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Howe, Elias

(Encyclopedia)Howe, Elias, 1819–67, American inventor, b. Spencer, Mass. He was apprenticed in 1838 to an instrument maker and watchmaker in Boston at whose suggestion he turned his attention to devising a sewing...

Singer, Isaac Merrit

(Encyclopedia)Singer, Isaac Merrit, 1811–75, American inventor, b. Rensselaer co., N.Y. As a child he lived in Oswego, N.Y. He patented in 1851 a practical sewing machine that could do continuous stitching. Altho...

needle

(Encyclopedia)needle, implement of metal or other material used to carry the thread in sewing and in various forms of needlework and manufacturing. The earliest needles were merely awls or punches. Stone, bone, ivo...

bookbinding

(Encyclopedia)bookbinding. The art and business of bookbinding began with the protection of parchment manuscripts with boards. Papyrus had originally been produced in rolls, but sheets of parchment came to be folde...

thread

(Encyclopedia)thread, a fine twist of fibrous material, distinguished from yarn in general by being smoother, stronger, and more pliable; it is also better suited to sewing, embroidery, and lace making. Sewing or s...

Goodyear, Charles

(Encyclopedia)Goodyear, Charles, 1800–1860, American inventor, b. New Haven, Conn., originator of vulcanized rubber. He failed in his earlier business ventures and was in jail for debt when he began his experimen...

GEM, acronym for ground-effect machine

(Encyclopedia)GEM: see air-cushion vehicle.

Ludhiana

(Encyclopedia)Ludhiana lo͝odēäˈnə [key], city (1991 pop. 1,042,740), Punjab state, NW India. Founded in the late 15th cent., it lies on the old Grand Trunk Road, the great thoroughfare connecting Delhi with Am...

Keighley

(Encyclopedia)Keighley kēthˈlē [key], town (1991 pop. 49,188), Bradford metropolitan district, N central England, at the junction of the Aire and Worth rivers. The Leeds and Liverpool Canal connects Keighley wit...

Saint Jean

(Encyclopedia)Saint Jean săN zhäN [key], city (1991 pop. 37,607), S Que., Canada, on the Richelieu River, SE of Montreal. It is an industrial center with textile and hosiery mills and manufactures such as sewing ...