1Tot7 Gories.
SEPTEL
18'
1 2,
1 Pm. Year., . Wl.
the BicuroiiD niirriiirG iiAcnniE.
On ExXiiMticn at tlie Fair cl t lie American
--e "'.Institute " ' ' ' ' .
In this age of stupendous events, of mighty
achievements, when daily fresh laurels are
gathered T)y politicians, statesmen, diplomats,
a,llMJJJ dtLUiiiCJO, CiULUCU.tXJ U KAXC
bar of justice in behalf of the oppressed and
friendless, some of the most sanguine among
us look on. in blank astonishment and .ex
claim "truly the great climax of all seience
and ingenuity is fast approaching !" -But
while we. are thu3. musing, and even -before
we ar$use from the lethargy that enwraps us,
those who are searching for hidden treasures
in the great . temple of genius, bring forth
oviuc hoy, iivxi, liiie uupiiy, soiiie gem oi
dazzling brightness. ' " . J ,
: Among these increasing explorers in the
halls of scientific research, we place Mr.
Dana EienronD, whose magnificent series
of inventions some fifty in all-for the ame
lioration of the condition of those who toil,
are of as intrinsic value as . those discovered
by Howe, Horse and Bruce.
"7e propose to treat at this time upon that
wonderful piece of mechanism from hi3 in
ventive ' brain, the Family Knitting. Ma
chine. :ir. richer J I:::;lf bavin.- taleen
has added
The three first and three last mentioned,
including the buckle, F, and the weight G,
are not moving parts, the latter only being
eiglnVin number. So that the reader may
comprehend the actions of these facts we
will first explain the stitch taken in the. knit
ting of an ordinary stocking, after the ribbed
top has been knit, and the work is proceed
ing hi the leg - or foot. Figure 3 represents
four of the needles with the yarn looped up
on them, and the needle used is .shown com
plete at No. 1. The needle consists of a body,
an angular bent position or foot, B, a hook,
3, and a latch, T The . latter is pivoted to
the body of the needle at N, and works part
ly in a slot formed in the 'body. .The latch
has a spoon-shaped end, shown at V, which,
when the latch is closed, as shown in needle
No; 2, meets and partly ..shuts over the point
angular bent part c.
through the cun :
cams, Fig. 2; and .
from moving :d
the grooves feme .1
Fig. 1, they are fere
sired.
On the bottom cf f
II, teeth are feme '
elled gear turned I .
yarn wound upon a ,
cf th3 rine, C. It ii
yarn stand. B. and th-.
the top of a bent bar...
which carrier is fa:,
cylinder, II, carry:,
buckle, F, to this, f
Gr we have but to
VQ I iff Of T-".t'1 '
Th:
itche3 ara mads lc::cr or shorter,
0 as to knit open or close by the raizing or
lowering of the movable cam, II, Fig. 2.
YThc-n tills cam is raised the stitches are ma I e
shorter. The setting cf this cam is done' ty
td.e middle thumb screw, K. Fig. 1, an indi
cator; point L. In knitting fiat webs, both
the avecstacls cams, M, Fig. 2, must be in the
rcatieii shown. '
If a stocking is to be seamed to th? t?,
e very third or fourth needle i3 first taken out.
TL.3 wciIi is then set up and the knitting
proceeds three or four inchs:
:en the
r : edlc3 taken put are inserted, and three cr
icur inches knit plain. The stitch my :
knit loos3 over the calf of the kg, and gradu
ally tightens 1 to the ankle, shaping it nicely ;
cr it may b3 narrowed down to the size deeired
out' the , needles. . In knUiin-r a
such "improvements thereto "as
renders it the most simple, durable and effi
cient knitting machine in the world.
.Those who have seen the complicated
knitting' machines which ata used in Iatw
factories and at the presenkrtime flood the
market with knit goods of various descrip
tions, have come to regard them as intricate
affairs. The invention of this machine has
revealed to the; public the fallacy of this idea,
and we see that ' a great variety of work can
be accomplished by a " simply constructed
machine, and one which can be put together
and onerated bv those unaccustomed to the
use of machinery They will' set up their
own work, knit backwards and forwards,
making t the most perfect imitation, of the
hand stitch, taking every knot and imperfec
tion inside, so that not only all kinds of work
requiring to be knit' tubular can be accom
plished, but also a flat web with selvedge
edge. ,
jx narrows ana wiaens a weD.irom one to
two hundred and eight needles .wide ; and
will shape either a square or round heel,
closing it at the foot, and narrowing oft the
toe complete, which cannot be performed by
. any other machine hitherto produced. The
most intricate stitches can be formed by this
machine as skillfully as with the deftest An
gers ; thus rendering it a complete knitting
and crotcheting as well as circular and flat
web machine combined. ,
- Uneaualled facilities for manufacturing, to-
gether with the new style of finishing make
it the most perfect piece of machinery extant.
Among the multitudinous articles made by
the Bickford' Family Knitting Machine, are
children carriage mats, tufted door and car
riage mats, muffs and collars, table and bed
spreads, tidies, cradle blankets, scarfs, in
fants'1 skirts, socks, caps and hoods,' shawls,
breakfast jackets, nubias, shirts and drawers,
carriage and children's afghahs,undersleeves
and leggins, smoking and skating caps, mit
tens and gloves, gentlemen's and ladies' hose,
and numerous other articles, . which, were
they all "mentioned at this time, would bv
far overrun our space.
After thus giving our readers, in a concise
manner, some idea of the superior merits and
utility of this wonderful apparatus, we will
now proceed to : give an explanation of its
modus operandi, of which full illustrations
" are given in the accompanying, engravings
M It is obvious that the machine; exclusive
of needles and the toothed wheel, consists o
only sixteen parts, as follows : A, thumb
screw to fasten machine to table ; B, yam
stand; C, pins for bobbins: D, yarn carrier
and sliding ring to which a carrier ia at
tached; JK, machme handle; oucKie; jr,
weights; H, revolving cylinder; I, needle
cylinder ; J, ring clasp ; K, cam and screw
for changing length ot stitch ; L, indicator
to show distance moved ; M, swing cams and
their thumb screws ; X, pins for knitting flat
web ; 0, set up ; P, looper.
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THE BICKFdllD FAMILY KNITTING MACHINE OJftce JVb. 689 Broadtcay, A'ew Forfc.
to the lefi as far r 3 it will go, and pull ir t !io
last nee 113 irnit tlen : t -. 3 1 ; ".t, L- :i
the l.::t needle cn the: ' ' , , i :'; t' into
41, .- ,,n --'- - I" '.
La i.,. u ji LA.j.jt.. . 4., ... j,... ii.; i. , j. .1,.,.
loft, nest to tho3 al: - 1 C,i: ,
I'r-itting acrocs and pi
on cr.3 sid3 and then cn tl.3 c , - -
third cf the needl:3. are-left down..
having narrowed the he:!, we ccramenee to'
widen to the ear-3 l:e-:rted frci. In:
order to do tLi3 we knlt'f.cr-e i cn:e, tl.cn
put down the Li:t r- - . ' -: d 1 I rdt r :.c.-s
cain and pueli Ccv.- . ,:cn3i"" li
c:i tlsctl :r tld-, r.nd thus c.:ll::uL:j until
t1 3 heel needles are down and the foot is knit.
of the hook, S,; so that the loop formed on
the needle.slips off w-hen the latter makes its
downward movement.
This needle is not a new invention, but im
provements in form have been made. One
of which improvements is the degression pr
hollbw shown at " Z, Fig. 3, while the still
deeper de-ereeeien Y, is another ..improve
ment, the use of .which will be alluded : to
further on ; Fig- 2,' shows the Darts employed
for moving the needles up and down. M, in
this i figure, represents cams. These are
screwed to the inside of the revolving cylin-.
der, H, Fig. 1, their position being directly
'under the set screw M, as these cams are
carried round by the revolving cylinder, the
In setting up the work, the set up, O, and
the looper, T, are used, and a length of thread
is run off the bobbin sufficient to form the
first set of loops the same as in casting the
stitches on hand needles. This thread is
passed through an eye in the front of the
looper. The set-up is taken in the left hand,
put in the cylinder and held, so that the hooks
are nearly on a level with the top of the
cylinder. The looper is then passed about
the hooks of the set-up and the tops of the
needles, carrying tne; thread with it, and
forming a series of loops like those shown in
the lower scries, in Fig. 3, as soon as the
needles are filled, one turn is given the mar
chine, and the first set of stitches is completed.
stocking or sock, either a square or round
heel may be formed. To knit a square heel,
after knitting the leg long enough, the ma
chine is stopped with the carrier, D, at the
back side, the needles in front are then pulled
up until- each loop passes into ths notch, Y,
Fig. 3, which holds them so that thy will
pass over the cams without knitting for the
instep. The pins, N, are . then inserted on
each ide oppisite the fourth needle of those
drawn up. The knitting is continued back
ward and forward until the heel is long
enough, which is 33 times for a cornme 11 reek.
In knittingaroundheel, onehaif th? needles
are put up, and the pins are placed as deeeri r c d
for the flat heel, when the machine i3 turned
. Different cylinders are applied contai::i"
various sizes cf needles for coarse and in:3
work. Extra needles and pins are rd-b far
ed ; and a toe el:ivi: - :r roei, id each
in the machanical aitsjearing date - ii om '
September 10, 1867, to September 17, 1872, ;
and further applications are still pending. . -A
: capital of $250,000 ' is invested in this
business, and in- such a judicious manner is;
it conducted, that should he desire it he
could dispose of the same machine for the,-'
sum of $400,000 ! The operators at the store j
which. is at 689 Broadway, this city are i
affable and . courteous to those visiting this
rianp.' for thfi rmrnnsfi of rppiikt th trnr'h?n
in operation, and they are evidently, thor- (
oughly sophisticated in all the arts requisite
to the skillful management of this machine ;
and by their courtesy we were enabled to ex-"
amine some of .the most prominent articles,;
which were knit on these machines.
JLIQ. O ' - :
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Additional words in favor of this machine
and its unparalleled merits and popularity,
might be said, for reliable testimonials are :
not wanting. With a man at its head like
Mr. Bickford, we do not wonder at the sua .
cess of this over every.4)ther machine Defore
the public. Few, if any, possess the invent-'
ive genius of Mr. B.', and it is more seldom "
that we see combined with it, such remarka-,
ble executive abilities, uprightness, and true i
gentlemanly Learing,'as i3 personified in this
gentleman ; and this we say without wishing ;
to exaggerate hi3 praise in the slightest de
gree. V ' . . .. -
cicnrciii in;i.;.ir:o riAcniwE co.
No. 1 is the regular Tai. dly Machine, with -
common Coarea Cylind r, - - 25
2o. 1, with much better finich and extra
fixtures, - -' - - 1 30
No. 2, with fine Cylinder enly, ' - rt3
No. 2, with extra finish, etc., -" J3
No. 3, Family Ilachine, . i;h t oth Ccar: 3
and Fine Cylinders, - - - 5
No 3, with'extra nieh, etc., - - 4.0
No. 4, with both Cylinders nicely plated
with Nickel, - - - - ii 43