Wheeler & Wilson Building I

Wheeler and Wilson Building I
Location: Lake Street, near Dearborn
Life Span: 1862-1871
Architect: TBD

D. B. Cooke & Co.’s City Directory for the Year 1859

Wheeler & Wilson’s Sewing Machines

(See adv. front cover.)

Halpin’s Chicago City Directory for 1864
Wheeler & Wilson Mnfrg Co., Arthur Farrar, agt 106 Lake

John C. W. Bailey’s Chicago City Directory for 1867
Wheeler & Wilson, sewing machines, George R. Chittenden, agt 106 Lake. (See adv. outside cover.)

Edwards’ Annual Directory in the City of Chicago, for 1870
Wheeler & Wilson’s Sewing Machines, Arthur Farrar & Co. gen agts. 106 Lake

Chicago Tribune, August 8, 1859

SEWING MACHINES—Geo. R. Chittenden. Sold.-A. W. Harris, agent for Singer, determined to out do Chittenden, agent for Wheeler & Wilson in his advertisement of “Immense Business, of July 4th, said notice (by Chittenden’s code) demonstrating the superiority of Singer’s Machines over Wheeler & Wilson’s, and it appears by the papers that the object is accomplish—and the “sell” has taken; Chittenden manifests great concern (disinterested, of course.) lest the public should be misled by such publications, (kind, this, in him.) and expresses a desire that they (the dear public) should have more information. But what about the premiums awarded by the Wisconsin State Fair last fall, claimed by Chittenden? Did the Wheeler & Wilson Co. receive it for a Family Machine, or was it awarded to another? Ask Chittenden—he’ll know. Or if it is so long since that he has forgotten, perhaps Mr. Leonard may freshen his memory on this subjeet, as he has it in his possession.

Western Railroad Gazette, November 21, 1863

The Wheeler and Wilson Sewing Machine.
So much praise from public and private sources, from World Fairs and State Fairs, from machinists and inventors, from the highest aristocratic class to the lowest mudaill stratum of society, has been written, spoken and sung of the Wheeler & Wilson Sewing Machine that it seems superfluous in us to add our little mite to the overwhelming verdict of the civilized world. Every country can testify to its fame, and every language has syllabled its praise. As the Monitor and Merrimac fight at once overthrew all preconceived notions of building war vessels, so has this wonderful invention created a complete revolution in the economy of every household. To the hard working family, It has come like an angel laden with unnumbered blessings. Health, happiness, a competence, and even wealth, it has brought to many a weary mother or wan seamstress, struggling through adversity to secure their daily bread. It has relieved many an aching head, soothed many & breaking heart, and made radi-ent with hope, eyes dim with weeping and forms bent down with poverty and toil. Hood’s desolate portrait of the seamstress has been superceded by one that does not offend the eyes or grieve the heart. Here It is:

Click! Click! Click!
In comfort she sat—like a queen,
And sang to the music merry and quick
Of a Wheeler & Wilson Machine!

If he “who makes two spires of grass grow where before but one existed,” has not lived in vain, what praise is too extravagant or honors too lavish for the man whose inventive genius crystallized from the realm of floating ideas and dim conjecture, a perfect work of Art like the Wheeler & Wilson Sewing Machine! Most assuredly he deserves with Whitney, Morse, Fulton and Ericsson, a place in the front rank among those whose God-given facultles have proved to mankind the perennial source of incalculable benefits.

The universal adoption of this machine in all the mechanical, manufacturing and industrial departments of life, has rendered the public sufficiently familiar with its more prominent features. Over 125,000 have been sold, and the demand instead of abating, is perpetually increasing. Wherever used it has given perfect satisfaction. The “rotating hook” which is peculiar to this machine alone, revolving like a wheel without any vibratory motion, and making twelve hundred stitches a minute, is the most beautiful in design and effective in operation of anything we ever witnessed. In felling, hemming, tucking, quilting, binding, cording, embroidering and gathering, it ls equal to ten nimble-fingered sewers, and will do the work of a hundred in as many consecutive hours. An intelligent examination of this machine in comparison with others, will best illustrate its superior value, and this can be done nowhere in the West to so great an advantage as at the elegant rooms of the Western Agency of the Wheeler & Wilson Machine, No. 106 Lake Street. It is so simple in its construction that the most inexperienced can soon learn to regulate and run it with the skill and precision of a veteran operator.

It is imposalble to speak of the Wheeler & Wilson Machine anywhere in the West without mentloning its General Agent here, George R. Chittenden, Esq., who for so many years past has identified himself with its gradual onward and upward course, and staked every effort of mind and energy of body upon Its final triumphant success. That he is able while still in the youthful prime of life, to see and enjoy the ripe fruit of his labors, we do not attribute to good luck, but to good management, a thorough, general supervision and unremitting attention to the smallest business details. Uninfluenced by the jealousies or animorities of rival interests, he never swerves from the main object, but keeps it steadily in view. Of strict business habits, always just and honorable in his dealings, with a private character unblemished, he has earned by his own unaided efforts a position and standing in this community which is attained by few. With a dignity softened by uniform courtesy of manner, encouraging with large-handed liberality every patriotic or philanthropic work or noble and worthy charity, he aims ever to do his duty both as a business man and member of society in all the relations of life. As a model Agent, estimable man and valuable citizen, we cite Mr. Chittenden, therefore, as one of a thousand, and next to the surpassing beauty and intrinsic merit of the invention itself—the Wheeler & Wilson Sewing Machine, (we say it without fear of contradiction), owes its unparalleled success more to its General Agent, Mr. Chittenden, than to any other one man, or dozen men lying.

Messrs. Farrar & Wheeler, at No. 155 State rebuilt the Wheeler & Wilson Building in 1873.

Leave a Reply