Brother KH 552

Brother KH 552
Manufacturer	Brother
Model	KH 552
Gauge	Standard
Type	Domestic
Patterning	Push button
Needles	200
Release Year	1968
Accessories	Lace Carriage (manual), Sinkers, Table Clamps
Also Known As	Jones KH 552

The Brother KH 552 is a vintage standard gauge (4.5mm) knitting machine featuring an 8-button manual needle selection system. Released in the late 1960s, it is one of the most iconic "push-button" models and is prized today for its heavy-duty all-metal construction and mechanical reliability.

Patterning System

The defining feature of the KH 552 is the bank of 8 buttons located on the front of the needle bed.

• Selection: Depressing a button selects every 8th needle across the bed.
• Sequence: To create a pattern, the knitter depresses a combination of buttons and passes the carriage. The buttons must be reset or changed manually between rows to create motifs like diamonds or zig-zags.
• Limitations: Unlike later punchcard machines, the pattern repeat is strictly limited to an 8-stitch width.

Key Features

• All-Metal Bed: Extremely durable with no plastic components in the needle bed or internal selection gears.
• Non-Sinkered Bed: Similar to other early models, this machine does not have sinker posts (gate pegs). Work must be heavily weighted to ensure stitches cast off correctly.
• Extendable Rails: Features rails that allow the carriage to be parked off the needle bed, useful for intarsia or large-scale hand-manipulated work.

Technical Specifications

• Gauge: 4.5mm (Standard)
• Needles: 200
• Patterning: 8-button manual selection
• Pitch: 4.5mm

Maintenance

• Button Cleaning: The most common issue with the KH 552 is "frozen" buttons caused by 50-year-old hardened grease. A deep clean with a solvent (like LPS 2 or specialized electronics cleaner) is usually required for restoration.
• Sponge Bar: Uses a standard 4.5mm Brother sponge bar, though early versions occasionally used a "spring" bar which should be replaced with a modern foam bar for better needle tension.