Here is something for you viewing pleasure.....
I have been knee deep in research for a series of articles I am going to be doing for a magazine on vintage sewing machines and ran across these trade articles. These are from the 1860's and I have one that I am using for the article that quotes that the sewing machine is at the peak of its advanced state and they could not see how it could be possible for it to be improved upon. That was in 1871, could you see the look on the writers face if you sat him in front of a Singer 500A or better yet a Bernina 820? :P
Billy