Summary
Long black sock, made with a hand-powered flat-bed 'Preciosa' knitting machine (HT 31934) manufactured by Wertheim (Germany) and retailed in Melbourne by Hugo Wertheim in 1910.
The maker of the sock is thought to have been Ruby Fisher (1890-1958). Ruby was a talented pianist who lived on a farm, 'Alisdale', in Yaragon, Gippsland, one of 11 children. She purchased the knitting machine when aged around 20, for the then considerable sum of 10 pounds 15 shillings. In its early years Ruby used the machine to make a range of items on commission, including boys' long socks, 'ladies stockings', 'socklets', 'jumper bands', singlets, neck and arm bands and even 'button holes'. She also made more complicated cardigans and jumpers. One of her notebooks lists items ordered and by whom, and what she charged - usually between two and five shillings per order. Her stamp appears in some of the notebooks: 'R. FISHER KNITTER' and 'ALISDALE YARRAGON'.
The machine was also used to knit socks for soldiers during World War I - according to the donor, a record 23 pairs of socks were knitted in a single day! Hand-written patterns for 'Soldiers Long Sox 3 ply' 'Soldier's Stocking' are included in the collection. The machine was probably also used to knit for World War II soldiers.
The provenance of this particular sock is unknown. It may have been made as a World War I 'comfort', although it is not the standard khaki colour of the Australian uniform.
Physical Description
Long black sock with ribbed mouth.
More Information
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Collecting Areas
Working Life & Trades, Sustainable Futures, Public Life & Institutions, Clothing & Textiles
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Acquisition Information
Donation from Raema Edgington
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Maker (Probable)
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Retailer
Hugo Wertheim, 294-296 Bourke Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1910
Of knitting machine -
Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Overall Dimensions
570 mm (Length), 155 mm (Width), 2 mm (Depth)
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References
German Hosiery Museum, [Link 1] accessed 14/6/2012 Wonseok Choi, 'Three Dimensional Seamless Garment Knitting on V-Bed Flat Knitting Machines', Journal of Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management, vol.4, no.3, Spring 2005 Alex L. Askariffm Sewalot web site [Link 2] accessed 15/6/2012 'Hugo Wertheim', Australian Dictionary of Biography, [Link 3] accessed 15/6/2012
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Keywords
Handcrafts, World War I, 1914-1918, World War II, 1939-1945, Manufacturing, Home Workers, Work in the Home, Knitting Machines, Knitting Patterns, Rural Life, Rural Women, Domestic Work, Soldiers' Comforts
