Twombly Sock Machine Instruction Manual

Designed by Mr. Orison Twombly of Boston, Massachusetts in 1880, the Twombly Knitting Machine is one of the most extraordinary antique knitting machines in existence. At an astonishing speed of 20,000 stitches per minute, the Twombly Knitting Machine was designed to create knitwear for the entire family quickly and efficiently. The Twombly Knitting Machine Company generously advertised the swiftness of its knitting ability. "Knitting that would require sixty days to do by hand may be done on the Twombly Knitting Machine in three or four days." Advertised as "A Triumph of Mechanical Genius" , the Twombly knitting machine omitted the use of cylinders and operated via use of a single ribber dial. Despite its unusual construction, the Twombly knitting machine could knit standard ribbed socks, afghans, purses and virtually all of the knitted items cited in standard knitting machine manuals. Ornamental stitches such as regular loop, crochet, herring-bone, lace maze, shell pattern and spiral could be knitted in minutes.  The creation of fancy stitches was limited only by the taste and skill of the operator. The beautiful patterns were customarily used as handsome trimmings for borders, fringes and other creative work.