eBay Sock Machine Purchases
**NEW See actual eBay listings
of sock machines and things to watch out for, good and bad.
When purchasing a sock machine on eBay it
is as any purchase on eBay sight unseen, and at your own risk. I do purchase
machines from eBay, and spend sometimes 4 weeks or more
refurbishing
one machine to bring it back to knitting condition.
See some photos of actual machines that
were purchased on eBay, what these 'running smoothly', 'clean', 'mint
condition', 'proud to
own' machines look like when they are taken apart. What the
inside of the machines really look like. The machines will not
knit correctly when there is dirt, rust, 80+ year old oil, etc.
on the parts.
Not sure what a refurbished
machine is, or what the difference is in a sock machine bought
from a sock machine dealer on eBay vs. a professional refurbisher.
Should you send your machine to a professional to get it knitting ?
I hope what I am sharing with you on this page will help you in
your sock machine purchase.
The comments below are my comments I made from the Yahoo Sock
Machine Group on 10/2004
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When I purchase a machine from eBay I do not ever expect it to be
in top knitting condition. These machines have been sitting in a
attic, barn, basement, garage, etc for years with the mice, &
weather changes. Where the machines have been for 80+ years is
anyone's guess, but this effects the condition of each machine
differently. The first time many of the machines have been out of
the box they were stored in for years was when the photos are taken
of them for the eBay listing. The machines on eBay are not new, it
is not like going to Best Buy, or Sears and buying a nice new sock
machine in a box with directions, a warranty, and some training from
the sales person. If you are looking for a machine that will knit,
rib, do heels, has all the correct parts, comes with a guarantee,
training and support after the sale contact one of the qualified
refurbishers in your area to help you.
When a listing on eBay states clean machine that runs smoothly,
cranks well, excellent knitter, and you do not see any knitting on
the machine, this should be a red flag. Cranking well does not mean
the machine will knit a sock with a ribbed top, heels and toes, it
might mean the handle will turn. It is false advertising.
I have restored numerous machines from customers, that have
bought machines on eBay, and the condition of some of these machines
is so bad. The amount of dirt, old oil, rust that does not show in
the photos is amazing. Ask me off list I will be happy to send you
some photos of what these 'clean machines' really looked like when
they were taken apart. It is always sad to me when a customer
contacts me with a machine that was purchased with the intent to
start knitting on it when they got it in the mail. Only to find the
machine is missing parts needed to enable it to knit, or is so dirty
it will not even knit.
It takes about 2 weeks (sometimes more) to fully restore a
machine, I have seen some of the regular eBay sellers having 3 and 4
machines listed at one time, each week. Unless they have a staff of
people working on machines, this is just not possible to have that
quantity of machines restored in those time frames.
There are good deals on eBay, and not all of the machines are
bad, keep these things Pat, Elmo and I have said in mind when you
are bidding. We all deal with a lot of machines, sellers, &
customers and have seen a lot of things go wrong. We are here to
help.
Donna Peters
Country Rain
http://www.CountryRain.com/
Sock Machine Sales, Classes
Located in Central
Indiana
Learn to
use your Sock Knitting Machine Book
Click on image for ordering information
eBay Listings
Below are some actual
random
eBay listings of sold sock machines,
all sellers were contacted and agreed that it would be OK to include
their photos and eBay product descriptions prior to including them
here. I have added a Observation of some items that I see
either in the photos or description that I hope will help you in
your future sock machine purchase.
The main thing I want you
to notice from these eBay listings is the sellers are most times not
experts on how a sock machine works. They do not know what
parts go with different brands of machines. It looks complete
to them. Most sellers would never think someone wants to buy
the machine to really use and knit socks with.
Most of these machines
can be cleaned up and will once again knit socks. The problems
occur when the machines have parts from different brands of machines
placed together to look like a complete machine. Or the parts
have swelled, dried out, broken, lost over the years, these parts
will need to be made, repaired and replaced prior to the machine
knitting.
You are looking to buy a
Sock ' Knitting ' Machine, if the description has the words
"works great, refurbished, knits, ribs, runs very smoothly"
and you do not see any knitting on the machine.
First thing you should do is ask the seller to provide you with
photos showing the machine knitting. And when you do not see
knitting on the machine, expect to do some cleaning, repairing, to
make your sock machine work again.
As a buyer it is up to
you to become a expert, ask questions, know what you are buying.
And to know that you are taking a risk on eBay making a purchase of
a sock machine if you do not ask questions. Read the
sellers feedback comments from other buyers this can tell you alot.
I have removed any dates, times, names from these
auctions.
Click on photos to see larger images.
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1908 Gearhart Sock Knitting
Machine
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eBay Description:
This machine is in good
condition. It comes with many accessories. I have never
used it so know very little about it. I have a copy of the
manual which I got off the internet. There is also a parts
list and a CD. Seems to be in good working order.
Thank you for looking and have
a great day
On May-xx-xx at xx:xx:xx PDT,
seller added the following information:
Notice: I have been informed
that this is not a 1908 gearhart sock knitting machine, but
an Auto Knitter which was made in Canada.
I am sorry if this has upset
anyone as I really didn't know.
When I got it they told me it
was the gearhart and I didn't know the difference.
This machine has 72 slots on
the cylinder and 36 on the ribber. Hope this helps..
|
Observation :
This appears
to be a Auto Knitter and not a Gearhart as title states.(
with a Legare 47 yarn carrier) The seller was told
about this error by a eBay member it looks like and did update the auction.
Machine will need a good cleaning before using, see the
rusty cylinder. This seller was very
honest about the machine and states they know very little
about it. |
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Auto
Knitter Knitting Machine
 |
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eBay Description:
The Auto Knitter Hosiery Co. Toronto. "Better Than A
Hundred Hands". The cylinder on the machine holds 72
needles. The good spare holds 80. The other spare is
slightly miss shapen. It holds 60. Includes a tin full of
needles in great condition. Some of the parts have very
light surface rust from being stored in an old closet for
many years. The machine turns freely. No chips or cracks. |
Observation :
Seller does state the 60 slot cylinder is miss shaped.
The parts have surface rust, (see the ribber, cam shell,
buckle, in photo) This machine also will require much
cleaning prior to use.
Without seeing the front of the machine, I am not 100% sure,
but this looks to be a Legare 400 machine and not a Auto
Knitter. The ribber is a Legare, yarn carrier is Auto
Knitter.
Again this seller is honest about the machine having rust,
cylinder condition. |
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Gearhart Auto Sock Knitting Machine
 |
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eBay Description :
Found in the basement of a local estate. I do not know much
about these machines. What is in the pictures is what is up
for auction. One is labelled Gearhart the other one is
labelled "The auto knitter". Happy to answer any and all
questions. Good luck. |
Observation :
This auction was for 2 sock machines, and seller states they
do not know much about these machines.
In
the photo above you can see a Gearhart label on the cam
shell, but the base of the machine is not a Gearhart base.
This combination of parts will not work correctly as the cam
shell, gear ring, and crank handle will not match up. |
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AUTO KNITTER SOCK KNITTING MACHINE
 |
|
eBay Description :
HELLO AND THANK YOU FOR VIEWING
THIS AUCTION. THIS AUCTION IS FOR A VINTAGE AUTO KNITTER
WITH SOME OF ITS ORIGINAL BOX.THE MACHINE MIGHT BE COMPLETE
I DONT KNOW TOO MUCH ABOUT THEM.THERE ARE A LOT OF PARTS
INCLUDING WEIGHTS BUT I AM NOT SURE HOW THEY WORK.
eBay Questions :
Q: Would you please
tell me the number of slots in each of the three cylinders
with the sock machine?
A: THERE ARE 70
TEETH IN EACH CYLINDER BUT THERE IS SOME DAMAGE TO THE ONES
THAT ARE STILL IN THE BOXS.SMALL CRACKS AND OUT OF ROUND I
BELIEVE FROM AGE.
Q: The photos of
the cylinders in the box look like they are NOT round. Could
you please check? being out of round, they will not work in
the machine. The test, draw around the outside. rotate them
1/4 and see if the drawing matches. They seem egg shaped??
A: YOU ARE
CORRECT ABOUT THE CYLINDERS THEY DO HAVE SOME DAMAGE TO THEM
CRACKING ABOUT 1/8 INCH DEEP AND A LITTLE OUT OF ROUND..I AM
NOT TO FAMILIAR WITH THESE MACHINES .
Q: Hi, This looks
like a nice old machine, However the photos are not very
clear. Please confirm or explain further: are the cylinders
round and true? Are there any swellings, cracks, warpage,
etc.?
A: SORRY FOR THE
DELAY IN RESPONDING.YOU ARE CORRECT THE CYLINDERS THAT ARE
IN THE BOXS ARE A LITTLE OUT OF ROUND WITH SOME CRACKING
STARTING.THERE ARE 70 TEETH ON THE MAIN CYLINDER.ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS FEEL FREE TO ASK.
Q: Would you please
tell me how many slots there are in each of the ribber dials
and cylinders? Do you have any photos of the ribber dial
tops? I would also like to know if any of the cylinders or
ribbers are swollen metal, chipped, cracked or crumbly.
Thank you.
A: HI I HAVE NO
IDEA WHAT THE RIBBERS ARE.GIVE ME A DISCRIPTION AND I WILL
TRY TO GET SOME PICTURES MONDAY.
|
Observation :
This auction was for a Auto Knitter the seller took many
photos of the machine, which shows the condition of the
parts. I have included a couple of these photos in
this observation to show some of the parts that are in worse
shape.
The photo of the cylinders still in the cardboard boxes
shows the cylinders have gone out of round. When the
cylinders go out of round like this they will not fit into
the cam shell of the machines.
Also have copied the Questions and Answers from the auction.
The seller was asked many questions about the machine which
is very good to see. And also the answers given
detailed the problems with the machine. |
|
Very OLD KNitting Machine-Auto Knitter-AntIQuE
 |
|
eBay Description :
Don't know much about these. You get every
part shown. Buyer pays actual shipping. Enquire if you need
more info.
On xx-xx at xx:xx:xx PDT, seller added the
following information: crank handle is on machine, does not
turn, dirty and has some rust. cylinder has small cracks.
|
Observation :
This seller is also very honest about the condition of the
machine, telling you the crank does not turn, it is dirty,
has rust, and cylinder has cracks. |
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Gearhart Sock Knitting Machine Knitter
 |
|
eBay Description :
This auction is for a Gearhart Sock knitting machine.
Comes with a 60 slot cylinder, 65 needles, (these are
thicker needles - I believe they are 10 gauge), Set-up
basket, 3 weights, original buckle, 'Gearhart' tool that is
perfect for transfering yarn from needle to needle to do
lacey socks.
Also comes with a self-made row counter.
Stand is NOT being sold with the machine. I am selling the
stand seperatly in another eBay auction.
Machine will be taken apart and packed tightly.
Feel free to ask questions. I can direct you to a free
online Gearhart manual - just ask.
Pictures show red sock being made, sock tubes with lace
holes, argyle can also be done. Hem-top and mock rib socks
can be made on this machine.
Socks made on this machine are seamless. The toe is grafted
together - so there is no toe seam.
|
Observation :
This is what to look for if you want a machine that is going
to be working when you unpack it.
This auction shows there is knitting on the machine, this is
a working machine. There were many photos in this
auction, showing socks, argyle, setup etc.
If
you are looking for a sock 'knitting' machine and want a
working machine when you unpack it. Look for a auction
that shows a sock or knitting in progress on the machine.
You will know then that you have bought a sock knitting
machine.
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