Saturday, 29 April 2023

Pinwheel Star

 

Elias Howe was born in Massachusetts in 1819. He was apprenticed at a textile factory, and later worked as a mechanic with carding machinery. For years he wrestled with the idea of a machine that could relieve tailors and seamstresses of the drudgery of hand stitching. One night, he dreamed he was about to be executed by primitive tribe for his inability to invent the sewing machine. The “savages” came at him with spears – spears with piercings near their tips. His dream led to the invention of the lockstitch sewing machine, which uses a needle pierced near the tip. In 1851, Elias received a patent for another invention, which he called the “Automatic, Continuous Clothing Closure.” The popularity of the sewing machine kept Elias so busy, he never really marketed his other invention, which you’ve probably already used at least twice today. Today is National Zipper Day, something you may want to remember next time you zip up.

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