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CAMPBELL MACHINE COMPANY
1880 - 19..
CAMPBELL MACHINE SHOP (1888-1889)
21 Commerce Street, Pawtucket, Providence, Rhode Island
This 5-story, brick building with segmental-arch windows, granite lintels and a roof of slight pitch, housed the Campbell Machine Shop during the late 19th century. The firm was organized in 1880 and the present building was erected in 1888-1889. The shop's principal product was a lock-stitch, wax-thread sewing machine, the invention of Duncan H. Campbell. This was the first machine capable of forming a lock-stitch with wax thread and was used by shoe and harness manufacturers. The machine was capable of 400 stitches per minute in the hands of a skilled operator. The invention was important enough to develop a European market and a branch of the firm was established in Leicester, England. The company also built a knitting machine capable of knitting irregular shapes for use by hosiery and underwear manufacturers. The building is presently occupied by the Parkin Yarn Mill.
(Grieve and Fernald; Pawtucket City Tax Records; Everts and Richards; Barlow & Bancroft Insurance Survey, 24 May 1892)
by:
Gary Kulik and Julia C. Bonham
U. S. Department of the Interior Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service
Office of
Archeology and Historic Preservation Historic American Engineering Record
1978
CAMPBELL CANADIAN PATENTS
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CA 8.786 Duncan H. Campbell
Sewing Machine
May 13, 1878
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CA 16.249 Duncan H. Campbell
Sewing Machine
February 2, 1883
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CA 16.250 Duncan H. Campbell
Sewing Machine
February 2, 1883
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CAMPBELL AMERICAN PATENTS
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US 110.431 Duncan H. Campbell & Erastus Woodward
Wire Pegs for Boots and Sloes
The nature of our invention relates to a new construction of wire pegs, consisting of one central wire, around which is twisted one or more wires, that afterward are affixed to the central one by means of some soft or hard solder, or alloy...
December 27, 1870
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US 115.566 Duncan H. Campbell & Erastus Woodward
Boots & Shoes
The nature of our invention relates to an improvement on boots and shoes where the soles are attached together and to the boot or shoe by means of a wire peg formed from a combination of wires.
June 6, 1871
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US 115.567 Duncan H. Campbell & Erastus Woodward
Boot and Shoe Peg Attachment
The nature of our invention relates to the attachment of cable-screw pegs, by means of a solder, to a metallic ribbon, for the purpose of feeding the same to and pegging the boots and shoes on, a common wood-pegging machine, as will now be fully shown and described.
June 6, 1871
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Patent of particular value which was in the fact that it successfully carried and operated as waxed-thread sewing machine. A company was formed to manufacture said waxed-thread sewing machine
US 231.954 Duncan H. Campbell
Wax-Thread Sewing Machine
My said improvements have been applied by me to machines for sewing with waxed thread, and they will be described as embodied in a lock-stitch machine of the wax-thread class 15 having a hook-needle and an awl...
...I hereinafter make claim to certain limited combinations, embracing a hook-needle, a race way and a centrally-pointed shuttle; but it is to be understood that I make no claim, broadly, to those elements in combination, because the oldest sewing machine of which I have knowledge embodied them in connection with mechanism for operating the needle and shuttle and for delivering and controlling the upper or needle thread. Said old machine is shown and described in English Letters Patent GB 12.221 of A.D. 1848.
Assignor of Three-Fourths of his right to Henry B. Metcalf, Frank E. Comey and Daniel McNiven
Application filed January 30, 1878
September 7, 1880
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US 241.608 Duncan H. Campbell
Sewing Machine
My said improvements are specially adapted to wax-thread machines, involving the use of a hook-needle and a shuttle, which I term "centrally-pointed", because its point is in line with the path of the needle and the latter and the axis of the shuttle occupy the same plane and my present invention partially consists of the combination, with a hook-needle and a centrally-pointed shuttle, of a single supporting rail parallel with the axis of the shuttle and broken away centrally to afford a path for the needle in the plane occupied by the axis of the shuttle. A shuttle-rail of this character not only directly supports the shuttle, but the portion thereof in front of and adjacent to the needle operates as a stop to prevent the loop drawn down by the needle from being unduly thrown forward during the passage of the shuttle. This shuttle-rail may be so constructed as to receive a shuttle fitted thereto and securely hold it against all movement except its proper longitudinal movement to and fro and I hereinafter show and describe such a rail but I do not limit the above-mentioned portion of my invention thereto, because I am well aware that a rail of the general character above set forth maybe so constructed as to only confine the shuttle against undue lateral movement and not to have any holding control over it, as when passing through a loop and which would require additional cooperative devices to prevent its rising from the rail.
Assignor of Three-Fourths to Henry B. Metcalf, Frank E. Comey and Daniel McNiven
Application filed May 13, 1879
May 17, 1881
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US 241.609 Duncan H. Campbell
Sewing Machine
Assignor of Three-Fourths to Henry B. Metcalf, Frank E. Comey and Daniel McNiven
Application filed May 14, 1879
May 17, 1881
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US 241.610 Duncan H. Campbell
Sewing Machine
My said improvements relate to the shuttle, its rail and driver and are particularly applicable to wax-thread machines in which a hook needle and a centrally-pointed shuttle are employed. The shuttle is termed "centrally pointed" by me because its point, its axis and the path of the needle occupy the same plane. In certain applications for Letters Patent filed by me May 13 and 14, 1879 and designated, respectively, as Cases "No. 1, A, B, C, D and E", I have shown, described and claimed certain combinations of shuttles with rails of novel construction. My present invention consists, in part, of the combination, with a shuttle-rail broken away to afford a path for a needle, of a centrally pointed shuttle provided with a longitudinally recessed web having flaring sides and inclined retaining-guides on each side of and parallel with the rail, which so engage with the flaring sides of the shuttle-web as to prevent the rising of the shuttle on its rail. These retaining guides and the rail are preferably mounted in a bed-piece and the guides are adjustable with reference to the web of the shuttle when on the rail and this particular construction constitutes another portion of my invention.
Assignor of Three-Fourths to Henry B. Metcalf, Frank E. Comey and Daniel McNiven
Application filed May 14, 1879
May 17, 1881
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US 241.611 Duncan H. Campbell
Sewing Machine
My improvements relate to the shuttle, its race and its driver and they are particularly applicable to wax-thread machines in which a hook-needle and a centrally-pointed shuttle are employed. In certain other applications for Letters Patent filed by me May 13 and 14, 1879 and respectively designated as Cases "No. 1, A, B, C and E", I have shown and described certain novel features in centrally pointed shuttles and in the methods of mounting and of operating them. In all the machines devised by me up to the time of making my present invention the shuttles have been provided on their under side with a longitudinal web extended from end to end and recessed from one end to the other radial to the axial line of the shuttle. In all of said machines the sides of the web. On each side of this web-recess operate as a cast-off, by which, when the hook-needle slightly ascends beneath the shuttle, the loop is freed from the needle and in some of said machines said recess is of value in co-operating with the needle only; but in others the recess is also occupied by a shuttle rail, on which the shuttle moves to and fro. In those prior machines, wherein the shuttle-recess referred to is not used as a means for mounting the shuttle on a central rail, additional recesses have been provided in the sides of the body of the shuttle for mounting it in its race. I have termed the shuttle used by me a "centrally-pointed shuttle", because its point and axis occupy the same plane as the path of the hook-needle used therewith.
Assignor of Three-Fourths to Henry B. Metcalf, Frank E. Comey and Daniel McNiven
Application filed May 14, 1879
May 17, 1881
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US 241.612 Duncan H. Campbell
Sewing Machine
My said improvements relate to the shuttle, its race and its driver in certain combinations with a hook-needle and they are particularly applicable to wax-thread machines. Prior to my present invention I had devised many improvements, as shown and described in certain applications for Letters Patent filed by me January 30, 1878 and May 13 and 14, 1879, in machines employing what I have heretofore termed a "centrally-pointed shuttle", that is to say, one which, when in working position, has its point in line with the axis of the shuttle and in the plane occupied by the path of the needle used therewith, in contradistinction to that large class of shuttles which co-operate with eye-pointed needles, are flattened on one side and have their points extended to the flattened side and are wholly to the one side of the path of the needle. In all of said machines my shuttles were provided with longitudinal webs on the under side thereof, which in each instance were so constructed as to operate as a cast-off for relieving the needle of its loop and in several instances said web constituted also a means whereby a shuttle could be properly mounted and retained upon a central shuttle-rail.
Assignor of Three-Fourths to Henry B. Metcalf, Frank E. Comey and Daniel McNiven
Application filed May 14, 1879
May 17, 1881
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US 241.613 Duncan H. Campbell
Sewing Machine
My said improvements are particularly adapted to wax-thread machines, in which a hook needle is employed and they relate to the shuttle, its race and driver.
Assignor of Three-Fourths to Henry B. Metcalf, Frank E. Comey and Daniel McNiven
Application filed May 13, 1879
May 17, 1881
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US 253.156 Duncan H. Campbell
Wax-Thread Sewing Machine
My present improvements have all been employed by me in a machine for sewing with waxed thread and they will be described as embodied by me in a lock-stitch machine having a hook-needle and an awl. For adapting my machine to a wide range of service I have provided therefor an arch work-plate which is convex laterally and longitudinally and have also so elevated and located the same with reference to the bed and other portions of the frame as to attain many of the advantages incident to the prior so-called “post-machines”, together with such as accompany a flat work-plate, which can, if desired, be interchangeably employed on my machine as an attachment to the arch-plate. For securing an unusual thread-carrying capacity in my still title, attaining an easy and effective motion therefor and effectually heating the shuttle and its thread, I have provided a shuttle having a lance-shaped point and longitudinal webs on its under side, as shown in my prior Letters Patent US 231.954, dated September 7, 1880; but instead of being straight, like all prior shuttles for wax-thread machines of which I have cognizance, my present shuttle is curved, so as to resemble a segment of a tubular ring, within which I can lodge upward of fifty yards of heavy thread, as four-cord No. 16 and of smaller sizes a much greater quantity, without an excessive cross-sectional area of shuttle.
Assignor of Three-Fourths to Henry B. Metcalf, Frank E. Comey and Daniel McNiven
Application filed August 5, 1881
January 31, 1882
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US 253.157 Duncan H. Campbell
Wax-Thread Sewing Machine
My said improvements pertain exclusively to thread-waxing and they have been devised for use with single-thread chain-stitch machines and with two-thread shuttle-machines, whether the shuttle be operated below or above the work-plate and in all cases the thread is thereby waxed immediately prior to the formation of a stitch.
Assignor of Three-Fourths to Henry B. Metcalf, Frank E. Comey and Daniel McNiven
Application filed November 1, 1881
January 31, 1882
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US 297.495 Duncan H. Campbell
Button-Making Machine
Assignor to Henry B. Metcalf and William McCleery
Application filed June S, 1881
April 22, 1884
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US 297.496 Duncan H. Campbell
Button-Making Machine
Assignor to Henry B. Metcalf and William McCleery
Application filed September 22, 1882
April 22, 1884
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US 374.934 Duncan H. Campbell
Wax-Thread Sewing Machine
Although some of my said improvements may be capable of use upon any sewing machine adapted to heavy service, all of them have been devised and organized by me with special reference to their practical use upon such waxed-thread shuttle-machines as have heretofore been disclosed by me in my Letters Patent US 231.954, September 7, 1880 and US 253.156 and US 253.157, dated January 31, 1882. In one of said Letters Patent I show how dry shoe-thread is delivered directly from a spool, reel, or ball and then waxed within the head of the machine and one object of my present invention is to obtain a more positive control of the dry thread during the operation of the take-up mechanism than has, as I believe, been heretofore accomplished.
Assignor to the Campbell Machine Company
Application filed February 12, 1885
December 20, 1887
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US 374.935 Duncan H. Campbell
Machine for Waxing Thread and Winding it into Cops
In the use of wax-thread sewing machines heretofore devised by me and patented September 7, 1880, US 231.954 and January 31, 1882, US 253.156, a cop of thread fully charged with hard wax is carried by a shuttle and my present machine has been devised for thoroughly, rapidly and economically waxing and winding thread into cylindrical cops suit able for use in my shuttles.
Assignor to the Campbell Machine Company
Application filed March 25, 1885
December 20, 1887
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US 374.936 Duncan H. Campbell
Wax-Thread Sewing Machine
My present improvements pertain to the control of thread from its entrance to a wax pot to its delivery to stitch-forming mechanism at or near the work-plate and they relate not only to taking up the thread, as in tightening a stitch, but also to feeding thread from the wax-pot to supply the needle.
Assignor to the Campbell Machine Company
Application filed June 9, 1885
December 20, 1887
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US 374.937 Duncan H. Campbell
Sewing Machine Shuttle
In heavy sewing, as with waxed thread, for instance, a large heavy shuttle is employed and a high degree of tension is required upon the shuttle-thread and at the same time provision must be made for maintaining the tension as nearly uniform as possible throughout long-continued operations upon any particular class of work, as well as for varying the degree of tension from time to time for work of different kinds.
Assignor to the Campbell Machine Company
Application filed March 11, 1886
December 20, 1887
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US 409.270 Duncan H. Campbell
Machines for Waxing-Thread and Winding the Same on Shuttle-Bobbins
In my application for Letters Patent filed March 25, 1885, Serial No. 160.095, (US 374.935) I have shown, described and claimed certain improvements in machines for Waxing and Winding thread in cops for use in sewing machine shuttles and I employ some of said mechanism in my present machine embodying a wax-cup and mechanism for winding bobbins, so that the waxing and bobbin-winding can be performed at one operation. I have also provided in my machine for relieving the bobbin centers from wear by employing rotating chucks, with which the bobbin rotates and I have also combined with the bobbin-chucks a heated convex faced presser-bar, which is so proportioned in its length to the bobbin that it occupies the space between the inner faces of the flanges of the bobbins used and properly packs the thread as it is wound and also causes the return or traverse movement of the thread after each layer has been wound.
Assignor to the Campbell Machine Company
Application filed June 18, 1885
August 20, 1889
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US 456.536 Duncan H. Campbell
Wax Pots for Use in Machines for Waxing Thread
Although my said improvements have been mainly devised for use in connection with sewing machines and with hard wax, they are also desirable in other connections, such, for instance, as machines for waxing thread and winding it into cops or upon bobbins and whether the wax be of the hard or the soft varieties.
Assignor to the Campbell Machine Company
Application filed January 15, 1886
July 21, 1891
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Duncan H. Campbell died in 1894
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US 658.604 George E. Warren
Lock-Stitch Sewing Machine
My invention is an improved lock-stitch sewing machine and it consists in the combination of a hook-needle, a shuttle, a shuttle holder, a shuttle-driver, a thread-arm, a thread-eye, a take-up for the needle-thread and means for operating these several elements.
Assignor to the Campbell Machine Company
Application filed October 12, 1896
September 25, 1900
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George E. Warren
Assignor to The United Shoe Machinery Company, Paterson, New Jersey
Shoe-Sewing Machine
Specification forming part of Letters Patent
US 665.376 January 1, 1901
Application filed April 26, 1898, Serial No. 678.900, (No model.)
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George E. Warren
Assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation
A CORPORATION OF NEW SEWING MACHINE
Application filed December 14, 1922, Serial No. 606.918
US 1.779.966
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