1811-1875

American Inventor

Isaac Singer was an American inventor, who is best known for making the mechanical sewing machine much more practical and useful. In addition to the sewing machine, he developed a rock-drilling machine, a metal- and wood-carving machine, and more. As a businessman, Singer also introduced several innovations that were to have a significant effect on consumer sales and marketing.

Singer, a native of Pittstown, New York, worked with machines and inventions from an early age. Apprenticed to a machinist in his teens, Singer invented a rock-drilling machine at the age of 28 and a machine for carving metal and wood at 38. Two years later, working for a customer in Boston, Singer saw his first sewing machine. Within two weeks he had not only repaired the broken machine but had designed a vastly improved version that he patented and sold through his own...