The following hints are on the working of a Howe sewing machine. First, get the machine to run backwards, or from you, quite easily; if at all stiff use paraffin oil. Thread the shuttle, first through the holes in the bottom, or under side, then under the spring in the front, or pointed end, and lastly out through the hole in the top side. The tension screw in the front is left-handed - that is, turns opposite to the direction in which an ordinary screw turns. The needle is set with the short groove towards the shuttle, and with the eye level with tihe needle plate, when the mark or scratch on the bar is just flush with the top of the faceplate or part containing the needle bar and foot bar, etc. If there is difficuity in obtaining needles, use a Singer arm machine needle, cloth point if for cloth work, leather point if for leather. The top cotton threads once or twice round the tension wheel, then under the small thread guide, just behind the needle bar, then in the slot in the top of the needle bar, down through the eyelet in front of spring, through the spring, back through the wire eyelet again, and through the needle, threading towards the wheel end.

The stitch is altered at the screw in front of the arm, and the top tension is tightened or loosened by altering the brass thumbnut in front of the tension wheel.