UPDATED 11/2016
A Place for Knitting Machine Enthusiasts
Be INFORMED!! Go to this site: GIRLZ2point0.com Written by a Female for Females and BE HEARD
Silver Reed History, Chronologically
| 1959-1960 | SK 7 SK8 PLASTIC BED |
| 1962 | SK101 & SR101 RIBBER |
| 1963 | SK102 SK103 |
| 1964 | SK301 SR103 |
| 1965 | SK105 NEEDLE SELECTOR, 4.5MM SK501 SK502 |
| 1967 | SK106 SK302 SK303 |
| 1969 | SK312 |
| 1970 | SK305 SK313, 4.5MM PUNCH CARD |
| 1972 | SK312, 4.5MM PUNCH CARD & SR321 SK810 |
| 1973 | SK322 & SR322 RIBBER SK323 |
| 1977 | SK234 SK326 SK328 SK329 SRP 20 RIBBER |
| 1978 | SK120 - 8MM ~~~SK121 - 11MM, ONLY EXTRA LARGE GAUGE MADE SK328 SK500 ELECTRONIC MACHINE SRP50 RIBBER |
| 1979 | SK228 SK260 |
| 1980 | MK70, 6MM PLASTIC PUNCH CARD MACHINE SK350 SK360 |
| 1982 | SK560 ELECTRONIC MACHINE, COMES WITH LC560 LACE CARRIAGE SK561 SK580 ELECTRONIC, LACE CARRIAGE SEPERATE SK511 SK550 FK270, 3.6MM (FINE) FK370, 3.6MM PUNCH CARD MACHINE SR120, 8MM RIBBER |
| 1983 | HK100, 8MM PLASTIC BED HOBBY MACHINE SK150, 9MM MANUAL MACHINE & SR150, 9MM RIBBER***** |
| 1984 | SK150 9MM MANUAL MACHINE & SR150, 9MM RIBBER ****SK150 requires "SK150" needles & parts, othere are too long, will not fit |
| 1985 | SK600 SK700 PUNCH CARD MACHINE SK155, 9MM PUNCH CARD MACHINE & SR155, 9MM RIBBER SRP60, 4.5MM RIBBER |
| 1986 | LK100, 9MM PLASTIC HOBBY MACHINE SK151, 9MM MANUAL MACHINE |
| 1987 | SK120 SK588 SK260 SK560 ELECTRONIC MACHINE, COMES WITH LC560 LACE CARRIAGE SK561 SRP60(N), 4.5MM RIBBER ~ BEST ONE TO GET |
| 1988 | SK580 ELECTRONIC MACHINE SK280 LK140, 6.5MM PLASTIC BED HOBBY MACHINE LK150, 6.5MM PLASTIC BED HOBBY MACHINE SK140, 8MM MANUAL MACHINE |
| 1989 | LK150, 6.5MM PLASTIC BED HOBBY MACHINE |
| 1990 | SK740 SK270 SRP60 & SRP60(n), 4.5MM RIBBERS SR860, 6.5MM RIBBER SR890, 9MM RIBBER |
| 1991 | SK830, 3.5MM ELECTRONIC MACHINE |
| 1992 | SR860, 6.5MM ELECTRONIC MACHINE |
| 2015 CURRENT MACHINES MADE | SK840 & SRP60(n), 4.5 ELECTRONIC MACHINE WITH RIBBER LK150, 6.5MM PLASTIC BED HOBBY MACHINE THESE FLOAT IN AND OUT OF THE MARKET |
Use this information as a “GUIDE” only as I had to look all over the place for information. Remember, Silver Reed Machines are still being made, they are the SK840, SK155 and the LK150, SRP60n, SR150, SK160 to the best of my knowledge. The SK260, SK890, SK830 and SK270 are no longer made, but can be found new as Silver Reed just discontinued making them only as of 2012. Last word on the SK860 and SR860, the SK160 upgrade carriage, Silver Reed stops and then starts making these machine again and again, I have no idea why, but in 2015 these come at a premium price because of this.
Parts and accessories can be interchangeable between make/model/year but not gauge. For example, the LC560 Lace Carriage that went with the Studio SK560 works on the Silver Reed SK840 or Studio SK580 – as they are both 4.5mm machines. In addition the AG155 Intarsia carriage for the SK155 works on the Silver Reed SK860 – 6.5mm Machine, if you can find one . Some will say not but I have one and it works with my 6.5mm even though it was made for the SK890 and looks exactly like the SK160 carriage.
A lot of questions also come up about the SK560 and SK580 and what the differences are. To know the difference between a SK560 and a SK580, please see the page titled "Silver Reed Used Prices" for a detailed explanation.
TIDBITS about Silver Reed:
***The SK121 is the ONLY 11mm gauge knitting machine ever made in any line ever to the best of my knowledge and are very, very hard to find. If you do purchase one, make sure you can get needles and sponge bars for it.
*** I was able to find video tutorials for Silver Reed Sales People and I found out that the SK560 should also come with the LC560 Lace Carriage and not to be sold as an additional option, even though it seems to be sold as a separate item. It is the only model that I am aware of that comes with both the main and lace carriage together. It was made to compete with the Brother Computerized Machines that came with a lace carriage.
There is an after market ribber arm for the SK160, they are no longer made but can still be found. You can use the SR860 Ribber bed with your SK160 without upgrading to the SK860 at almost $2K with shipping.