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Innovation Canada

Innovation in the Home

J. N. Tarbox of Hamilton, Ontario, began his career as an inventor with designs for a canning collar, and a machine to make canning seals and stoppers. In 1879, however, he moved away from food preservation to file a U.S. patent for his sewing machine (940165). Although there had already been many innovations in sewing machine technology, Tarbox had come up with a few unique features. These included innovations in the stitching mechanism, an increased number of adjustments the operator could make, and the use of certain components, enabling him to vary construction and assembly of the machine. It is difficult to accurately assess either the commercial success of Tarbox’s innovations, or the full extent of his influence on later sewing machine design.

This sewing machine model was part of a patent application in 1879. (CSTM 1991.0165)
This sewing machine model was part of a patent application in 1879. (CSTM 1991.0165)

 

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