Manufacturing of hosiery changed over the years due to improvements in machinery, developments in yarn features and in changes in fashion requirements.
I remember walking into the Knitting Departments and trying to come to terms with the conditions that were necessary for the machinery and yarns to achieve knitted pieces. The noise was loud but not deafening, humidifiers kept the atmosphere just right for the yarn to feed speedily through a mass of clean, ceramic or wire eyelets. With 72 machines, each consisting of 30 sections, in unending operation for five and a half days the sight and smell of oil was always present. Row after row of fluorescent lighting produced not only light but heat.
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| Gordon Johnston - Knitter |
Alex Fetherston, Ferdie Thun and Billy Clarke (Superintendent) |
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| Fully Fashioned Knitting Department |
I marvelled at the men. The Knitters, all men, worked on a rota of 3 shifts of 8 hours; 7.00am -3.00pm,
3.00pm -11.00pm and 11.00pm -7.00am...week after week, year after year. The very welcome Tea-trolley permitted the 'at your machine' tea break as wheels, rollers, cams, yarn carriers, needles, sinkers and knockovers whizzed on.
A new Knitter helped the experienced one and was paid progressively over two years till he reached the skills required in watching fabric on 30 sections roll itself around the draw-off roller. Needles broke, Yarn broke, the machine mis-racked and each created their own problem; usually machine stoppage and correction.
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