Sewing Machine

                      In order to support his family his wife took in sewing to make extra money because Elias Howe could not earn enough. Watching his wife sew one day, Howe got the idea for a machine that would sew. It was much easier to think about than to build. It took Howe seven Years, in fact, to make a machine that could sew in straight and even stitches.

                      In 1845, Howe demonstrated his machine, easily beating five women who were sewing by hand. Nevertheless, no one would buy the new invention. It was not until the Civil War which produced a need for thousands of uniforms to be made quickly, that Howe's machine was adopted. He went on to become a wealthy and famous man.