"Sun" hosiery knitting machine

This was used by Mr William Dickson (1857 - 1931) at his home at Welltreeburn, Amisfield, Dumfries.   William Lee, a Nottinghamshire curate, produced the first knitting machine in 1589.  Over the next century the machine was improved, and by 1750 over 1400 hand frames were in use.  Until they moved into factories in the 1800s, most knitters worked at home, renting their machines, carrying out their own maintenance, buying yarn and regulating their hours.  Most knitting machines were much larger than the "Sun" hosiery knitting machine, and were heavy to operate.  They were therefore most frequently used by men.