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Singer/Silver Reed

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This is the approved revision of this page, as well as being the most recent.

Silver Reed / Singer Machine Index[edit]

Brand History & Overview[edit]

Singer / Silver Reed (also marketed as Studio, Knitmaster, and Empisal) is a major Japanese brand of domestic and semi-industrial flatbed knitting machines. Manufactured by the Silver Seiko company (later Silver Reed) in Japan, these machines are famous for their unique modular construction, drum-based patterning, and single-pass lace capabilities.[1]

Unlike other manufacturers, Silver Seiko machines were sold under many different names globally depending on local distribution agreements:

  • Silver Reed / Silver Seiko: The primary manufacturer name, used globally.
  • Empisal / Empisal-Knitmaster: Distributed in the UK, Ireland, South Africa, and parts of Western Europe.
  • Singer: Marketed under the Singer name in France, Italy, Scandinavia, Spain, and Benelux (distinct from French-made Superba Singer double-bed machines).
  • Knitmaster: Distributed in the United Kingdom.
  • Studio: Distributed in North America and select European import markets.
  • Viscount: Used for specific entry-level Silver Reed models in the UK and Australia.

Technical Features & Cams[edit]

Silver Reed machines differ mechanically from their major competitor, Brother, in several ways:

  • Drum Needle Selection: In punchcard models, needle selection is performed inside the carriage using rotating cams that read patterning drums, rather than using a belt-driven needle selector mechanism on the bed.
  • Modular Ribbers: The ribbing attachments (such as the SRP 50 and SRP 60N) are designed with a slide-adjusting bed alignment, making it extremely easy to change pitching.
  • Single-Pass Lace: Silver Reed lace carriages (such as the LC 2 and LC 580) transfer and knit lace stitches in a single pass of the carriage, whereas Brother machines require separate transfer runs with a dedicated lace carriage.

Fine Gauge (3.6mm)[edit]

Standard Gauge (4.5mm)[edit]

Manual & Push-Button[edit]

24-Stitch Punchcard Models[edit]

Electronic Models[edit]

  • Silver Reed SK-840 (The current electronic model; requires Silver Link or DesignaKnit to function)

Mid-Gauge (6.5mm)[edit]

Plastic Bed (Hobbyist)[edit]

Punchcard[edit]

Metal Bed[edit]

Bulky Gauge (9.0mm)[edit]

Punchcard Models[edit]

Electronic Models[edit]

Plastic Bed[edit]

Accessories[edit]

Ribbing Attachments[edit]

Ribbers add a second bed of needles, allowing for 1x1, 2x2 ribbing, circular (tubular) knitting, and English Rib (Full Cardigan).

  • Silver Reed SRP 50: Standard gauge ribber (4.5mm). Compatible with most manual and punchcard Silver Reed/Singer/Studio models.
  • Silver Reed SRP 60N: The "N" stands for New; features refined plastic components and better compatibility with late-era electronic machines.
  • Silver Reed SRP 20: Standard gauge ribber (4.5mm). Compatible with most manual and punchcard Silver Reed/Singer/Studio models.

Lace Carriages (LC)[edit]

Unlike many Brother models, Silver Reed machines generally require a separate carriage to transfer stitches for lace.

  • Silver Reed LC 2: Standard gauge punchcard lace carriage. Compatible with SK280 and other standard gauge punchcard models.
  • Silver Reed LC 580: Electronic lace carriage compatible with the SK550, SK560, SK580, and SK840 electronic models.

Patterning & Documentation Tools[edit]

  • Silver Reed AG 24: Intarsia carriage for standard gauge, used for knitting large blocks of color without floats.
  • Silver Reed KR 6: Knit Radar (Contour Slider). A mechanical device that uses half-scale paper patterns to guide garment shaping.
  • Silver Reed KR 7: Knit Radar (Contour Slider). A mechanical device that uses full-scale or half-scale paper patterns to guide garment shaping.
  • Silver Reed YC 5: Universal yarn changer that works on both standard and bulky gauge machines, double bed.
  • Silver Reed YC 6: Universal yarn changer that works on both standard and bulky gauge machines, single or double bed.
  • Silver Link: A hardware interface used to connect electronic Silver Reed machines (like the SK 840) to a computer for use with software like DesignaKnit.
  • Kriskrafter Needle Beetle A plastic carriage used to select 8-stitch pattern repeats. For use on Silver Reed LK-150, LK-140 LK-100, GK-370.
  • Kriskrafter Weave-R A plastic carriage that enables and speeds up weaving process on Silver Reed LK-150, LK-140, LK-100, GK-370.

Specialty Tools[edit]

  • Silver Reed RT 1: Rib Transfer Tool. A specialized standard gauge carriage or tool used to transfer stitches from the ribber bed back to the main bed.
  • Silver Reed SC 3: Automatic Linker. A standard gauge carriage used to cast off (bind off) stitches automatically while the work is still on the machine.
  • Silver Reed AW 1: Weaving Arm. An attachment for the standard carriage that allows for "weaving" thick accent yarns into the knit fabric.

Machine Accessory Compatibility Matrix[edit]

The following is a dynamically generated list of Silver Reed, Singer, and Studio accessories and their compatible knitting machines, populated directly from the wiki's database:

Accessory Type Compatible Machines Release Year
AG10 Intarsia Carriage LK100 • LK140 • LK150 1980s-1990s
AG11 Intarsia Carriage Silver Reed LK150 • Silver Reed LK140 • Silver Reed LK100 • Knitmaster Zippy 90 • Silver Reed LKS100 1980s
AG24 Intarsia Carriage SK280 • SK360 • SK560 • SK580 • SK700 • SK840 1980s-2000s
AG30 Intarsia Carriage SK150 • SK151 • SK155 1980s-1990s
AW 1 Weaving Arm Standard gauge (4.5mm) Silver Reed / Singer / Studio knitting carriages 1980s
FC6 Fairisle Carriage Silver Reed LK150
FRP 70 Ribbing Attachment Studio F270 1982
KR-7 Knit Radar
LC 2 Lace Carriage Silver Reed • Studio • Singer • KnitMaster • Empisal standard gauge knitting machines
LC580 Lace Carriage SK550 • SK560 • SK580 • SK840 Not specified
LS6 Pattern Selector LK140 • LK150
RT-1 Ribber Tension Unit Silver Reed SRP50 • SRP60 • SRP60N Ribbers 1970s-1990s
SC-3 Automatic Linker, Cast-off Carriage SK210 • SK260 • SK270 • SK280 • SK301 • SK302 • SK303 • SK321 • SK322 • SK360 • SK500 • SK560 • SK700 • SK840
SR150 Ribbing Attachment Silver Reed HK100 • Silver Reed LK100 • Silver Reed SK120 • Silver Reed SK150 • Silver Reed SK150MOD150 • Silver Reed SK151 • Silver Reed SK155 • Silver Reed SK890 1980s-2000s
SR155 Ribbing Attachment Silver Reed HK100 • Silver Reed LK100 • Silver Reed SK120 • Silver Reed SK150 • Silver Reed SK150MOD150 • Silver Reed SK151 • Silver Reed SK155 • Silver Reed SK890 1980s-2000s
SR860 Ribbing Attachment Silver Reed SK860 1990s-2000s
SRP 20 Ribbing Attachment 1977
SRP 50 Ribbing Attachment
SRP60N Ribbing Attachment Silver Reed SK280 • Silver Reed SK840 1980s-1990s
SRP60N Ribbing Attachment Silver Reed standard gauge knitting machines
YC 3 Color Changer Unknown Unknown
YC 6 Colour Changer Silver Reed SK210 • Silver Reed SK280 • Silver Reed SK360 • Silver Reed SK500 • Silver Reed SK560 • Silver Reed SK580 • Silver Reed SK700 • Silver Reed SK740 • Silver Reed SK840 1980s-present
  1. ↑ Silver Reed Manuals & Guides
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