The Secrets of the Sock Machine [Restoration]

I won this tool at an auction several years ago and it came with several other important parts including the cast on basket, bobbin winder, weights and yarn stand. At the time I had no idea how much these types of machines were worth and was very surprised to find out how in-demand they are.

The sock machine was no in a massively poor condition like some other tools on this channel, but it did need some parts fixed, a full replacement of all the japanning, and a general clean. I was also happy to accidentally discover that the original gilding was able to be seen under UV light. This allowed me to have it recreated digitally and then as beautiful waterslides to get as close to the original designs as possible. I used a product called Micro Sol to soften the decals allowing me to blend the edges in better and to press the decal flush into the uneven cast surfaces.

How this machine functions eluded me until it was finally and entirely put back together. It was also very neat to see how the stitching works in slow motion, so that I could better understand what was going on.

I hope to make some full socks one day with the actual heal and fully ribbed ankle as those were just too much of a learning curve for now and potentially filled with fines and excommunications.

I'd like to thank @CRCAutoUS for sponsoring this video. I've switched to a food-grade penetrating oil from them as a more safe alternative, and it as worked just as well as the usual penetrating oils I've used.
You can check out the products from them used in this video in the links below:

Watch narrated videos and help secure more tools for future videos (if you want):

[franklinfrankerson]

Why does it feel like Christmas morning every time a new hand tool rescue video comes out.

[PioneeringActionGuy]

Seeing the slow motion was neat and really gives a much better view of what the machine is doing. Thanks for including it.

[FlashyVic]

I was a sock knitter in a hosiery factory here in the UK for 10 years using (then) modern San Giacomo knitters. But I was trained up on needle settings and the basics on old hand cranked ones from the '30s. Nowhere near as old as these but this still brought back memories.
On night shifts when the old hand cranked machines weren't being used we'd gather up old yarn bobbins and keep the knitter on 'leg' or 'straight' and make football (soccer) bar scarves which we would then get stitched and put in the presser to flatten. Then give them to a guy we knew who had a market stall to sell them. 😁
Didn't make much money off it but a tenner or twenty quid sometimes a week. Still welcome though. 😂

[hdwoodshop]

I’m a mechanical engineer and all my designs were on CAD. Seeing this gives me serious respect for the old ways. I can only imagine the layouts for this mechanism all done by hand. And then the fabrication and assembly. Amazing. Thanks for sharing.

[timisme]

There are some channels I watch for education, some for humor, some for relaxation and some just for fun. This channel? All of the above! Always starting with a smile at the intro.

[krispbacon]

My wife just acquired an old circular sock knitting machine a few weeks ago; it was used to knit socks for soldiers in WW1. I'll share this video with her tonight!

[MrGreenBentley]

I have three of thee machines, and watching your excellent restoration and the addition of the golden decals floated on made me jealous, , you should try lubricating the whole machine with singer sewing machine oils, being careful not to get any near the wool hooking areas, . All three of my old machines run freely and without hang ups, , yours either needs further adjustment and tweeking, , and should run super freely with every turn, well done though, looking fine . Ipswich in Suffolk GB

[davevick]

I swear the most astounding thing about this channel is the fact that you never have the screwdriver slip off a bunged fastener 'n' jam straight through your other hand... At least not on camera, anyway. Me, I'd only have to so much as look at the job and I'd be practically taking out my appendix with the damned thing.

[Rethaxian]

This thing os over 150 years old. Still repairsble still working.
It belongs in a museum. it's so beautiful and intricate

[nearmint]

I shall never take socks for granted again! Who knew that casual sock knitting could endanger your immortal soul?

[makinjica]

Man that slomo realy fixed my day today .. You are gold on youtube ..

[sjw]

Great work! You know how to spin a good yarn... Loved the ribbing back and forth. It really knocked my socks off.

[RideorDinosaur]

This looks like something Engineering Knits would be interested in! Your initial footage of testing the machine, it messing up and you getting frustrated is the natural knitting machine experience.

[josephwade]

The highest gizmosity Factor of all time 9.69/10

[marcmckenzie]

Eric, when I die, I want to have you Japan me. It’s in my will. 😂

Seriously, this restoration grabbed me by surprise. As you say, the gismosity is off the charts 📈. One of the things I admire about you is how you creatively hunt down machines like this to restore. Most people probably have no idea what skill and tooling was required to originally make this. Amazing.

[MightyWizardTim]

Think about the genius that went into designing this thing. Fantastic restoration. At least your feet will be warm in the winter now.

[TheEndlessFields]

As an owner of a modern version of this machine, it’s amazing to see what has and has not changed in 150 years.

[Evergreen]

Whoever designed this machine was a genius!

[msgagizi]

Dude, this is more than restoration, this is bringing the history of our ancestors back to life! Archaeologists can't take the bones and bring the Dinos back to life, but you can! Now you can make your socks! 👏👏👏👏

[tomtruesdale]

What an incredible machine, designed and made long before computer aided design, most like all the parts were hand made. You did a great job on the restoration of it.