Gearhart
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| Gearhart Knitting Machine Co. Gearhart | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Gearhart Knitting Machine Co. |
| Model | Gearhart |
| Gauge | |
| Type | Circular Sock Machine (CSM) |
| Patterning | |
| Needles | |
| Release Year | 1880s |
| Accessories | |
| Also Known As | |
Gearhart (originally built by the Gearhart Knitting Machine Co. of Clearfield, Pennsylvania) is the most famous and widely distributed historic brand of cast-iron circular sock knitting machines (CSMs) in the United States.
Originally sold through mail-order catalogs in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, these hand-cranked machines allowed families to knit socks at home for domestic use or to sell back to the company as part of home-employment programs.
History
- Home Employment: During the World War I era, Gearhart ran advertisement campaigns encouraging people to buy a Gearhart knitter to knit socks for the military. The company offered a contract to buy back all finished socks that met their quality standards.
- Design Features: Built with a heavy cast-iron frame, brass gear rings, and interchangeable needle cylinders (typically 60-needle or 80-needle).
- Modern Legacy: Original Gearhart machines are highly collectible today. Modern CSM builders (such as Erlbacher Gearhart) build reproduction machines based directly on the classic Gearhart geometry.