SEWING MACHINES-AND WAR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17934, 30 October 1918, Page 8

SEWING MACHINES-AND WAR.

Without the sewing machine modern war would bo well-nigh impossible. It is something of a shook to realise that almost every detail of our Armies' equipment is dependent upon sewing machines of one kind or another for its rapid production in the large quantities required. On the outbreak of war we had an Army of, roughly, 300,000 men; within twelve months it had swollen to millions, and equipment had to be supplied not only to our own Army but also to the armies of our Allies. It was the sewing machine alone that made this possible. Tho British Army boot is the finest in tho world, and is sown entirely by the machine. There are wonderful machines which sew at tho rate of 2000 stitches a minute for ordinary sowing, while for hot-wax stitching, formerly a laborious hand process, a speed, of 1000 stitches per minute is easily maintained. In. tho making of uniforms, highspeed machines with a capacity of 3000 stitches a minute are employed, sewing the heavy khaki or tho thin lining with equal facility; perfect buttonholes are mado at tho rate or two or three a minute, and buttons may be sewn on at the astounding 6peed of ten a minute. This machine ties and cuts the ends at each operation in a manner truly wonderful to the lay mind. Shirts are entirely machine-made. The seams of the overlap variety are folded automatically and both sides sewn simultaneously at a speed of 4000 stitches a minuteIn equipment, bandoliers, cartridge cases and haversacks are all the product of tho sewing machine. Harness, traces, and all leather goods are sewn on huge machines sowing up to one inch in thickness, the thread being waxed in its passage through the machine. Tho result is equal to handwork and is produced in a mere fraction of the time In the making of aeroplane wings the fabric is folded and the seam stitched with tho utmost speed and accuracy. Dirigibles and rigid airships with thr'K> millions of stitches would require armies for their production, and would be practically impossible if the work had to bo done by hand.