THE SEWING MACHINE IN NEW ZEALAND.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 132, 20 July 1881, Page 4

THE SEWING MACHINE IN NEW ZEALAND.

The number of sewing machines annually imported into New Zealand is very large, all the leading British and American makers being duly represented: among these the Singer Manufacturing Company occupy aprominent position. The history of the 'Singer Machine is too well known to need repetition. The improvements introduced by him into the sewing machine were of such a character as to create a very large demand for the Singer machines in the United States, where the company, which had been formed by Mr. Singer taking several of his leading employees into partner ship, had established large factories at Elizabeth Point, New Jersey, and .South Bend, Indiana. At the present time the Elizabeth Port Factory, of which we gave a view, is one of the largest industrial establishments in America. It consists of a vast range of buildings in which all the operations connected with the production of the sewing machines are carried on. The extent of the works may be judged from tbe fact that they cover , twenty-five acres of ground, and that in and around them are no less than five miles of railway belonging to the company. Like most American manufacturers the Singer Company speedily recognised the importance and value of economy in production, hence the South Bend factory was established for the purpose of producing the wooden tables and cabinets required for the machines. The quantity of mahogany and walnut annually consumed is enormous, amounting to many thousand cubic feet, and furnishing employment to large numbers of- skilled artizans. In 1861, the company determined to meet the British demand for their machines by the establishment of works on a large scale at Glasgow, that place being selected as most suitable for the required purpose. The Glasgow factory consists of three divisions — namely, the foundry, the forging and fitting shops, and the cabinet works. Owing to exigencies of ground space, and other reasons, the foundry is widely separated from the other departments, being located at Bonnybridge, about 18 miles from Glasgow. Adding together the work-people employed in the foundry, factory, and cabinet works, it will be seen thatjthey number over 2,200; and, in 187i9, with the assistance of their mechanical aids, they turned out no fewer than 194,108 sewing machines !

The number of machines made at the American works of the company in the same time approached 240,000, so that the joint production was well on towards half a million. This indicates a marvellous development of a branch of industry created within little more than a quarter of a century. The annual increase of production is very remarkable. In 1867 the number sold was 43,353 ; in 1872 it was 219,758 ; and in 1879 it had risen to 431,167. In 1880 the sales of the Singer Company amounted to the enormous number of 538,609 machines, and this year the sales are increasing in a corresponding ratio. The company have no fewer than 2000 branch offices, rented by themselves, and attended by their own salaried employees. Of these offices, 300 are in Great Britain, 377 in other parts of Europe, and over 1000 in America, Asia, and Africa. Besides the branch offices, they have 3000 agents in various parts of the world. The Southern Europe, African, arid Asian divisions are ' controlled from the central office in London, which occupies a fine block of buildings in Foster Lane, Cheapside, and in which quite an army of clerks are employed. For the service of Northern Europe, there is a similar central establishment at Hamburg. Taking the manufacturing and sale departments of the company's business together, the number of salaried servants is over 40,000. In Australia the company have depots in all the leading cities and towns, that at Sydney being situate in Darling street, close to the harbor, and thereby enabling shipping operations to be carried on with ease and dispatch. The increased demand in Australia for the Singer machines, is shown by the rapid extension of the import business, to meet which, fresh additions are being made to the various works at Glasgow.