touching and feeling fine antique steel knitting needles

I have just been allowed to touch and feel a set of "Superfine Knitting
Needles" made by THOs Harper & Sons', Redditch England
full set No. 17. While I have looked at them with a hand lens, I have not
fully characterized them yet. The are basically 1 mm steel lace needles,
about 8" long. They have significant wear, but I do not see the wear marks
of a knitting sheath on them.

They are mild steel, tempered for springiness. This tells me that old
needles were spring tempered steel - even when they were not being used with
a knitting sheath/ knitting pouch. But no, I do not yet have a statistically
significant basis for that theory.

They are very like the superfine steel needles that I make, and very unlike
the steel needles that I have recently purchased through commercial sources.

Aaron

In message , Aaron
Lewis writes
I have just been allowed to touch and feel a set of "Superfine Knitting
Needles" made by THOs Harper & Sons', Redditch England
full set No. 17. While I have looked at them with a hand lens, I have not
fully characterized them yet. The are basically 1 mm steel lace needles,
about 8" long. They have significant wear, but I do not see the wear marks
of a knitting sheath on them.

They are mild steel, tempered for springiness. This tells me that old
needles were spring tempered steel - even when they were not being used with
a knitting sheath/ knitting pouch. But no, I do not yet have a statistically
significant basis for that theory.

They are very like the superfine steel needles that I make, and very unlike
the steel needles that I have recently purchased through commercial sources.

Aaron


On my website under antiques I have a red leather case with blue steel
knitting needles and bodkins in.
It is about 1860 so I was told by the vendor.
Probably used for knitting fine lace stockings and gloves.
Shirley
--
Shirley Shone

http://www.allcrafts.org.uk

In the collection of my late mother there were 3 pairs of Cast iron
needles circa 1936 ,,,,,,
they lived very long ,,,
mirjam

In message , Aaron
Lewis writes
I have just been allowed to touch and feel a set of "Superfine Knitting
Needles" made by THOs Harper & Sons', Redditch England
full set No. 17. While I have looked at them with a hand lens, I have not
fully characterized them yet. The are basically 1 mm steel lace needles,
about 8" long. They have significant wear, but I do not see the wear marks
of a knitting sheath on them.

They are mild steel, tempered for springiness. This tells me that old
needles were spring tempered steel - even when they were not being used with
a knitting sheath/ knitting pouch. But no, I do not yet have a statistically
significant basis for that theory.

They are very like the superfine steel needles that I make, and very unlike
the steel needles that I have recently purchased through commercial sources.

That is a wonderful set.

Any idea how the needles were made? (i.e., are the needles springy? )

Aaron
"Shirley Shone" wrote in message
...
In message , Aaron Lewis
writes
I have just been allowed to touch and feel a set of "Superfine Knitting
Needles" made by THOs Harper & Sons', Redditch England
full set No. 17. While I have looked at them with a hand lens, I have not
fully characterized them yet. The are basically 1 mm steel lace needles,
about 8" long. They have significant wear, but I do not see the wear
marks
of a knitting sheath on them.

They are mild steel, tempered for springiness. This tells me that old
needles were spring tempered steel - even when they were not being used
with
a knitting sheath/ knitting pouch. But no, I do not yet have a
statistically
significant basis for that theory.

They are very like the superfine steel needles that I make, and very
unlike
the steel needles that I have recently purchased through commercial
sources.

Aaron


On my website under antiques I have a red leather case with blue steel
knitting needles and bodkins in.
It is about 1860 so I was told by the vendor.
Probably used for knitting fine lace stockings and gloves.
Shirley
--
Shirley Shone

http://www.allcrafts.org.uk

Are those cast iron needles still extant? If not, what happened to them?
What was (or is) it like to knit with them?


Aaron


"Mirjam Bruck-Cohen" wrote in message
...
In the collection of my late mother there were 3 pairs of Cast iron
needles circa 1936 ,,,,,,
they lived very long ,,,
mirjam

In message , Aaron
Lewis writes
I have just been allowed to touch and feel a set of "Superfine Knitting
Needles" made by THOs Harper & Sons', Redditch England
full set No. 17. While I have looked at them with a hand lens, I have
not
fully characterized them yet. The are basically 1 mm steel lace needles,
about 8" long. They have significant wear, but I do not see the wear
marks
of a knitting sheath on them.

They are mild steel, tempered for springiness. This tells me that old
needles were spring tempered steel - even when they were not being used
with
a knitting sheath/ knitting pouch. But no, I do not yet have a
statistically
significant basis for that theory.

They are very like the superfine steel needles that I make, and very
unlike
the steel needles that I have recently purchased through commercial
sources.

I tried to knit with them , and wasn`t happy at all , i found them too
heavy , glitchy,cold , sure i put them away somewhere or gave them,
or ??? have no idea ,,,,, they weren`t good for me.
mirjam

Are those cast iron needles still extant? If not, what happened to them?
What was (or is) it like to knit with them?


Aaron

PS i still have my OLD cast iron U form piece for making
HAIR PIN LACE ,, in this method the heaviness of the U helps me
working better thah a modern plasticated one ,,, but i have some
chipped places on the u ,,,,
mirjam

They have a tiny bit of spring but not much, The needles are a sort of
blue mottled with gold ends,
I can scan them and send the scan in an email to you.
You would get a better picture of them.
I will also look in my books to see if there is any mention of them.
I used to collect antique needlework tools but can no longer afford
them.
Shirley

In message , Aaron
Lewis writes
That is a wonderful set.

Any idea how the needles were made? (i.e., are the needles springy? )

Aaron
"Shirley Shone" wrote in message
...
In message , Aaron Lewis
writes
I have just been allowed to touch and feel a set of "Superfine Knitting
Needles" made by THOs Harper & Sons', Redditch England
full set No. 17. While I have looked at them with a hand lens, I have not
fully characterized them yet. The are basically 1 mm steel lace needles,
about 8" long. They have significant wear, but I do not see the wear
marks
of a knitting sheath on them.

They are mild steel, tempered for springiness. This tells me that old
needles were spring tempered steel - even when they were not being used
with
a knitting sheath/ knitting pouch. But no, I do not yet have a
statistically
significant basis for that theory.

They are very like the superfine steel needles that I make, and very
unlike
the steel needles that I have recently purchased through commercial
sources.

Aaron


On my website under antiques I have a red leather case with blue steel
knitting needles and bodkins in.
It is about 1860 so I was told by the vendor.
Probably used for knitting fine lace stockings and gloves.
Shirley
--
Shirley Shone

http://www.allcrafts.org.uk



--
Shirley Shone

http://www.allcrafts.org.uk

Are you sure that they are steel? Have you checked with a magnet? They might
be silver with gold plated tips?
For example, coin silver would be quite firm with a slight springiness. It
would oxidize to a deep bluish black. I have some old Russian silver that is
that color. But if silver, they would be easy to plate with gold for the
ultimate in smoothness. I know Faberge did silver needles with gold tipped
ends, and I assume other makers did as well.

They are a nice set. A lady could be proud to be seen knitting with them.

Aaron

"Shirley Shone" wrote in message
...
They have a tiny bit of spring but not much, The needles are a sort of
blue mottled with gold ends,
I can scan them and send the scan in an email to you.
You would get a better picture of them.
I will also look in my books to see if there is any mention of them.
I used to collect antique needlework tools but can no longer afford them.
Shirley

In message , Aaron Lewis
writes
That is a wonderful set.

Any idea how the needles were made? (i.e., are the needles springy? )

Aaron
"Shirley Shone" wrote in message
...
In message , Aaron
Lewis
writes
I have just been allowed to touch and feel a set of "Superfine Knitting
Needles" made by THOs Harper & Sons', Redditch England
full set No. 17. While I have looked at them with a hand lens, I have
not
fully characterized them yet. The are basically 1 mm steel lace needles,
about 8" long. They have significant wear, but I do not see the wear
marks
of a knitting sheath on them.

They are mild steel, tempered for springiness. This tells me that old
needles were spring tempered steel - even when they were not being used
with
a knitting sheath/ knitting pouch. But no, I do not yet have a
statistically
significant basis for that theory.

They are very like the superfine steel needles that I make, and very
unlike
the steel needles that I have recently purchased through commercial
sources.

Aaron


On my website under antiques I have a red leather case with blue steel
knitting needles and bodkins in.
It is about 1860 so I was told by the vendor.
Probably used for knitting fine lace stockings and gloves.
Shirley
--
Shirley Shone

http://www.allcrafts.org.uk



--
Shirley Shone

http://www.allcrafts.org.uk

That is what I thought.

I could not see cast iron needles as being pleasant to use.

Thanks for the info.

Aaron

"Mirjam Bruck-Cohen" wrote in message
...
I tried to knit with them , and wasn`t happy at all , i found them too
heavy , glitchy,cold , sure i put them away somewhere or gave them,
or ??? have no idea ,,,,, they weren`t good for me.
mirjam

Are those cast iron needles still extant? If not, what happened to them?
What was (or is) it like to knit with them?


Aaron