How to Find a Sock Machine
by Fred Hauck
       Here is a true story about how I found and bought a Franz & Pope Knitting Machine. You might like to try the method on your own.
       Two years ago, I demonstrated my collection of knitting machines to a local antique car club. None of the people present had ever seen or heard of a circular sock machine. Last month, a person who saw my presentation called to tell me he saw a machine at a flee market that the vendor thought was for making lace. It looked like a knitting machine. When he said "Franz & Pope", I knew what it was, and immediately called the seller in Niagara Falls, 70 miles to the west. The next afternoon, I drove to his home and happily paid him the asking price of $100.00.
       Pictured below is the machine. There were two extra cylinders, two sets of badly worn needles, and all the essentials to operate the machine to make tubes. It appears there was no ribber made for this Franz & Pope. I was delighted to find the knitter and expect to have lots of enjoyment from it. If you tell enough people about sock machines, sooner or later one will turn up when you least expect it.