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(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved.
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By 1890, the New Home Sewing Machine Company was the largest employer in Franklin County, Massachusetts, with 600 male employees. The company produced over 100,000 sewing machines annually, which resulted in increased commercial production of ready-made clothing. It also revolutionized domestic sewing; women who had formerly had to sew all of their families' clothing by hand could now turn to this timesaving device. An actual time trial held in the 19th century revealed that fifteen men's shirts could be made by machine in the time it took to hand sew one shirt. This idealized scene, intended to enhance and dignify the manufacturing image, depicts a park-like setting, clean air, and woodsy surroundings.

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