Brother[]
The Brother brand started in Japan as the Nippon Sewing Machine Manufacturing Co, which manufactured and exported sewing machines from Japan soon after WWII. The company diversified into home electronics and knitting machines in the early 1950s. In 1962 the company was renamed to Brother Industries, Ltd. Brother continued to manufacture and export knitting machines until the late 1990s. Brother no longer manufactures knitting machines. However there are some chinese companies which produce Brother 'clone' machines.
The Brother machines were also sold under the brand names KnitKing or Brother in North America and Empisal or Brother in Australia. To avoid confusion between the various brands the machines will be referred to in this Wiki by their model number, which remains consistent between the various Brother brands.
To avoid confusion between the various brands the machines will be referred to in this Wiki by their model number, which remains consistent between the various brands.
This is not a complete list. Year indicates the year of first production.
| Model | Gauge (mm) | Needles | Patterning | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KH1-B1 | Manual | 1954 | ||
| KH120 | 3.6 | 250 | Manual | |
| KH230 | 9 | Manual | ||
| KH260 | 9 | 114 | Punchcard 24st | 1984 |
| KH270 | 9 | 114 | Electronic | |
| KX350 | 7 | 132 | Manual | |
| KX355 | 7 | 128 | Manual | |
| KX395 | 4.5/9 | Manual | ||
| KH500 | 1955 | |||
| KH511 | 1960 | |||
| KH561 | 1964 | |||
| KH581 | 4.5 | 200 | Push Button 8st | 1966 |
| KH588 | 1969 | |||
| KH710 | 4.5 | 200 | Push button 8st | 1970 |
| KH800 | 4.5 | 200 | Punchcard 12st? | 1971 |
| KH810 | 4.5 | 200 | Punchcard 24st | 1973 |
| KH820 | 4.5 | 200 | Punchcard 24st | 1974 |
| KH830 | 4.5 | 200 | Punchcard 24st | 1976 |
| KH836 | 4.5 | 200 | Punchcard 24st | 1977 |
| KH840 | 4.5 | 200 | Punchcard 24st | 1978 |
| KH860 | 4.5 | 200 | Punchcard 24st | |
| KH864 | 4.5 | 200 | Punchcard 24st | |
| KH881 | 4.5 | 200 | Punchcard 24st | |
| KH890 | 4.5 | 200 | Punchcard 24st | 1979 |
| KH891 | 4.5 | 200 | Punchcard 24st | |
| KH894 | 4.5 | 200 | Punchcard 24st | |
| KH900 | 4.5 | 200 | Electronic | |
| KH910 | 4.5 | 200 | Electronic | 1976-80 |
| KH930 | 4.5 | 200 | Electronic | 1980 |
| KH940 | 4.5 | 200 | Electronic | 1988 |
| KH950i/KH950 | 4.5 | 200 | Electronic | |
| KH956 | 4.5 | 200 | Electronic | 1992 |
| KH970 | 4.5 | 200 | Electronic | 1995-6 |
| Ribbers | Gauge (mm) | Needles | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| KR230 | 9 | ||
| KR260 | 9 | 110 | 1984 |
| KR710 | 4.5 | 200 | |
| KR850 | 4.5 | 200 |
| Accessories | Type | Gauge (mm) |
|---|---|---|
| KA2600 | Intarsia carriage | 9 |
| KA8210 | Intarsia carriage | 4.5 |
| KA8310 | Linker | 4.5 |
| KG88 | Garter carriage | 4.5 |
| KG95 | Garter carriage | 4.5 |
| KHC820 | Single bed colour changer | 4.5 |
| KL116 | Knitleader | 4.5 |
| KRC900 | Double bed colour changer | 4.5 / 9 |