Mr. William Heat of Crabb’s Cross, Redditch, the inventor and Patentee of the celebrated Heat Needle, has recently devised a most efficient plan, whereby the classification of sewing machine needles can be effected, which will enable dealers to meet all the requirements of their customers with something like one quarter of the variety of stock they have hitherto held.His plan is to divide all kinds of sewing machine needles into a few distinct and separate classes; thus, for example, the Elias Howe A and B, the Princess of Wales, the Challenge, the Gresham and the Lockman, all belong to Class 26, that is to say, they are all of them twenty-six millimetres in length and of corresponding thickness; hence it follows that for any of the above machines a needle of Class 26 will be suitable. Again the Raymond, the Weir and Angenoria all require a needle 24 millimetres in length (Class 24 ); they are accordingly classed under this number. There are of course a few exceptionally shaped needles which cannot be classified, as for instance the Wilcox & Gibbs and the Excelsior, but as a broad fact it may be taken for granted that the large majority of sewing machine needles may comprised within the few classifications adopted by Mr. Heat. To retailers, as we have said, the adoption of this plan must be of immense advantage ; instead of keeping a very large and extensive stock of needles, which is certain to deteriorate from rust and other causes, all that is necessary is to keep a fair stock of sizes in the various classifications already specified, in order to meet every requirement; thus, instead of keeping many grosses of many sizes and sorts, a few dozens will suffice as forward stock for the requirements of most trades. With regards to the Heat needle itself, it has been, as we predicted it would be, a great success; its extreme simplicity of adjustment is sufficient to commend it to the attention of all large buyers and users of sewing machines and we are glad to hear that Mr. Heat has more orders on hand than he knows well how to fill.

from the Sewing Machine Gazette