By Mary Bellis
Lyman Reed Blake was an American inventor who invented a sewing machine for sewing the soles of shoes to the uppers. Blake worked for the Isaac Singer's sewing machine company, setting up sewing machines in shoe factories. In 1856, Blake bought a partnership in a shoemaking company, after that he became dedicated to inventing machines that mechanized shoemaking. In 1858, he received a patent for his special sewing machine. He sold his patent to Gordon McKay in 1859 and worked for McKay from 1861 until his retirement in 1874, selling and installing his machines in factories throughout New England.
