Saturday 8 October 2011

Lanofix Knitting Machines

It has been awhile since my last post and I have been busy designing and collecting vintage items from the 40s and 50s.  My latest addition to the knitting machine collection is a Lanofix "Mininitter".  It's an unusual machine in that it has no carriage, but can knit stocking stitch with ease and other stitches by manipulation.  These machines were produced in the later 40's to very early 50s in Italy.  With an advertisement for the machine being produced in 1949 (http://www.artifiche.com/cms/front_content.php?idcat=6&article=929&lang=2).


The Lanofix company of Negri Milano first started production of knitting machines in 1938.  I also have in my collection the first model Lanofix made by this company.  It knits garter stitch as well as stocking stitch and other stitches by hand manipulation.  The photo for this machine is below.


Lanofix 1938 Model with complete set of tools

This machine was given to it's original owner as a wedding present in 1943.  She was not sure if was new or not, but I suspect that it may have been a second hand machine at that time due to World War 2 and lack of production facilities.  The machine was only used once and then packed away as she preferred to knit with needles.  This appears to be the case with many of these vintage knitting machines.


Here are some photos of the Lanofix "Mininitter" before cleaning.  All it will need is a light dusting, hooks polished and a light oiling.  The machine appears to have had minimal usage and then been stored away.


Lanofix "Mininitter" unboxed
 
Lanofix "Mininitter" Tension dial and Latch Hook Bar
 


Lanofix "Mininitter" Tools and manual

The Lanofix machine was also produced as a double bed machine in the early to mid 50s.


Lanofix Double Bed Machine, with weights, clamps,
transfer combs, and other tools in original pouch.
There is even the table top from the table that was
originally bought new with the machine in the mid 50s.

Please note that I am unable to provide valuations for these machines as it depends on overall condition, vintage knitting machine market and potential buyers.
 

14 comments:

Oriol Moreno said...

My parents have one of these from my grand mother but they did not found the instruccions. I'm from Catalonia, Spain. My english is not very good, sorry!
Do you know where we can faind it?

Sharon Knits said...

Which machine do they have? I only have the instructions for the middle machine and a typed copy of some basic instructions for the top one.

Oriol Moreno said...

Lanofix double bed

Sharon Knits said...

Still looking for instructions myself. Might have to work it out and put them together myself. Don't know when I will find the time though.

La naine said...

Hello,
I just acquired a Lanofix and I do not have the manual. I was wondering if you could send it to me. This is mininitter lanofix. Let me know if I have to make a bank deposit. Regarding the language of the instructions I can find someone to translate.

Here are my postal address:

pierrard Clarisse
Street Noiret 2
Pesche-5660 Belgium

my email address:

lanaine10@hotmail.com

Thank you in advance for your help.

Sharon Knits said...

I will try to locate this on the weekend, but will then need to find time to scan it. I have become very busy between work and my children there are just not enough hours in my day. I will be adding photos of more of my vintage machines in about 6 weeks time, so hopefully I will have located and scanned the manual by then.

Sharon Knits said...

Hmmm! Time has really gotten away from me. As I have another request for the instructions for the "Mininitter" I will try to locate the machine in my craft store this weekend, so as to scan the manual.

Sharon Knits said...

Hmmm! Time has really gotten away from me. As I have another request for the instructions for the "Mininitter" I will try to locate the machine in my craft store this weekend, so as to scan the manual.

santina said...

I NEED MANUAL FOR MININITTER, IF POSSIBLE SEND ME THE SCAN OF IT, THANKS
santina.ranghetti@gmail.com

Sharon Knits said...

For those of you looking for a copy of the Manual for the "Mininitter" here is a link to file I have uploaded - https://jumpshare.com/b/X1RInB3sLu3OSq2XS5oh
Apologies for taking so long, but things have gotten very busy lately.

Sharon Knits said...

You will need to copy and paste the URL to your browsers address bar.

dan said...

Hey, i just took a trip to Italy to visit my parents and found a lanofix, it has the box all the instruction manuals and i believe this is 1938 or 1939 for sure. The "testimonial in the back of the book are dated 4 Jan 1940. Its wooden and nice and complete. Do you know what something like this is worth?

dan said...

Hey, just a question. But i have a complete 1938 or 1939 lanofix. All manuals and the testimonials in the back are dated 4 Jan 1940. Its wooden and working condition. What is something like this worth?

Sharon Knits said...

I am unable to provide valuations for these machines as it depends on overall condition, vintage knitting machine market and potential buyers. I have paid as little as $1 Australian at auction for the Lanofix double bed machine pictured above including all pictured. The others were also won at auction without competition for low prices.