Tuttle Knitting Machine Style No. 1 - 4.5"

Elegance and ingenuity are the hallmarks of this exceptional knitting machine.  Its soft contours, golden embellishments and floral decor would persuade any woman to consider its use. 

Patented in 1879 by the Lamb Knitting Machine Company as the first circular knitting machine with a ribbing attachment, the lady of the house was empowered with the most sophisticated technology of its time. 

Much like a swan, the ribber attachment stands tall and stately.  Its conical ribber dial was the first of its kind and permitted use of the ribber when knitting forwards and backwards.  Height of the conical ribber dial was obtained by adjusting a large thumb screw.

Ribber and cylinder needles were identical, making needle transfers swift and easy.  Cylinder tension was determined by regulating a tension wheel which elevated or lowered the height of the cylinder.  Ribber tension was modified in a similar fashion.

Tuttle knitting machines have a cunning design.  The machine can be set to knit with the cam cylinder in rotation or the needle cylinder in rotation when knitting backwards or forwards.  In addition, Tuttle knitting machines can be placed in neutral, where the crank handle revolves without any motion of the cam cylinder or needle cylinder.

Tuttle knitting machines came standard with solid brass counters.  The counters were attached firmly to the base of the machine with a single screw.  Additional models included a 3", 3.5" and the rare 4" Special Edition Tuttle knitting machine.  Few 4" Special Edition Tuttle machines remain in existence.

BI Circular Knitting Machine

Beautifully invented best describes this Norwegian circular knitting machine.  The decals on this sock machine were handpainted and have proven to be of 24 carat gold.  Solid chrome composes the yarn carrier, cam shell and cog ring.  Its solid brass cylinder belt and set up umbrella are added attractions.  The cylinder spans 160 needles which makes it ideal for producing fine, saxony hosiery and garments for infants.  Noteworthy accessories include a manual screwdriver fabricated to exact dimensions, a yarn winder of grand proportions and an original bottle of sperm oil. 

Old World Star Knitting Machine

Swedish Favorit Circular Knitting Machine

Steber Family Knitting Machine

In 1906, Bernard T. Steber created the Steber Machine Company in Utica, New York.  It remained in existence until 1936.  Steber knitting machines were advertised to homemakers as the ideal sock machine to produce socks for the war effort.  Steber sock machines came standard with 24 slot ribber dials and 72 slot cylinders.  Additional cylinders of 52, 56, 64, 88, 100, 112, 120 and 140 slots were available at additional cost.  The Steber Machine Company invested a substantial amount of time in advertising the quality of their machines and declared that their cylinders were, "...made of a fine grade of iron, the same as automobile cylinders, and should last a lifetime." 

Schnell-stricker German Knitting Machine

Manufactured by Gustav Nissen & Company of Hamburg, Germany, this circular knitting machine promised Empor durch Wert-Arbeit!  The Schnell-stricker sock machine resembles the Imperia and Cymbal circular knitting machines in design.  Schnell-stricker sock machines came standard with row counters, 42 slot ribber dials and 84 slot cylinders.

Harrison Sun Circular Ribbing Machine

Ainslie Knitting Machine

French La Semeuse Circular Knitting Machine

The French La Semeuse sock knitting machine is one of the rarest sock machines in existence.  Unlike most French sock machines which were manufactured in England and sold in France with French decals, the French La Semeuse sock machine was manufactured and sold in France.  The La Semeuse sock machine is composed of solid nickel and cast iron and resembles the Harrison circular knitting machine in design.  Much like Harrison sock machines, French La Semeuse sock machines won numerous awards for craftsmanship and design at French knitting exhibitions. 

London Knitting Machine Company Duplex Knitting Machine

Verdun Circular Knitting Machine

Branson Circular Knitting Machine

New Improved Money Maker A Knitting Machine

Traditional Imperia Knitting Machine

The Imperia Knitter was produced by the Imperia Hosiery Manufacturing Company LTD.  Tuition parlours, central offices and showrooms were located at 245 Tottenham Court Road, London, England.  Instruction on the use of the Imperia sock machine was provided free of charge by the company throughout England, Scotland, Wales and most parts of Ireland.  If requested, the service department would arrange a visit to the customer's home for private instruction.  Although the service was free, the customer was expected to pay the travel fees incurred by the instructor.  The Imperia Hosiery company declared that jumpers of all types, three-piece suits, frocks, coats, kiddies suits, leggings and knickers could be easily made on the Imperia sock machine, if the user followed the simple, explicit instructions outlined in the Imperia instruction manual.

Imperia circular knitting machines are classically known for the horizontal decals that decorate their cam shells and bases.  The golden logo of the Imperia sock machine was firmly affixed to the cam shell.  The base of the Imperia sock machine was lavishly decorated with a gothic, maze-like design.  Traditional Imperia sock machines came standard with row counters, 42 slot ribber dials and 84 slot cylinders.  Duplex models with 72 and 84 needle cylinders and triplex models with 72, 84 and 108 needle cylinders were available at additional cost.

Special Edition 4" Tuttle Knitting Machine

Home Profit Master Machine Special Edition 3.75"  

Canadian Auto Knitter Knitting Machine

Model 4 Circular Knitting Machine

Solid Brass Canadian Auto Knitter Knitting Machine

New Improved Golden Fleece Knitting Machine

Creelman Special Edition Sweater Knitting Machine

Bickford Family Knitting Machine

First patented the 10th of September, 1867, Bickford Family Knitting machines were produced by the Bickford Knitting Machine Manufacturing Company of Battleboro, Vermont.  Bickford Family knitting machines were intended to meet all of the domestic needs of the household.  The company remarked that Bickford Family knitting machines could readily produce ottoman covers, looped trimmings, carriage and door mats, hoods, breakfast shawls, blankets, nubias, table and piano covers, slippers, sashes, capes, tuftings, lamp mats and a host of other articles.  Bickford sock machines were prodigiously decorated with gold scrolling on their bases and crank handles.  Bickford knitting machines were originally manufactured without ribber attachments and came standard with 72 and 100 slot cylinders. 

Beehive Circular Knitting Machine

Money Maker A Circular Knitting Machine

Swedish Viktoria Circular Knitting Machine

Franz and Pope Circular Knitting Machine

Creelman New Improved World Star Knitting Machine

Solid Copper Klondyke Knitting Machine

Fricke Auto Knitter Knitting Machine

Harley Kay Industrial Circular Knitting Machine

American Auto Knitter Knitting Machine

New Improved Griswold Circular Knitting Machine

Griswold sock machines underwent numerous improvements during their age of manufacture, hence the many patent dates.  New Improved Griswold sock knitting machines featured ribber dials similar to those of Harrison circular knitting machines.  Newly designed yarn carriers were composed of nickel and chrome.  However, the basic design of the Griswold sock machine remained unchanged.

Creelman New World Star Circular Knitting Machine

Cymbal Knitting Machine

Legare Model #47 Circular Knitting Machine

Vintage Creelman Circular Knitting Machine

Cooperative Circular Knitting Machine

French Travailleurs Reunis Circular Knitting Machine

Legare Model #400 Circular Knitting Machine