Sock Knitting Machines or more correctly Cylinder Knitting Machines were mechanically very simple (far more so than sewing machines), but they could be difficult to use and consequently most machines that are found are either very heavily worn or almost like new. These machines were capable of producing a wide range of goods and not just socks. The Companies that supplied the machines would often buy the items produced on the machine provided they were of sufficient quality. The heyday for the Cylinder Knitting Machine seems to have been the First World War when millions of socks had to be produced. Ruddington Framework Knitters' Museum, Ruddington, Notts has a number of machines which are used for hands on demonstrations and it is well worth a visit.

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Our first sock knitting machine, believed to be an early Griswold. It has a small cylinder 4" in diameter with 68 needles. It is worn but is in full working condition although the row counter and its shaft are missing.
The machine came with some accessories and a table which has A.K.M.Co. (Automatic Knitting Machine Company Ltd.) on the cross brace The table is missing a small drawer but is otherwise complete.

"The AutoKnitter", an early sock making machine probably dating to the 1890's and made by the Automatic Knitting Machine Company, London. It has brass fittings including the row counter. The geared ring which drives the shell is exposed and the drive wheel (or crank) has no guard. It has a small cylinder with 80 needles. It is heavily worn and unfortunately the column and yarn cross are missing, we have however had an adaptor made so we can use the column and yarn cross from another machine.

A later model of "The AutoKnitter" this time probably dating to the 1910's or 1920's but again made by the Automatic Knitting Machine Company, London. Its design is much improved and it has a large cylinder with 96 needles. It is in excellent condition and is fully operational. Note the brass "set up" to the right of the machine.