Loop-wheeled What is it?
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I think the loop wheel machines make a much higher quality fabric than projectile looms. One of these old knitting machines is like a mechanical old lady. She is an expert knitter with only one purpose. This is like the terminator of knitting sweaters. Probably the only thing better is an actual human doing it. I'm not trying to suggest that other machines aren't making quality fabric. But the reason that most companies don't mess with these machines is because they are just too slow. They can't keep up with demand. So they are not as profitable…..
I guess you wanted to compare ancient circular knitting machines (loop wheel machines and others) with modern circular machines and not with modern day weaving machines (projectile looms).
For knits you have basically 2 options:
- circular knits
- flatbed knits
The majority these days is done on circular machines with tubes of a wider diameter and cut open, straightened and set for further processing like cutting and sewing - the ancient machines (loop wheel and other) are much slower, but the mechanics of how the loops are formed are the same compared to modern day machines.
The differences between the machines at Merz b. Schwanen and the loop wheel machines in Japan are marginal - in Germany the name "Loop Wheel" was not commonly used for this type of machine ("Rundstrickmachine" which is much more generic).
There was a significant industry in Saxony and Frankonia that specialized on underwear and hosiery that managed to survive well after the WW2 - this is probably the tradition the machines at Merz b. Schwanen originate from…
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I guess you wanted to compare ancient circular knitting machines (loop wheel machines and others) with modern circular machines and not with modern day weaving machines (projectile looms).
Right. I think the big difference between the older machines, and the more modern ones is speed and amount of tension.
Really I just don't buy the nostalgia thing (this does play into it though). I think they make a higher quality fabric with less regard to 'How much can we pump out?'
can we really refer to these machines as ancient though… weren't they in use through the 50's? -
I hear your Scroogen, but I have yet to read or see any concrete evidence that supports that they are a better fabric. I based the nostalgic comment off of what Foxy said in the Mynudies link. I do not mean to speak for him, but he seems pretty hip to this kind of thing.
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I have 80's and 90's Hanes, Champion, Russel, Jerzees, anvil 'cotton deluxe' and some other ones all made in usa probably on more modern knit machines. They are mostly falling apart. Sure the fabric is soft and the shirts are still wearable. I guess I will have to wait and find out how loopwheeled shirts hold up over time. I think a lot of the PRICE has to do with nostalgia but also because of how slow the machine is. Sometimes technically things are the same but actually they are different
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i guess "better" is also subjective. I def. like the idea of a slower, more controlled weave. I guess time will tell if it resists the typical holes or stretching that curse just about every regular t-shirt I own. we will see
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I have yet to read or see any concrete evidence that supports that they are a better fabric.
This is something you can look forward to in a year's time if you pick up some loopwheeled goods now. I've been wearing an IH loopwheeled T every week since last June and not only is the fabric clearly in another league to most of the other shirts I own (the weight and the texture of it is superb), it has kept its shape perfectly, including the collar. Likewise, the Strike Gold sweatshirt I own is in a league of its own. So fleecy and thick while also super soft. I've never had another garment like it.
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@Sugar:
I have yet to read or see any concrete evidence that supports that they are a better fabric.
This is something you can look forward to in a year's time if you pick up some loopwheeled goods now. I've been wearing an IH loopwheeled T every week since last June and not only is the fabric clearly in another league to most of the other shirts I own (the weight and the texture of it is superb), it has kept its shape perfectly, including the collar. Likewise, the Strike Gold sweatshirt I own is in a league of its own. So fleecy and thick while also super soft. I've never had another garment like it.
I will just second this and say that I could close my eyes and pick out my Loopwheeled shirts and sweats out of wardrobe no problem.
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I dont doubt it guys. I have an IH tee and that Strike Gold sweatshirt and the construction is flawless. They both are new though, so only time will tell.