Scott & Williams
| Scott & Williams Scott & Williams | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Scott & Williams |
| Model | Scott & Williams |
| Gauge | |
| Type | Industrial Circular / Hosiery |
| Patterning | |
| Needles | |
| Release Year | 1865 |
| Accessories | |
| Also Known As | |
Scott & Williams (originally founded in 1865 as Fidelity Machine Works by Joseph Heginbothom in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)[1] was one of the largest and most influential manufacturers of industrial circular knitting machines in the world. Robert W. Scott and Louis N. D. Williams took over management in 1883 and renamed the company in 1888.[2]
Throughout the 20th century, the company was the dominant builder of circular hosiery, circular underwear, and sweater-body knitting machines in the United States, operating a massive manufacturing plant in Laconia, New Hampshire.[3]
History[edit]
- Founding: Established in Philadelphia in 1865, the company quickly grew by patenting innovative designs for circular ribbing and hosiery machines. Robert W. Scott was a highly prolific inventor, securing over 230 patents related to circular knitting systems during his lifetime.[4]
- Laconia Plant: In 1910, the company relocated its main manufacturing operations to Laconia, New Hampshire. At its peak, the Laconia factory employed over 2,000 workers, making it the largest employer in the region.[3]
- Acquisitions & Decline: The company pioneered seamless stocking machines (such as the K-series and the Komet series) but faced increasing international competition in the late 20th century, eventually closing its doors in the late 1970s and liquidating in 1981.[1]
Key Innovations[edit]
- Seamless Hosiery Machines: First to manufacture automatic circular machines (such as the "Model K") that could knit a complete seamless stocking with a turned heel and toe in a single automated process.
- Ribbed Underwear Machines: Built high-speed circular ribbers that revolutionized the underwear and sportswear garment industries.
- Komet Socks Machine: Produced under license from Bentley, the Scott & Williams Komet double-cylinder machine was the global gold standard for ribbed socks.
Manuals and Documentation[edit]
Due to the historical and industrial nature of Scott & Williams circular knitting machinery, standard home user manuals do not exist. Instead, technical documentation, exploded parts schematics, and mechanical catalogs are preserved in historical textile archives and patent databases:
- Landmark Patents:
- US Patent 1,152,850 (1915) – The primary patent describing the automatic circular seamless hosiery machine by Robert W. Scott.
- US Patent 1,189,220 (1916) – Robert W. Scott's patent for the stitch length control mechanism.
- Historical Trade Catalogs: Search the trade catalogs and textile history collections at the Internet Archive (pre-configured query for Scott & Williams / Bentley Komet).
- Industrial Archives: Physical records, parts catalogs, and drawings are held at the Belknap Mill Industrial Heritage Program in Laconia, New Hampshire.