Buying Without Trying: Part 3 on buying a CSM

Looking for a life changing relationship?  Go and get a new sock machine!

Many sock machines are acquired much like an arranged marriage. You may only know this new potential from the choices made by those you trust. And just like an arranged marriage you may only have a picture to give you some sense of what the possibilities will be.  If all I had were the voices of trusted friends and family that would be enough, no pictures needed. But when you are new to discovering this new world of sock machines your source of knowledge and inspiration will be what you see.  What you see may call to you loudly!  Before you answer that call, listen to the whole story the machine has to tell.

......Where to start?

A lot can be learned by just watching eBay auctions.

See what different machines go for on eBay by inputting Sock Knitting Machines / All Categories, as the search.  Then to get the CSMs to the top of the page, go in and select "show >Highest Price First" to sort the list.   The Creelman, PT Legare 400, Legare 47, Verdun-47,  Canadian Auto Knitter and Gearhart are not rare machines.  Those that are in excellent condition with all or most of their original parts & paper work can command an extra $100 or so but very few of these un-restored old sock machines will cost more than $ 750 on eBay and in the current economy the average is about $535.  But fluctuates weekly.  It will cost about $45 to package & ship a machine in the US.  Because of new fees added by eBay there has been a trend to increasing S & H charges, as the fees do not apply to them.  But for now that only adds about $15. 
For the buyer, eBay is the closest you get to market driven pricing for sock machines.  Apart from the occasional glitch, the pricing in auctions is a window to the current real time market value of nearly anything eBay facilitates selling.

Keep a log on the different name brands of sock machines and learn which ones show up weekly, monthly or only once a year. How much was asked for them in a buy-it-now, if offered and what actually was bid on it.

 Watch the feedback the buyer gives. You can learn a lot about patterns in how long it takes for a machine to arrive, how well it was packaged and if it arrived looking like its picture.

Buying without trying from an individual, especially a trusted CSM Friend can lead to "weded bliss" with your new CSM.  Thanks to a dear CSM friend, I take long breaks as I write and rewrite this blog to spend time with my newest CSM, a Tuttle, and what a joyous challenge.....

............but that is a blog for another day....
Finding your CSM through trusted CSM friends is by far the best way to find that perfect machine.   But if you are new to the CSM world that is not an option so the next best means is to be well informed of the more common pitfalls on your path to a sock machine. 
Do you have someone claiming their old machine for sale is a  "restored" sock machine.   Ask the seller to define "restored".   

If this were any other antique machine, restored should mean that both the function and the appearance are returned to the original ideal. 

For example, at an antique auto auction a restored model T Ford has a working engine with a body & interior that as much as is possible, looks original.

If only the function is restored  but the body and interior have all the years still on them, the engine is rebuilt but the Auto is not considered restored.  A sock machine is no different. A fully restored sock machine like this Creelman MMA circa 1887 not only cranks socks well,  it is beautiful and with a little care, it will go on cranking socks another 100 years.

Keep your focus on a good sock maker and be on guard for sellers that speak of how rare a machine is or that all the old patina has been retained like any good antique".  The metal working parts of a CSM do not have patina,  they do have years of wear, oil, grease, wool and metal particles mixed with dirt.  Removing that is the first part of a re-built machine and any true restoration.    
 Did you know that the average cost of a complete restoration from Colorado Cranker is $233.00? And a re-build is not much more than $125.  When you shop for your unrestored machines,  go in knowing what the full price might be to rebuild or to have it fully restored.   Be certain to get good clear photos of ANY machine you are considering. If the restored machine looks no different than the un-restored machines on eBay, believe what the machine is telling you!

When your only choice is to buy without trying the machine or knowing the seller,  request pictures that are clear and show all parts and sides of the machine.   With the pictures in hand or on your monitor,  it is now all about what the machine in the picture is telling you.

Part 4:     Not with out Pictures 

Does the text written by the seller match what the picture is telling you?   If not, believe the picture.

  In a dispute, the picture is what will be the last word.    So if any seller claims this PT Legare 400 shell has a "normal" range of stitch size adjustment.  What is in the picture?  It is showing you that the stitch pointer is at the tighter end but the V-cam bracket is sitting on the bottom of the shell frame,  so this machine will not adjust down to a larger stitch.  The lower range of stitch size is not usable because there is a factory V-cam set for fine yarns.  This machine has had lots of use in a factory and it will only use Lace weight or Fingering sock yarns.  Believe the machine; it has no bad days or laps of memory and absolutely no financial incentive. 

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  Does it look like the sock machine has all the parts it needs to do knitting and ribbing?  Would you know if this part were not there and what you can not do with out it?

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  Do the screws appear to fit. Missing screws or poorly fitting screws can suggest a lot of use which may require restoration. Some screws may not be found in the same size and will require machining to replace.

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  Does crank gear look straight and are all gear teeth present. If not the fix requires major welding and my be a fatal flaw to smooth cranking.

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  Do you see misshaped parts. Circular parts should look round, not oval, slumped or turning to powder. Badly cast metal parts and swelling metal do occur in certain types of CSM metals. If parts appear to be out of round they will not fit together or work well.

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  Is paint evenly distributed the same color and finish? If not and parts are spread out on a table not put together, they may not be original to each other and may not actually fit together.

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  Side cams like this below, are an essential CSM part you seldom see. So how do you know if they will need new metal or replacement?  Look at the appearance of the needle side of the yarn guide, the face of it.  If there is any sign of deep grooves, chips or gouges or that the face has been braised or re-shaped. This is a sign of extensive use in a factory  and the side cams may well need the same reshaping as the the yarn guide.  

Any sign of welds, cracks or breaks? These may limit how you can refurbish your machine. Epoxy welds will not hold up to heat set paint or powder coating and can make proper metal welds very difficult.

Is there more than a mild coating of rust on visible bare metal? If so it may require deep cleaning using sand or glass bead blasting to make them safe as well as clean.  

Colorado Cranker Slide-Show: Click Pause to read essentials

Get your own

Be encouraged, those machines that have survived to 2010 have a very good chance of being excellent sock makers. If the metal is in good condition and all the parts necessary are there, few sock machines are irreparable. If you do not have the tools or the knowledge to make a needed repair, just ask.
We will help you do it yourself when possible.

For advice, parts, tools or repairs contact us at   coloradocranker@q.com

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