THE SINGER MANUFACTUR ING COMPANY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11714, 23 April 1900, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE SINGER MANUFACTUR ING COMPANY.

MANUFACTURERS OF THE SINGER

SEWING MACHINE.

E..W." CLARKSON, Buancii M:\jcagek.

". ®*. le systems into which mankind is divided, ranging from the monarchical to the convict, perhaps none is better and more .systematically organised than . the commercial. Herein' isA-i multitude of systems,- independent, but interdependent, one working into and with another, and making the gigantic commerce of a nation in its internal and international trade. A finer example of the independent. type could not be found than The Singer Sewing Machine Manufacturing Company. .Says one writer: " Go where you will throughout the world, amongst every race, colour, or'creed under the sun, you will find direct employees of The Singer Manufacturing Company selling sewing machines." The number of those dependent.on this institution for a. livelihood would make an army, and in the ad-, ministration of these people no army is more efficiently, managed. • In Australia", for instance, the branches are in.,, the cities, and the travellers penetrate every nook and corner of settlement' in the: island-con-tinent, circling, bisecting,. and over-running it with an object in view. The head office" where the general, of this Australian army has his quarters,' is in Sydney, and in all the branches he has under his charge 740 employees, 133 shops and offices', 456 horses and 365 waggons, . and pays in expenses (1898) .-3104,596.

( Tlie story of this company is inspiriting. Continues tlie writer already quoted: — '■ Fifty years ago, Isaac Singer, a^penniless ur.d friendless mechanic in a smalt American town, succeeded after many failures and .disappointments in making a practical sewing machine. With tlie loan of £8, which lie managed somehow or other to secure, he started to manufacture sewing machines. From that day to this, notwith" FtiUKling many difficulties and much bitter opposition, Isaac Singers-business gradually but surely increased. By the year 1863 the annual sales of Singer sewing machines amounted to 21,000, and agencies were established B.M over America and Great Britain." The firm in that year was incorporated, and from time to time since then substantial improvements have been made in the construction of the contrivance. Experiment iias made the manufacture of the company probably the most celebrated in the world, and to-day there is little re-,, semblance between -tlie machine used and' that originally turned out by Mr Singer. Tiio organisation of-this company-and the development from so small a beginning has bee:; wonderful. Itnmetiss factories are now established at Hlizabsth Port, New Jersey, U.S.A., and KLlbowie, Scotland, and even these' arc not sufficient for the demand. Kitty years ago, the unknown inventor had (hlKculty in obtaining funds to construct on* machine; in 1871 the company produced 181,260 machines ; in 1878, 556,432 ; in- 1886, over 800,000; and in 1899, about 1.000,000. The company manufactures 700 different varieties of machines, which are adapted to almost every requirement of the home or the factors-, to art' vwbrk, or to the simplest class of" sewing. Like the oak in some English pleasance, the Singer had good soil, and has become an enormous giant. ' ..

Branches of The Singer Manufacturing Company are established hi various parts of New Zealand, arid' representatives traverse the length and breadth of the colony. The Dunedin branch is in charge of Mr H. W. Oip.rkson^ who administrates all tho country south of the Waitalci River. Twenty travellers go from town to village niid through the countryside over this area selling the Singer and delivering it to order. No settler is too?remote for this great company, and because of its universal use each purchaser can be sure of obtaining instruction concerning the working lof the machine. Every, employee, more or. less, understands this," and is' required to give every little item of information desired. 1 .Nineteen horses, 10 waggons, and 30 employees are engaged by the local branch, and its total expenses are abput £6000 per annum. These figures enable ono~fo form some opinion concerning the popularity of the invention' and the dimensions of" the trade. The showroom and offices of the company arc in the A.ALP. Buildings iv Princes street. . one floor being" occupied. .1 loserve stock is stored in premises in Stafford street, measuring 40ft by 100 ft. The vibrating shuttle machine and the oscillating shuttle machine are the classes in which the largest business is done, and a fine assortment' of these are to be found ■in the A.M.x. Buildings. The Singer people have reduced their business to a science, and the purchaser is, therefore, considered to tlie utmost in the matter of price and the time allowed to pay. ~Ko Singer machine can be purchased from a depot, store, or from any person who is not an authorised agent of the company. All tho • most popular classes of tho machine are sold iv this colony, including special machines fur "the manufacture of clothes and boots. Art work in silk, and all descriptions of materials are done on the local premises of the company by the ordinary Singer, and specially trained instructresses are engaged to give information to purchasers in all brunches of art work. The sale of the machines is constantly increasing in Dunedin and district, the unsurpassed recommendations of tho Singer assuring an increased demand. A high degree of mechanical perfection has bean attained in their manufacture: " The machines for family sewing are so simple that a child can understand them; they are so strong that a bungler can hardly get them out: of order. Every part is made with such scrupulous care from the best materials, fitted in its place with the utmost exactness, and tested and re-tested so many times before leaving the factory, that they never get, the 'fits' that try' a woman's patience, destroy tho fruits o"f her labour, and consume her limu in vexing attempts to coax tho machine to a proper performance of duty." Nothing leaves the factories

that is - not tested and proved, and hence the public can depend on getting a reliable machine of the most ingenious and utilitarian manufacture. Mr Clarkson, the local manager, was born in Auckland, entered the service-. of the company as a clerk: irr that branch, and has been associated with the ■ Singer people for j.2 years. Seven years ago he. became manager 'in Dunediu, and has demonstrated commercial ability, in his administration of its a/fairs. It would appear that no limit can.be plated to the greatness of The Singer Manufacturing Company.. ■■-.■■ •" .■