In 1856 the owners of the original sewing machine patents formed the famous "sewing machine combination," for the establishment of a common license fee, and for the protection of their mutual interests. The combination included Elias Howe, the Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Company, the Grover & Baker Sewing Machine Company, and I. M. Singer & Co. The following summary of machines made by the leading companies from 1853 to 1876 illustrates the early growth of this industry:
Manufacturer. 1853. 1859. 1867. 1871. 1873. 1876.
Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Co. 799 21,306 38,055 128,526 119,190 108,997
The Singer Manufacturing Company 810 10,953 43,053 181,260 232,444 262,316
Grover & Baker Sewing Machine Co. 657 10,280 32,999 50,838 36,179 ....
Howe Sewing Machine Company .... .... 11,053 134,010 90,000 109,294
Wilcox & Gibbs Sewing Machine Co. .... .... 14,152 30,127 15,881 12,758
Domestic Sewing Machine Company .... .... .... 10,397 40,114 23,587
From the foregoing table it will be seen that as far back as a quarter of a century ago the output of machines was over a half a million a year. By 1877 all of the fundamental patents on the sewing machine had expired, but the continued activity of inventors in this field is attested by the fact that to-day there are many thousands of patents relating to the sewing machine and its parts. Besides those relating to the organization of the machine itself there is an endless variety of attachments, such as hemmers, tuckers, fellers, quilters, binders, gatherers and rufflers, embroiderers, corders and button hole attachments. Every part of the machine has also received separate attention and separate patents, all tending to the perfection of the machine, until to-day, with all fundamental principles public property, and endless improvements in details, it is difficult to discriminate as to comparative excellence.
There is to-day a great variety of sewing machines on the market, standard machines for ordinary work, and special machines for numerous special applications. It is said that one concern alone manufactures over four hundred different varieties of sewing machines.