Gearhart

With origins in Clearfield, Pennsylvania, this America sock machine remains a true favourite.   During its age of manufacture, Gearhart outfits varied considerably.  Ribber dials ranged from 16  - 70+ slots and cylinders ranged from 48  - 140+ slots.   Needle sizes varied as well.  Many of Gearhart's sock machines were manufactured without ribbers to facilitate use.  Wrought iron stands with needle and bobbin holders were an added attraction. 

Imperia

Well known for its unique design, this English sock machine displayed a solid brass counter that operated in forward and reverse.  Parts of this sock machine were composed of solid chrome and iron.  Alignment of the ribber dial was accomplished by rotating a lever on the left side of the sock machine which attached directly to the cylinder.  This lever enabled the ribber to rotate backwards and forwards.  The shape of the yarn mast replicates the royal order in moderate fashion.  Its 42 slot ribber and 84 slot cylinder were popular for gentlemen's trouser hose and ladies' saxony hosiery.

Creelman Brothers' Money Maker A

This Canadian sock knitting machine parallels the Legare in design.  A typical setup included a 36 slot ribber and 54 & 72 slot cylinders.  However, 30 slot ribber dials and 60 slot cylinders were also available.  Parts such as tappet plates, yarn carriers and cam shells were virtually identical to the Legare #400 sock machines.  One noteworthy difference in this sock machine is the ribber drive pin.  Creelman's pin is straight and has numbers etched into the head.  The switch pin also has a distinctive shape and unlike the Legare sock machines, it is composed of chrome, not brass.  A final variant is the design of the crank wheel.  It features Creelman's characteristic hub and lacks openings.

English Auto Knitter

Made in Leicester, England, this sock machine's outfit included a 30 slot ribber and 60 slot cylinder.   Although quite similar to the Canadian and American Auto Knitters, this English sock machine is strikingly different.  Cam shells and cylinder tension mechanisms were made of of solid iron.  Ribbers and cylinders were composed of solid steel, not pot metal or aluminum.  Yarn carriers and tappet plates were styled after the Creelman and Legare sock knitting machines.   Note that the large ribber arm pin is on the right (New Improved Canadian Automatic Knitting Machines), not the left (Legares, Creelmans and Canadian/American Auto Knitters).   

P.T. Legare

Grand and impressive, this Canadian sock machine matches the Creelman Brothers' "Star", "New Star" and "World Star" sock machines in appearance.  Much like the Creelman Brothers' sock machines, ribber dials ranged from 28 - 50+ slots and cylinders held 48 -100+ slots.  Aside from label variations, P. T. Legare's initial design for these large sock machines remained unchanged. 

More photographs will post in the future........