ing machines must pay him a royalty of twenty-five dollars on every
machine. So Howe woke one morning to find himself enjoying a large
income, which in time rose as high as four thousand dollars a week, and
he died in 1867 a rich man.

Though the basic nature of Howe's patent was recognized, his machine was
only a rough beginning. Improvements followed, one after another, until
the sewing machine bore little resemblance to Howe's original. John
Bachelder introduced the horizontal table upon which to lay the
work. Through an opening in the table, tiny spikes in an endless belt
projected and pushed the work for ward continuously. Allan B. Wilson
devised a rotary hook carrying a bobbin to do the work of the shuttle,
and also the small serrated bar which pops up through the table near the
needle, moves forward a tiny space, carrying the cloth with it, drops
down just below the upper surface of the table, and returns to its
starting point, to repeat over and over again this series of motions.
This simple device brought its owner a fortune. Isaac M. Singer,
destined to be the dominant figure of the industry, patented in 1851
a machine stronger than any of the others and with several valuable
features, notably the vertical presser foot held down by a spring; and
Singer was the first to adopt the treadle, leaving both hands of the
operator free to manage the work. His machine was good, but, rather than
its surpassing merits, it was his wonderful business ability that made
the name of Singer a household word.

By 1856 there were several manufacturers in the field, threatening war
on each other. All men were paying tribute to Howe, for his patent was
basic, and all could join in fighting him, but there were several other
devices almost equally fundamental, and even if Howe's patents had been
declared void it is probable that his competitors would have fought
quite as fiercely among themselves. At the suggestion of George Gifford,
a New York attorney, the leading inventors and manufacturers agreed to
pool their inventions and to establish a fixed license fee for the use
of each. This "combination" was composed of Elias Howe, Wheeler and
Wilson, Grover and Baker, and I. M. Singer, and dominated the field
until after 1877, when the majority of the basic patents expired.
The members manufactured sewing machines and sold them in America and
Europe. Singer introduced the installment plan of sale, to bring the
machine within reach of t