Jan Ernst Matzeliger

Background

Jan Ernst Matzeliger was born on September 15, 1852 in Dutch Guiana. His father was a Dutch engineer engaged in important government work in the colony; his mother, a native black woman.

Education

At the age of ten, Matzeliger was put to work in the government machine shop, where, in the course of a long apprenticeship, he developed a keen interest in mechanics and showed a natural aptitude for machine work.

Career

When about twenty years old, he emigrated to the United States and for five years worked at the machinist's trade in various places. In 1877 he went to Lynn, Massachussets, and there secured employment in the shoe factory of Harney Brothers, operating a McKay stitching machine for turned shoes and a burnishing machine. While thus occupied, he directed his attention to possible improvement which he might make in these machines, and decided to attempt the perfection of a complete turned-shoe sewing machine. While considering this project, however, he overheard, with considerable disgust, the hand lasters at the factory boasting that no one would ever devise a machine to supersede hand lasting of shoes. Matzeliger thereupon forgot his earlier idea and closely observed the lasters' motions with a view to imitating them by machinery. He rented a room over the old West Lynn Mission and with pieces of wood, old cigar boxes, and similar material, worked alone and at night for six months on a model of a machine incorporating his ideas. This, when completed in September 1880, indicated to Matzeliger that he was on the right track and he then proceeded with the construction of a full size working machine. Though roughly made, it proved capable of pleating the leather around the toe. His efforts became known and, in spite of the fact that he was extremely poor, he refused an offer of $1, 500 for the toe pleating device and with renewed energy went to work on a third machine. This he completed and patented in 1883, receiving patent No. 274, 207 on March 20, two-thirds interest being assigned to M. S. Nichols and C. H. Delnow. Shortly afterward, the Consolidated Hand Method Lasting Machine Company was formed by the several Lynn men who had helped Matzeliger financially, and he began the construction of a fourth machine. When completed this could simultaneously and in a minute's time hold the last in place to receive the leather; move it forward step by step so that the other coaching parts might draw the leather over the heel; properly punch and grip the upper and draw it down over the last; lay the leather properly at the heel and toe; feed the nails and hold them in position for driving; and then discharge the completed shoe from the machine. Unfortunately Matzeliger developed tuberculosis, and his plans for the further improvement of his machine and for the development of his company were frustrated. After a lingering illness he died at the age of thirty-seven years. His patent and the stock of his company were exchanged for stock of the United Shoe Machinery Company and the Matzeliger laster eventually completed the series of machines now required for making shoes.

Achievements

• Jan Ernst Matzeliger was an inventor of Surinamese and Dutch descent best known for patenting the shoe lasting machine, which made footwear more affordable. Jan Ernst Matzeliger's invention was perhaps "the most important invention for New England. " His invention was "the greatest forward step in the shoe industry, " according to the church bulletin of The First Church of Christ (the same church that took him as a member) as part of a commemoration held in 1967 in his honor. Yet, because of the color of his skin, he was not mentioned in the history books until recently. In 1991, the United States government issued a "Black Heritage" postage stamp in Matzeliger's honor.

Religion

Some years before his death Matzeliger became a member of the North Congregational Church at Lynnand he bequeathed to this society a block of the stock of his original company. By 1904 these shares had more than doubled in price and enabled the church to pay off a mortgage.

References

• A Popular History of American Invention: V.1
• A Popular History of American Invention: V.2