Still poking around in Google books, (there's some GREAT stuff in there!) I found some of the following trivia:
As seen in LIFE magazine from May 25, 1953, page 9:
"Necchi astonished America with the first zig zag sewing machine - the first machine to sew on buttons, make buttonholes, and monograms without attachments.
As seen in [h=1]The men's factory-made clothing industry: Report on the cost of production ...[/h] By United States. Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce page 29:
The history of sewing machines starts with the patent granted to Thomas Saint, in England, July 17, 1790, and the first sewing machine known to be put into operation was one patented by Barthelemy Thimmonnier in France in 1830. These machines, until destroyed by mobs, were successfully used in making some clothing for the French Army. Thimmonnier patented his machine in America in 1850.
Lots of fun info in Google Books!
