Ah, them antique sock knitting machines, let me tell ya, they sure do look all fancy and old, but are they worth much? Well, not always. Folks think just ’cause somethin’s old, it must be valuable. But truth be told, most of these old machines missin’ parts. You see, you need all them lil’ accessories and even the instruction books. Without ’em, these machines ain’t gonna work right. Now, if you’re a collector, maybe you like havin’ it just to look at. But for the rest of us, these things ain’t all that useful unless they’re complete. So don’t be fooled into payin’ big bucks for one of these machines just ’cause it’s been around a long time.
Now, let’s talk a little history here. Back in the day, there was a fella named William Lee. That man was a smart one, invented the first stocking frame knitting machine in 1589. He was a clergyman, so they say, but his mind was workin’ on makin’ it easier for folks to knit. Imagine tryin’ to knit socks by hand all the time back then! His machine made it a whole lot faster. Ain’t that somethin’?
These days, you might see names like LONATI, VERDUN, or Legare when you’re lookin’ for sock knitting machines. Some of ’em still pop up on places like eBay, but let me tell ya, not all of ’em are antique. LONATI’s still makin’ newer machines, but if you’re after an antique one, you better keep an eye out for those real old ones like the Legare 400 or even older ones. These machines were built like tanks, but boy, do they need some care.
- First, you gotta make sure all the parts are there. Missin’ a needle or somethin’? Good luck gettin’ it to work!
- Second, these machines need cleanin’. Dust from sittin’ in the attic for decades ain’t helpin’ nobody. A little elbow grease goes a long way.
- Third, unless you’re handy with fixin’ things, you might have to hire someone to get it runnin’ again.
And don’t get me started on the cork screw cast-on socks! That’s some tricky business. Those socks need a special kinda machine, and if yours ain’t got the right parts, you ain’t gonna be knittin’ no cork screw socks anytime soon.
Now, if you’re thinkin’ of buyin’ one of these, make sure you ain’t payin’ too much. I seen folks try to sell these machines for hundreds of dollars. Sure, they look nice and all, but if it ain’t workin’, what good is it? Shop around, check places like eBay, and make sure you know what you’re gettin’. Some sellers out there, they don’t even know what parts are missin’, so don’t just trust what they say. Do your homework before you buy!
So, in short, antique sock knitting machines sure got a lot of history and they look pretty cool. But unless you’re plannin’ to fix it up or just wanna have it as a collector’s item, it might not be worth all that money. Always check the parts, do some cleanin’, and be smart ’bout buyin’. That way, you won’t end up with a machine that’s just gatherin’ more dust in your house!
Tags：antique sock knitting machine, vintage sock knitting machine, William Lee knitting machine, Legare 400, cork screw cast-on socks
