Tag Archives: Jan Matzeliger

March 20, 1885

On March 20, 1885, Jan Matzeliger of Lynn, Massachusetts patented the shoe lacing machine. He’d previously patented a machine that manufactured shoes, putting thousands of gnomes out of business. When Quamorra Leathertack of the International Brotherhood of Gnomist Machinists and Leatherworkers was informed of the shoe lacing machine, he lost it. He was quoted as … Continue reading

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March 19, 1883

On March 19, 1883, Jan Matzeliger of Lynn, Massachusetts invented the first machine that manufactured entire shoes. This invention did two things. First, it made shoes much more affordable for the common man. Second, it put shoe making gnomes right out of business. Quamorra Leathertack of the International Brotherhood of Gnomist Machinists and Leatherworkers was … Continue reading

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