Neil - while I have never seen anything other than a hand-stitched buttonhole on an original garment, I have been told by sewing machine experts that one of the manufacturers had a patent on a machine buttonholer as early as 1862. Who was actually able to get aholt of such a critter is unknown to me. I am one of those sick individuals who actually likes handsewing buttonholes! :-) Hey, a well-made buttonhole is a thing of beauty.