Harness Stitcher Legends - Campbell

Since 1882
Sewing Machines of the Past
Harness Stitcher Legends:
SEWING MACHINES OF THE PAST
By Dan Naegle
Campbell Bosworth Machinery Co.
For thousands of years, sewing was done by hand. It wasn’t until the mid 19th century that the first successful
sewing machine was put to work. Along with the wave of the industrial revolution, came Isaac M. Singer. While
working in a Boston machine shop in the summer of 1850, Singer developed and patented the first successful
and practical lockstitch sewing machine. Then in the late 1870’s and 1880’s this technology was put to use in
the harness and saddle shop, by the invention of Pearson #6, the Landis #1, and… the Bosworth!
What about Bosworth?
It’s a little known fact that the Campbell Bosworth Machinery Co. also manufactured a Bosworth machine.
Charles Fred Bosworth, a sewing machine inventor of
New Haven Connecticut, started patenting his inventions in the late 1850’s right on the heals of Mr. Singer.
He developed machines to sew fabrics and braided
straw. Then in the early 1890’s, the Bosworth Machine
Company, built there first closed-eye needle leather
sewing machine.
Patented in 1895, the Bosworth used a closed eye
needle and awl mechanism. That’s right; the Bosworth
used an awl in the head of the machine to pierce and
feed the leather forward, and then a closed eye needle,
set beside the awl, entered the hole to make the stitch.
The Bosworth was rated for 375 stitches per minute,
which was a high speed machine in its day, and could
sew 3 to 18 cord thread. At the turn of the century, the
Bosworth was the latest in labor-saving machinery and
scores of machines were produced. Sewing machines
were finding a place in every factory and large shop for
harness, saddles, boots, and other leather goods.
Little else is known of the success of this machine. It
enjoyed a life span of at least twenty years, but with
new advances in sewing technology, the Bosworth
began to lose its hold in the leather market. Records
show that many machines were exchanged out for
Campbell or other new machines. The Bosworth machine was eventually retired and drifted away into sewing machine history.
Order On-line Anytime!
www.campbell-bosworth.com
1-800-327-9420
Business Hours: Mon. - Fri., 8 am -5 PM, CT
Fax 24 Hours a Day: 1-361-293-7817
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Since 1882
Sewing Machines of the Past
The Campbell Cyclone:
THE GOLIATH OF THE HIGH SPEED INDUSTRY
At the turn of the century, the harness and saddle
industry was booming. Horses were still used for ranch
and farm work, and they continued to be a major
source of transportation. As the harness and leather
trades develop into mass produced products, sewing
machines had to keep up with the pace. The Union
Lockstitch Company of Boston was the first to supply
a practical high speed leather stitcher in 1905. The
United Shoe Machinery Co., the world’s largest manufacture of leather machinery, was not to be out done.
They put their engineers to work and six years later, a
patent was applied for the Campbell Cyclone Sewing
Machine.
The Cyclone utilized the best technology of the day. It
featured a reliable awl feed mechanism, which limited the speed to 500 SPM, but could out perform the
Union’s needle feed. The rotary shuttle held a large
bobbin and it would accommodate 3 to 10 cord thread.
The 12” throat depth allowed for large work and some
parts were interchangeable with the Campbell Machine. Best of all, it could sew leather up to 1” thick.
Besides the capabilities of the machine, from a mechanical stand point, it was well engineered. The gear
drive mechanisms provided a history of low maintenance and high reliability. The custom stand and drive
unit allowed the operator to vary the speed according
to the amount of pressure he applied to the pedal. Cyclones were setup for sewing harness, tack, belts, bags,
handles, cases, saddles, shoes, luggage, and corner
stitching. Our records show that by 1917, barely 5 year
after its introduction, over 118 Cyclones had been sold
or leased. This was one of the best stitchers every built
and could out perform anything on the market.
Upon the invention of the automobile the need for
leather goods began to diminish. When the great depression hit, the harness industry was already at a
decline. After World War II the tractor became economically viable and the primary focus of the horse market
evolved into an entertainment and recreational sport.
The development of plastics and synthetics over ran
the market and there was no longer a demand for mass
production of leather goods. The leather industry as a
whole slowed, and so did the demand for high speed
leather stitchers.
The Cyclone was the biggest and best in its category,
but it was designed for mass production. It became too
expensive to produce in a smaller market, with current
price estimates of over $12,000 each.
Another blow that contributed to the fall of this giant
came in 1960’s when the old monopoly of United Shoe
Machine Co. was under intense litigation. The company attempted to diversify into other industries and
the Campbell Bosworth division was sold off. Finally in
1968, the company was broken up by U.S. vs. United
Shoe Corp., the first time a federal court split a single
company into pieces. The Union Lock took control of
the high speed stitcher market and the Cyclone faded
into history.
Although the machines are no longer being manufactured, parts are still available through Campbell
Bosworth. The Cyclone remains one of the best engineered needle & awl machines ever built. Today it
is still in operation by a select group of loyal Cyclone
operators in the US and parts of Europe.
Order On-line Anytime!
www.campbell-bosworth.com
1-800-327-9420
Business Hours: Mon. - Fri., 8 am -5 PM, CT
Fax 24 Hours a Day: 1-361-293-7817
WE ACCEPT: