Sewing Machine Patent Model, Isaac Singer

The first practical sewing machine was designed by Elias Howe in 1846 and provided a new way to make clothes. Previously, clothes had been made by hand using a needle and thread. This invention allowed for mass production of clothing.

In 1851 Isaac Singer introduced a commercial sewing machine and three years later a domestic model. Singer developed this design whilst working in a machine shop in Boston, Massachusetts, where he repaired a Lerow sewing machine. Together with Edward Clark he founded the I.M.Singer Company, marketed it and became one of the wealthiest Americans of the century. One difference between Singers model and earlier ones was its continuous-feed feature. This method of cloth feeding regulated the tension on the needle thread, and lubricated the needle so leather could be sewn. Previous machines had an overhanging arm, which held a needle directly and vibrated with it. According to Holmes, Singers improved sewing machine included such assets as a table supporting the cloth horizontally (instead of a feed bar); "a vertical presser foot to hold the cloth down against the upward stroke of the needle, and an arm to hold the presser foot and the vertical needle-holding bar in position over the table. A real breakthrough was his invention of a foot treadle instead of a hand crank." (http://www.moah.org/exhibits/virtual/sewing.html)

Three years after the introduction of his sewing machine, Elias Howe sued Singer, however his machines continued to be manufactured and continued to be improved. Singers Company had become the world's largest manufacturer of sewing machines by 1860.

Opdkye was one of the first American merchants to manufacture a small-scale line of ready-made clothing. After the sewing machine was invented ready-made clothing took off. Ready-mades are considered to be commercially made, mass-produced objects created for purchase and immediate use. Singers sewing machine was not only used for clothes, but also adopted by shoe makers, as it was strong enough to sew leather.
A comparison to the sewing machine is the Macintosh 512K because it too was a functional device. Isaac Singers sewing machine was not the first to be invented but a developed and improved version of previous ones which allowed for a greater production of clothing etc. The Macintosh 512K was the second apple computer design who's improvements allowed for increasing communication within societies.
The Rookwood vase contrasts to the sewing machine as it does not serve a particularly important or useful function other then holding flowers. The individuality and design of the hand crafted vase contrasts to the ability of the sewing machine to produce mass production of clothes.