist, and in 1839 he patented a rock-drilling machine. Ten years later he patented a metal- and wood-carving machine. While working in a Boston machine shop in 1851, Singer was asked to repair a Lerow and Blodgett sewing machine; 11 days later he had designed and built an improved model, which he patented and sold through I.M. Singer & Company. The first to embody features allowing continuous and curved stitching, his machine employed an overhanging arm holding the needle bar over a horizontal table, thus making it possible to sew on any part of the work. His basic design features have been followed in almost all subsequent machines.

      Because Singer had embodied in his machine the basic eye-pointed needle and the lock stitch developed by Elias Howe of the United States, Howe won a patent-infringement suit against him in 1854. The suit did not prevent Singer from manufacturing his machine, however, and in June 1851 he formed a partnership with Edward Clark. By 1860 their company had become the largest producer of sewing machines in the world. Singer secured 12 additional patents for improvements to his machine.

      Singer pioneered the use of installment credit plans, which have had a profound effect on consumer sales in modern society. In 1863 Singer and Clark formed the Singer Manufacturing Company, and Singer retired to England.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Isaac Merrit Singer — Isaac Merritt Singer Isaac Merritt Singer (* 27. Oktober 1811 in Pittstown, New York; † 23. Juli 1875 in Paignton, Devonshire, Großbritannien) war ein US amerikanischer Unternehmer und Erfinder …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Isaac Merrit Singer — Isaac Merritt Singer Isaac Merritt Singer Isaac Merritt Singer (26 octobre 1811 – 23 juillet 1875) fut un inventeur américain, un acteur et un entrepreneur. Il fit des améliorations importantes dans la conception des machines à écrire et des… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Isaac Merrit Singer — (Pittstown N.Y, 1811 Torquay (Devon), 1875) fue un inventor e industrial estadounidense. Su padre, Adam Singer y su madre Ruth Benson, se divorciaron en 1821 cuando tenia 12 años, lo que le produjo ciertos problemas emocionales ya que se tuvo que …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Isaac Merrit Singer — noun United States inventor of an improved chain stitch sewing machine (1811 1875) • Syn: ↑Singer, ↑Isaac M. Singer • Instance Hypernyms: ↑inventor, ↑discoverer, ↑artificer, ↑manufacturer, ↑producer …   Useful english dictionary

  • singer — [ sɛ̃ʒe ] v. tr. <conjug. : 3> • 1770; de singe 1 ♦ Imiter (qqn) maladroitement ou d une manière caricaturale, pour se moquer. « Le gros père Guerbet avait singé madame Isaure [...] en se moquant de ses airs penchés, en imitant sa petite… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Singer Company — ▪ American corporation       corporation that grew out of the sewing machine (sewing machine) business founded in the United States by Isaac M. Singer (Singer, Isaac Merrit).       The company was incorporated in 1863 as the Singer Manufacturing… …   Universalium

  • Singer — noun 1. United States writer (born in Poland) of Yiddish stories and novels (1904 1991) • Syn: ↑Isaac Bashevis Singer • Instance Hypernyms: ↑writer, ↑author 2. United States inventor of an improved chain stitch sewing machine (1811 1875) • Syn: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • Isaac M. Singer — noun United States inventor of an improved chain stitch sewing machine (1811 1875) • Syn: ↑Singer, ↑Isaac Merrit Singer • Instance Hypernyms: ↑inventor, ↑discoverer, ↑artificer, ↑manufacturer, ↑producer …   Useful english dictionary

  • Isaac Merritt Singer — (* 27. Oktober 1811 in Pittstown, New York; † 23. Juli 1875 in Paignton, Devonshire, Großbritannien) war ein US amerikanischer Unternehmer und Erfinder. Er leistete wesentliche Beiträge zur E …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Singer (surname) — Singer is a surname and may refer to: * Addie Singer, fictional character from the TV show Unfabulous * Bryan Singer, film director * Burns Singer * Charles Singer * Edgar Arthur Singer (1873 195?), American philosopher * Eric Singer * Fred… …   Wikipedia

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