GAJS.COM Web Catalogue Eberhard Faber

Faber asks permission of the Singer Company to manufacture
sewing machines in the U.S.

FABER, EBERHARD. (1823-79). Established the Eberhard Faber Pencil Co., the first manufacturer to put rubber erasers on pencils. Exceedingly rare Autograph Letter Signed twice, “Eberhard Faber” and “E.F.” Two pages, octavo. New York, December 20, 1869. Some toning, else very fine condition. To “Mr. Hopper, Pres. Singer Sew. Mach. Co.” Faber writes:

“Dear Sir, Not wishing to take up further of your time by a personal interview I would desire to hear from you at an early day in regard to the following. On what conditions will you allow the Warth Sewing Machine to be made here but exclusively for sale in the European Market? Should Mr. Warth form a Co. will you give to it the right to manufacture and sell here and elsewhere on the same terms as proposed to me. Should Mr. Warth not succeed in forming a Co. would you give him the above right if he would find himself to pay you a royalty of 50 cents on each machine manufactured and sold here in the U.S. during the full term of his Patent, viz. 17 years. Very truly, Eberhard Faber. [P.S.] On the supposition, which is also a probability, that Mr. Warth makes 12,000 machines per year during the 17 years, the offer of 50 cents would amount to $102,000 and would therefore be the most to your advantage. E.F.”

In 1849, Isaac M. Singer was working in a Boston machine shop when he was asked to repair a large industrial sewing machine. Within days of his first encounter with the machine he had pinpointed its defects and built a prototype sewing machine (the first home appliance) that corrected them. Two years later, the Singer Sewing Machine Company was started, and Singer patented his machine, which was similar to one that had already been patented by American inventor Elias Howe. In response, Howe sued. The ensuing case, the longest in U.S. history up to that time, finally ended in 1854, with an initial settlement that required Singer to pay Howe $15,000 in royalties for machines already sold. Even though Howe successfully sued Singer for copying his patent, the Singer Sewing Machine Company’s aggressive marketing practices and willingness to allow customers to take home a machine with only five dollars down gave it a decisive advantage on the market. One of the most popular and successful companies of its kind, the Singer Sewing Machine Company, with its superior product and efficient business model, discouraged competition, easily capturing the lion’s share of the market.


Faber asks permission of the Singer Company to manufacture sewing machines in the U.S. FABER, EBERHARD. (1823-79). Established the Eberhard Faber Pencil Co., the first manufacturer to put rubber erasers on pencils. Exceedingly rare Autograph Letter Signed twice, “Eberhard Faber” and “E.F.” Two pages, octavo. New York, December 20, 1869. Some toning, else very fine condition. To “Mr. Hopper, Pres. Singer Sew. Mach. Co.” Faber writes: “Dear Sir, Not wishing to take up further of your time by a personal interview I would desire to hear from you at an early day in regard to the following. On what conditions will you allow the Warth Sewing Machine to be made here but exclusively for sale in the European Market? Should Mr. Warth form a Co. will you give to it the right to manufacture and sell here and elsewhere on the same terms as proposed to me. Should Mr. Warth not succeed in forming a Co. would you give him the above right if he would find himself to pay you a royalty of 50 cents on each machine manufactured and sold here in the U.S. during the full term of his Patent, viz. 17 years. Very truly, Eberhard Faber. [P.S.] On the supposition, which is also a probability, that Mr. Warth makes 12,000 machines per year during the 17 years, the offer of 50 cents would amount to $102,000 and would therefore be the most to your advantage. E.F.” In 1849, Isaac M. Singer was working in a Boston machine shop when he was asked to repair a large industrial sewing machine. Within days of his first encounter with the machine he had pinpointed its defects and built a prototype sewing machine (the first home appliance) that corrected them. Two years later, the Singer Sewing Machine Company was started, and Singer patented his machine, which was similar to one that had already been patented by American inventor Elias Howe. In response, Howe sued. The ensuing case, the longest in U.S. history up to that time, finally ended in 1854, with an initial settlement that required Singer to pay Howe $15,000 in royalties for machines already sold. Even though Howe successfully sued Singer for copying his patent, the Singer Sewing Machine Company’s aggressive marketing practices and willingness to allow customers to take home a machine with only five dollars down gave it a decisive advantage on the market. One of the most popular and successful companies of its kind, the Singer Sewing Machine Company, with its superior product and efficient business model, discouraged competition, easily capturing the lion’s share of the market. For more details or to buy this item, please contact us. $4,800
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