Improvements in the Manufacture of Hose, Half-hose, and Socks.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 20th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 19th Feb., 1890-Accepted, 20th May, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Hose, Half-hose, and Socks.
I GEORGE. SOWTER 88 Clarendon Villas Robin Hood Chase, Nottingham in the
town and County of Nottingham Hosiery Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
My improvement relates to making the feet of Hose, Half Hose and Socks.
The usual method of making the feet, by rotary or Cottons patent knitting machines,
which are self acting-is as follows, first the leg is made to the partings, with one
carrier or thread layer, two additional carriers are brought into opperation on each:
outer side to form the heel, the centre part or, instep, being made by the ordinary,
carrier, the heels are pressed of the machine, at the required length about 4 inches
and the instep continued to the toe and pressed of the machine the heels are then
jointed together by hand, or, turning of machine and transfered to another machine
to form the bottom or sole of the foot thus employing two machines and delay and
waste in their production.
I
I propose to make the legs and feet on one machine, with one seam only, by
fashioning the fabric to the shape of the foot, that is extending or contracting the
work as required, in the following manner, in making half hose the rib top is run. on
the machine in the usual manner, I then work 10 or more courses, and narrow down
with two or more distinct sets or rows of fashioning, extending them on one side, only,.
of the selvedge fashionings to the heels and widen out again as required to give width.
for the heel and instep combined, the points, or instruments are traversed in 3 inches
from the selvedge and narrow down 18 or more leads continueing the two sets of
fashioning forming the heels and instep, 4 inches are then made plain and narrow
down 12 or more leads on each side to form the too end of the half hose, thus forming
a complete foot on the one machine, with the seam extending from the leg underneath:
the foot to the toe.
I also propose to make the feet with one seam at the side, in the following manner,
the leg narrowings are set in 20 leads from the selvedge, on the left side of the machine,
narrow down 6 leads or any number required, to size of foot, I then commence to
widen out 14 or more leads, with one set of instrument 6 needles from the selvedge.
on the left side, the set of instruments on the right sido I traverse in 30 leads or more
from the selvedge, extending the fabric to fit the heel or back part of the foot con-
tinueing the required shape by narrowing down 20 leads or more, 4 inches plain are
made and traverse the left side instruments to 6 needles from the selvedge, the
instruments on the right side being traversed inside 26 leads, to narrow down 12.or
more leads thus forming a set of fashionings on each side of the toe making the leg
and foot on one machine, with the seam at the side of the foot substantially as
described.
I do not confine myself to any number of narrowings or widenings or the position
of the, one, seam, but vary them as required.
COMPLETE. SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Hose, Half-hose, and Socks.
I, GEORGE SOWTER 88 Clarendon Villas Robin Hood Chase Nottingham in the
town and County of Nottingham Hosiery Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My improvements relates to making the feet of Hose, Half-hose, and Socks.

page_text: The usual method of making the feet by rotary or Cottons patent knitting machines,
which are self acting.
First, the leg is made to the partings with one carrier or thread layer, two additional
carriers are brought into opperation on each outer side to form the heels, the centre
part or instep being made by the ordinary carrier, the heels are pressed off the
machine at the required length, about 4 inches, and the instep continued to the toe,
and pressed off the machine, the heels are then joined together, by hand or turning
off machine, and transfered to another machine to form the bottom or sole of the foot
thus employing two machines and causing delay and waste in their production. I
propose to make the legs and feet on one machine, with one seam only, by fashioning
the fabric to the shape of the foot, that is extending or contracting the work as
required in the following manner.
In making the half hose, the rib top is run on the machine in the usual manner. I
then work 10 or more courses and narrow down 6 leads with two or more distinct
sets or rows of fashioning as required and work 3 inches plain then rack in the points
or instruments on each side of the fabric 20 leads and widen out 18 leads forming the
required width for the heels. 1 then rack out the points or instruments to 12 leads
from the selvedge and narrow down 18 or more leads continueing the two sets of
fashioning forming the heels and instep, 4 inches are then made plain and narrow
down 12 or more leads to form the toe end of the half hose, thus formning a complete
foot on the one machine, with the seam extending from the leg underneath the foot to
the toe.
I
I also propose to make the feet with the one seam at the side in the following
manner, the leg narrowings are set in 20 leads from the selvedge on the left side
of the machine, narrow down 6 leads or any other number required to size of foot.
then commence to widen out 14 or more leads with one set of instruments 6 needles
from the selvedge on the left side, the set of instruments on the right side. I traverse
in 30 leads or more from the selvedge extending the fabric to fit the heel of the foot,
continueing the required shape by narrowing down 20 leads, then make 4 inches
plain and traverse the left side instruments to 6 needles from the selvedge. The
instruments on the right side being traversed inside 26 leads, narrow 12 or more leads
thus forming a set of fashionings on each side of the toe, making the leg and foot on
one machine with the seam at the side of the foot. In making this shape foot an
extra carrier may be used to make the instep and foot in two divisions, by working
the two carriers at the same time, one for the instep the other for the sole or bottom
of the foot substantially as described.
I do not confine myself to any exact number of narrowings or widenings, but vary
them to the size of the foot required.
Fig. 1. Diagram of half-hose, with one seam in leg extending underneath the foot.
Fig. 2. is with the seam on the side of leg and foot.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
Firstly
―:
I claim for making Hose, Half Hose and Socks on one machine, with
one seam or join from the top to the toe end.
Secondly-To shape or fashion the foot to fit perfectly with one seam only at the
side or any position required in the fabric, or divide the foot and instep by using an
extra carrier.
Dated this 17th day of Fahrua 1800
GEORGE SOWTER.