The History Of The Sewing Machine

The History Of The Sewing Machine The art of sewing was invented in the Paleolithic era, where early men used sharp pointed tools called awls to poke holes in pieces of leather and then thread a strip of leather or sinew through the leather to make coverings for cold weather. Then, the idea to make a notch at the end of the awl came about and it allowed the thread to be attached to the awl, this made sewing a lot easier and more efficient.  [1]  Since then, implements for sewing have been tremendously enhanced and refined, but the most significant improvement made to the process of sewing is the invention of the sewing machine. For this essay, I will focus on the introduction and the proliferation of the sewing machine for use in the household in 19th to early 20th century in Europe and America. I will also examine the role that it played in society and the various issues related to the sewing machine in this period of time. History Up to the early and mid 19th century in Europe, sewing was all done by hand, everything from clothing to bed linen and curtains had to be sewn by hand, usually by the women of the family, including girls. It constituted a large part of womens labour in the home. The skills of sewing and embroidery were taught to girls from a young age, and they were expected to be proficient at it. Even girls from rich families which could afford to hire seamstresses were expected to proficient in sewing. The sewing machine was significant enough such that in 1855, the influential and powerful magazine Godeys Ladys Book hailed the sewing machine as the The Queen of Inventions for the time and labour that it would save women.  [2]   The first viable, working sewing machine was invented by French tailor Barthà ©lemy Thimonnier in 1830. By 1841, he has produced eighty machines for use by the French military to sew uniforms. A group of tailors, being fearful of the new technology, broke into the factory and destroyed the machines as they were afraid that the machines would ruin their livelihoods. In 1846, America, a mechanic Elias Howe came up with another design for the sewing machine, using the lockstitch instead of Thimonniers chain stitch method. However, the machine was not well received in America and Howe travelled to England to seek financing for the production for his machine. Upon his return to America, he discovered that the inventors Isaac Singer and Walter Hunter had improved on his design, with a rigid instead of a vibrating arm, similar to the sewing machines that we have today. The machine they made had become a commercial success. After that, many sewing machine companies were set up and many peop le made improvements to the design of the sewing machine. To resolve patent issues, some of these companies came together to form the Sewing Machine Corporation. The next major improvement in the design of sewing machines with Singer Manufacturing Companys introduction of the electricity powered sewing machine.  [3]   Marketing the sewing machine One thing about the sewing machine which I found interesting was the way in which it was marketed and how the marketing of the sewing machine changes as peoples perception of the sewing machine changed. Some of the earliest French advertising material for sewing machines were targeted at men and showed a soldier at the sewing machine. From its introduction until the 1850s, the sewing machine was targeted at men and for industrial use, until it was suggested to Singer Sewing Company that they create a machine for domestic use. Henceforth, the advertising of the sewing machine was targeted at women.  [4]   The marketing strategy was altered to react to the changes of womens view on the increasingly common sewing machine. When the sewing machine was first made available, it was expensive and unaffordable and hence became a status symbol for the wealthier families. The time saved could be used for teaching their children or simply resting. From the 1850s to the 1870s, the sewing machine was also marketed as a piece of furniture, which led to some of the higher end sewing machines coming with cabinet cases that were rather elaborate and fanciful. The sewing machine continued to gain in popularity and by the 1890s, it was common enough for it to lose its association as a status symbol. This led to a change in the perception of the sewing machine. Instead of being something meant to be displayed, it was now a tool that was best hidden from view, even though it was still frequently used. This led to modifications in the new types of machines being introduced, such as the drop head model, whe re the machine could be folded into a table and out of sight after use.  [5]  ,  [6]   Another event that altered the role of the sewing machine was the rise of the ready-to-wear clothing industry in the 1920s. Unlike today, readymade clothing were of better quality but more costly compared to home sewn clothing as they were made by professional dressmakers. At this period of time, the sewing machine was marketed as a money saving tool, allowing women to save some money by sewing their own clothing and look as polished as if they were wearing ready to wear clothing. Advertising from a sewing machine company then claimed that with the help of Greist attachments, the items sewn at home have a finished look instead of a home-made look  [7]   Pioneering new forms of technology An idea in the marketing of the sewing machine which I found worthy of exploration was the idea of hire purchase that began in the 1890s. Clothing manufacturers were unwilling to invest in sewing machines as labour was both cheap and plentiful. Due to the abundance of labour, the wages of the working women were low and their work undervalued.  [8]  The working class women were the group of people that would benefit the most from owning a sewing machine of their own. However, few people from this class of society could afford to buy one, as a sewing machine could cost anywhere from a fifth to half of their yearly income. Owning a sewing machine would allow them to take on more pieces of work and possibly improve their standard of living, making the sewing machine a very attractive piece of equipment. Through the installment plans, women could possibly afford to purchase a machine  [9]  . Though the idea of hire-purchase did not originate from the sewing machine industry, it wa s one of the early pioneers of this method of purchase and the first industry to extend direct credit to the consumer. It was ingenious of the industry to recognize the potential of installment schemes back when such methods of payment were unheard. This is in contrast to todays world where there are hire purchase schemes available for most major purchases. The Sewing Machine and the Industrial Revolution One of the trademarks of the Industrial Revolution was the idea of standardized and interchangeable parts. This process was first utilized by the ammunitions manufacturing industry to produce multiple parts with great precision to produce weapons like muskets. The same level of precision was required in the manufacturing of sewing machines. Isaac Singer saw the potential in this process and his company was one of the first to take advantage of this manufacturing process.  [10]  Production by this method ensured that any two machines of the same type were identical and the quality of the machines remained constant  [11]  . This allowed the sewing machine to be produced on the assembly line, and in turn caused the cost of production to be dramatically decreased, allowing the company to pass the savings on to the consumers. Also, interchangeable parts allowed repairs to be made effortlessly should a part of the machine be broken as the manufacturer could simply send over another piece similar to the one that was broken.  [12]  This made the sewing machine more appealing to the customers especially when coupled together with the decrease in price. The sewing machine was one of the inventions among others that were created during the Industrial Revolution and led to changes in the role that women play in society. The introduction of machines such as the sewing machine, washing machines, refrigerators and vacuum cleaners saved women in the household much time and effort.  [13]  This allowed women to receive more educational opportunities and the ability to become a skilled worker and be engaged in occupations such as teaching or nursing where their labour is of value. Women were no longer tied up in the household carrying out household chores. Conclusion To conclude, I feel that the sewing machine is one of the more significant inventions to be made during the years of the Industrial Revolution. The the study of the sewing machines can help us understand world events and issues that took place during that period of time such as the Industrial Revolution, and the changes in the lives of women. Also, when compared to todays world, the role that the sewing machine plays in the society is vastly different than the role that it played back in the late 1800s. The domestic sewing machine is now something of a novelty. This is just another example to show that as society changes, the needs of the people changes with it. What was regarded as a necessity in the household back then is no longer a necessity today. Beaudry, Mary C. Findings. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2006. Coffin, Judith G. The Politics of Womens work. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1996. Connolly, Marguerite. The Disappearance of the Domestic Sewing Machine, 1890-1925. Winterthur Portfolio, 1999: 31-48. McClellan, James E.,and Dorn, Harold. Science and technology in world history:An Introduction. Baltimore: John Hopkins University Press, 2006. Zakreski, Patricia. Representing Female Artistic Labour, 1848-1890. Hampshire: Ashgate Publishing Limited, 2006.

Confucius Essay -- essays research papers

Confucius became famous as a sage, or wise man, of China during the Age of Philosophers. His Five Classics have influenced the civilizations of most of eastern Asia. Confucius was born in the state of Lu when local rulers refused to pay homage to the emperor of a failing Chou dynasty. Confucius hated the disorder that ensued and looked back on a time when things like that were not even thought of. He studied the teachings of the sage’s whose teachings and influences had made China one whole nation at one time. He decided that he was the one who should restore the faith and practices of the old emperors and wise men. Since Confucius was not able to gain an official position in China, he spent most of his life teaching a core group of disciples. The main idea of Confucius’ philosophy was to provide rules and traditions for every conceivable situation in every day life. He was concerned with all the misery in the world, and he hoped that making men noble would bring about a noble world. Confucius’ ideas of being benevolent to one’s fellow man, closely following set rituals, and acting in a manner proper and befitting one’s social class became the state followed ideology during the Han dynasty.1   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When studying the religion and philosophy of Confucius, one must have a clear understanding of the books he wrote. The Five Classics were from the period preceding the Warring States Period. They were brought together and edited by the members of Confucius’ original school. Once Confucianism was made China’s official philosophy, a person had to study these five books in order to gain a prized governmental position. Saying that there are only five classics is a bit of a misstatement. There are five classics and an extra book written by Confucius that is usually lumped in with the traditional Five Classics. That book is Lunyu, or The Analects. The Analects is a collection of little bits of wisdom that Confucius gave his disciples. However, the book is not a comprehensive “bible'; of Confucianism. It is a collection of quotations, anecdotes, and wisdoms. Due to this fact, Confucianism, at least according to Confucius, is open to interpretation. The Analects is still an interesting book, in that it provides a direct view of the thoughts and feelings of Confucius. T... ...e and control the world about him.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Confucius taught that when patterns on earth match those of Heaven, the spiritual beings of Heaven can be brought to earth and made to help man. All the spirits and specters of Heaven could be drawn out by earthly virtue to enact the beneficiary duties their realm imposed on them. These spirits were believed to do such things as keep rivers flowing, winds blowing and bringing rain that was needed by farmers. In turn, the farmers, following the established Confucian code of conduct, gave tithes to their overlords. This allowed the overlords to provide arts, education, and entertainment.6   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Some people dispute the success of Confucianism. Technically, Confucianism failed. But only during the lifetime of its creator. During his life, Confucius only gathered a few followers. After his death, these followers passed on his teachings, wisdom, and love for rituals and the tradition survived. It survived all the way to the Han dynasty when it became the official Chinese philosophy. From then on, it was firmly established in Chinese culture and its effects and value systems can still be seen today.

Macbeth and the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 Essay examples -- Comparison Co

Macbeth and the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 Shakespeare’s Macbeth was influenced by the gunpowder plot of 1605. The equivocation that was inspired by this event played an important role in the play. The general theme of Macbeth reflects the mood of society at the time that it was written. This relationship is a direct reflection of the mimetic theory. This paper will examine the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 and the role of equivocation in the subsequent prosecutions during the time that Shakespeare was writing Macbeth, and show how Macbeth was influenced by the event. On the night of November 4, 1605, an important discovery was made in London: thirty-six barrels of highly explosive gunpowder, ready to blow a hole in the earth, were discovered directly below the House of Parliament in Westminster. Had the authorities not foiled this attempt, Parliament would have been destroyed, killing the members of Parliament as well as King James I of England (whose reign had only begun in 1603), and sending the English government into shambles. In modern day context, Garry Wills suggests that this event would be as if an atomic bomb was discovered under the United States Capitol Building during the heat of the Cold War: How to suggest the scale of it? For a parallel we might imagine America in the 1950s, and suppose that a communist cell – made up of Americans acting under foreign direction – has planted a nuclear device under the United States Capitol. It is timed to go off when the President is addressing both houses of Congress. All Executive Officers will be there, as well as all justices of the Supreme Court. The three branches of Government will be wiped out. Every Constitutional successor to the President will die with him.1 One of ... ...ent as of April 8, 2000) Boot, Jeremy. Guy Fawkes – Treason in 1605. Internet WWW page, at URL: <http://www.innotts.co.uk/~asperges/fawkes/> (version current as of March 5, 2000) Friedlander, Ed, M.D. Enjoying "Macbeth", by William Shakespeare. Internet WWW page, at URL: <http://www.pathguy.com/erf/macbeth.htm> (version current as of March 5, 2000) Vaidya, Suchit and Chris Harrison. Macbeth.com. Internet WWW page, at URL: <http://www.igs.net/~chrisharr/macbeth/index2.html> (version current as of March 5, 2000) Weller, Philip. Macbeth Navigator: Themes: Equivocation. Internet WWW page, at URL: <http://www.clicknotes.com/macbeth/Equiv.html> (version current as of March 5, 2000) Wuestenhagen, Greg. Guy Fawkes and his day. Internet WWW page, at URL: <http://www.bcpl.lib.md.us/~cbladey/guy/html/toc.html> (version current as of March 5, 2000)

The Character of Teiresias in Oedipus The King :: Oedipus Rex, Sophocles

Throughout history there have been some astonishing Greek plays. Some plays were more comedic in nature, so were romance plays and then there were some that were tragic plays. One of the greatest Greek tragedy plays ever written was Oedipus the King. Brilliantly conceived and written, Oedipus the King dramatizes the self-discovery and tragic downfall of Oedipus, the King of Thebes. It tells the story about a young Greek who was fated to murder his father, marry his mother, and in the process become the King of Thebes, before ultimately meeting his downfall due to his own deeds. That makes this play so fascinating is that there are numerous underlying themes within the story, and I will attempt to shed light on one of these themes, that being the dramatic irony of blindness. I shall do this by focusing on the words and actions of a minor character in the play, Tiresias. A minor character is a character that is developed in such a way to help reveal themes and depict certain literary devices. Literary devices are used in mostly all literary works, as they can help reveal pertinent information and also move the story along. In the play Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, the minor character of Teiresias is responsible for foreshadowing Oedipus’ fate, developing the theme of blindness, and also illustrating dramatic irony. Teiresias uses his fortune teller abilities to foreshadow the anguish and destruction that Oedipus will encounter after he learns the truths of his life. Teiresias is also responsible for further developing the theme of blindness by using his own physical blindness to reveal to Oedipus his mental blindness. Lastly, Teiresias is ultimately responsible for imposing dramatic irony because of his great knowledge of the truth of Oedipus. In Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, the character of Teiresias is developed in such a way that he utilizes many dramatic devices in order to reveal information and move the play along.As a fortune teller, Teiresias is able to see the fate and destruction of Oedipus’ life. Teiresias uses his great ability to reveal to the reader the downfalls in Oedipus’ life that will soon occur because of his quest to know his fate. The character of Teiresias demonstrates the use of foreshadowing in order for the reader to be aware of Oedipus’ fate.You can not see the wretchedness of your life, Nor in whose house you live, no, nor with whom.

India adopting western culture Essay

Culture literal meaning is what how you cultivate or build oneself. Cult or build in multi-directionally i.e in ethically socially even in all aspects of that lead human development. Every culture is enriched with some good and bad features. Indian culture is rich and diverse and as a result unique in its very own way. Our manners, way of communicating with one another, etc are one of the important components of our culture. Even though we have accepted modern means of living, improved our lifestyle, our values and beliefs still remain unchanged. A person can change his way of clothing, way of eating and living but the rich values in a person always remains unchanged because they are deeply rooted within our hearts, mind, body and soul which we receive from our culture. Western culture can also be referred to as advanced culture; this is because its ideas and values promote the development and sustainment of advanced civilization. Western culture has had quite an influence in india but it has its pros & cons too. There are many good things in the western culture which we have adopted. But why do we see only the negatives? Even the Indian culture has influence the western world. the globe is shrinking & we are all getting closer to each other in many ways. so its very natural for us to adopt their ways & for them to adopt ours Western culture has affected almost every dimension of society. The core religious traditions are still the same but the life style differences can be found because of western culture. Hence we can say that western media has not affected the core traditions of indian society but has changed life style and apparent characteristics of the society. Conclusion: How there is head and tail for a coin there is both positive and negative impact of western culture and Indian Culture. I think both cultures are unique in their own way and equally good. Western culture and Indian culture both have good qualities and bad qualities. We should not think of which culture is better but should take the good qualities of both cultures and put it into use in our life  attribution.

Managing Health and Safety at Work Act Essay

Review of health and safety roles and responsibilities Identify 2 pieces of legislation relating to health, safety and welfare relevant to the workplace I have identified, The Health and safety at work act 1974 and Management health and safety at work regulations 1999. The health and safety at work act 1974 is the primary piece of legislation covering all work related health and safety in the UK. It sets out employers responsibilities for your health and safety at work. The Management of health and safety at work regulations make the assessment of risks a cornerstone of UK health and safety requirements. Duties statute law imposes on both the manager and the team and the managers responsibilities contained within the organisations health and safety policy. The most important responsibility as an employee is to take reasonable care of your own health and safety and if possible avoid wearing jewelry and tie hair back when using the machines. To take reasonable care not to put other people , fellow employees and members of the public at risk by what you do or don’t do in the course of your work. You should co-operate with your employer, making sure you get proper training and you understand and follow the company’s health and safety policies. An employee should never interfere with or misuse anything that’s been provided for your health, safety or welfare. It is your duty to report any injuries, strains or illnesses you suffer as a result of doing your job. You should always tell your employer if something happens that might affect your ability to work eg becoming pregnant or suffering an injury. All employers must make the workplace safe and prevent risks to health and ensure that the machinery is safe to use, and that safe working practices are set up and followed. The employer needs to provide adequate first aid facilities and tell you about any potential hazards from the work you do and give you information, instructions, training and supervision as needed. Emergency plans need to be set up in case of emergency. Make sure that ventilation, temperature, lighting, and toilet, washing and rest facilities all meet health, safety and welfare requirements. Check that the right work equipment is provided and is properly used and regularly maintained. Ensure that the right warning signs are provided and looked after.Report certain accidents, injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences to either the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) or the local authority, depending on the type of business. Explain what is meant by a ‘competent person’ in your workplace A competent person is someone who has sufficient training and experience or knowledge and other qualities that allow them to assist members properly. The level of competence required will depend on the complexity of the situation and the particular help you need. When getting help you should give preference to those in your own organization who have the appropriate level of competence which includes the employer themselves before looking for help from outside. You must consult health and safety representatives in good time on the arrangements for competent help. Identify 2 ways you can provide health and safety information, instruction and training in your team One way you can provide health and safety information is by using leaflets and posters around the work place. You can get these from various sites including: – Sector Skills Councils (www.sscalliance.org.uk); – UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES)(www.ukces.org.uk); – trade unions or trade associations; – further education colleges; – private training organisations; – independent health and safety consultants; – employer bodies (eg Chambers of Commerce); and – qualification-awarding bodies. To find a course leading to an accredited health and safety qualification look at the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority website www.qca.org.uk/qualifications. Secondly you could offer on the job training or classroom based learning individually or in groups. Computer based or interactive learning is a very fast, accurate and fun way of teaching the employees.

Effects of Facebook Essay

Social networking sites, most notably Facebook have become so popular today that they are the leading words on the lips of every teenager. Facebook has more than 750 million users today. You love to spend most of your time checking your Facebook updates, but do you know that there are many negative effects of using Facebook. Effects of Facebook on Teenagers Most of the teenagers don’t realize then negative impact of Facebook on their life. And, the main reason is because they are already addicted to it. And, this addiction can lead to several negative developments. You will find 7 negative effects of this social networking site that should encourage you to start avoiding it. The first negative effect of Facebook is that a teenage user starts losing interest in his or her surroundings. You would be addicted to Facebook and the only thing you would be concerned about will be your â€Å"own† world, which is inside Facebook. The second negative effect is that your real-world social interaction will start diminishing. There is no doubt that you are going to have hundreds of friends on Facebook, but with how many of them would you be interacting out in the real world. As a human being, you are a social creature and you naturally require real-world social interaction. When you are going to spend maximum of your time on the Internet, you are going to decrease your communication and social skills. Another negative impact will be on your health. There is a very high chance that excessive use of Facebook leads to the users becoming obese. You would be sitting most of the time in front of the computer, eating snacks and without any physical activities. And, over a period of time you are going to accumulate all the extra pounds. Facebook is also going to minimize your study time. Rather than spending your time on Facebook, you would better start browsing some educational sites that relate to your school course. For Facebook users, family doesn’t come first, but Facebook does. For them their online friends are more important than their family members. The sixth negative effect of Facebook is that your personal data becomes public on this social site, threatening your privacy. This is not reasonable, unless you want to be contacted by hundreds of people that don’t know you. The seventh negative effect of Facebook is that it increases the chances of online conflict. Facebook is populated with immature individuals who create bizarre statuses, upload awkward images and carry out absurd actions. And, this can lead to conflicts between people. Given these negative effects of Facebook it is up to you to decide the degree to which you want this social networking site to enter into your life. Getting addicted to Facebook is certainly going to increase problems in your life, but if you can restrict or avoid the use of this non-productive aspect of your life, you are going to stay away from troubles. Hence, it is up to you to decide how you want to use Facebook.