The Davis Sewing Machine

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 930, 30 March 1881, Page 5

The Davis Sewing Machine

Mbs. Fiske, the advance agent for the sale of this celebrated machine, gives daily exhibitions at Mr. Townley’s Furniture Warehouse, and proves to the satisfaction of a number of visitors that the innovation termed the “ vertical feed ” is really a most important adjunct to machines which we have heretofore considered to be perfection. This novelty may be thus described : — The feed is arranged above the shuttle plate, the goods resting upon a smooth surface, and being held firmly down by the presser foot until the needle has penetrated the fabric, at which time the pressure on the fabric is being transmitted from the presser foot to the Vertical Feed bar (which comes down on the goods close behind the needle) by means of a lever connecting the two, and also with the needlebar, so that at the time the needle has reached its lowest point the full pressure is transmitted to the feed-bar, and at which time the needle-bar and feed bar are both moved laterally the desired length of a stitch, both moving in unison at their highest and lowest

points. The work turned out by Mrs. Fiske received the highest praise from the visitors, and in addition the lady, who is a thorough business woman, and pleasing conversationalist, kept her audience not only in amazement at her wonderful manipulation, but also in great good humor. The variety of work performed would, if given in detail,, occupy columns of our space, but we safely say that there is no description of needlework of which we are aware that this machine, apparently, cannot perform; and when we say it stitches, hems, puckers, puffs frills, binds and turns an article out ready for use, it will be understood what marvellous powers of accomplishment this machine is capable of. Our reporter ventured once a remark that a young lady might imagine she was playing the piano, while at work, and to his surprise Mrs Fiske immediately demonstrated the truth of the observation. She put down the “ little demon ” (as some call the “ attachment,” which, of itself is a marvel of wonderment and simplicity combined) and, while frilling a pretty piece of work, put the machine, or rather her hands, into common, threefour, and six-eight time, the edge of

the frilling shewing as exactly the difference of time to the eye, as a musical instrument would do to the ear. Success having followed the first venture, our reporter began to gain confidence (much required while he was solus amongst so many ladies) and Suggested that an operator could easily nurse a baby or read a book, without neglecting her work. The fertility of resource was at the lady's assistance in a moment, for she put her little girl—and not a baby either—on her lap, and worked the treadle quite easily. Indeed, it is one of the greatand many recommendations these instruments have over all others, that, except in some of the more elaborate work, the use of the hands is not required at all ; or, in other words, if your stuff is of sufficient length, you have only to give the machine a fair start, with a supply of thread equal to the work required, and the operator can do anything but go to sleep—in fact the machine will do all the rest, from start to finish. The sojourn of Mrs. Fiske will be confined to this week, as she leaves for the south on Friday next, and we recommend those w’ho wish for easy lessons, to pay her an early visit, for she spares no pains to instruct, and is, otherwise, so pleasingly communicative as to relieve the duty of learning, by the gratification of being entertained. We learn that Messrs. Large and Townley have been appointed Gisborne agents, and are already advised of a number of these machines to arrive by the next steamer from the south.