Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford Liar, Bigamist, Brute: How Isaac Singer Liberated Women
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Jan 9, 2026 Explore the tumultuous history of the sewing machine, driven by fierce competition among inventors like Isaac Singer and Elias Howe. Witness the dramatic patent wars steeped in ambition, betrayal, and misogyny. Discover how Singer revolutionized the industry with innovative designs while simultaneously empowering women through marketing and business strategies. Delve into the moral complexities of Singer's legacy, as he championed women's independence yet exhibited troubling personal behavior. This riveting tale blends innovation with scandal.
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The Public Carriage Scene
- Mary Singer screams after seeing Isaac Singer with another woman on Fifth Avenue and later blacks out from being beaten.
- The episode recounts Singer living with multiple women as separate 'wives' and fathering children with them while legally married to another.
Howe's Prototype Triumph
- Elias Howe observes sewing and imagines a machine using two threads and a joining shuttle to replace hand stitching.
- He builds a prototype, demonstrates it beating five seamstresses, but his machine is costly and not yet commercially viable.
Singer's Rise And Ruthlessness
- Isaac Singer, a charismatic ex-actor, improves sewing machines with a shuttle and foot pedal and forms partners to fund production.
- Singer ruthlessly pushes out partners and uses bullying and deception to seize control of the business.
