These interesting knitting machines were auctioned on eBay and were accompanied by documents indicating they were manufactured by the Novelty Knitting Machine Company of West Decatur, Clearfield Co., PA.  Joseph E. Gearhart lived in West Decatur and the first models of his knitting machines were made from wood. Could these be pictures of machines one time held in the hands of Joseph Emery Gearhart?

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about washing it. Second in importance is the sudden changing of temperature of the fleece from beginning the wash to finishing with a rinse. Some workers even protect the fleece from air currents while it is waiting for the change in the wash or rinse water. Then there are warnings about using bleach and strong detergents. Some people like to place the fleece in laundry nets to make it easier to handle in the bath and while drying.
       The article written by Toni Neil was selected for use in the Antique Knitters Circular because it appeared to balance the essentials with a touch of the technical reasons for doing each step.
       Bonnie Whaling of Clearfield, PA, places her fleece between two sheets of open webbing with cross ties to keep the package flat. The package facilitates placing the fleece in each bath and later drying the fleece on the clothes line. Others use plastic screens to make a "sandwich" of fleece to get a similar result.
       Pat Lees of Rosholt, WI, places the fleece in the bath with her hands and very gently moves the fleece to help loosen the dirt, but emphasizes "no agitation", and no bleach or whiteners. She dries the fleece by simply laying it on a sheet outside.
       Toni Neil points out that her method is not the "last word". She says, "To me the most important thing for a reader to take away from the article (aside from the repeated admonition NOT TO AGITATE!!!) is the fact that the instructions aren't the be-all, end-all of wool washing, but a guide to discovering what works well for them at home. Washing wool has always been a homely job that our ancestors did habitually in the annual flow of farm labor. It didn't impress or intimidate them, and we should take it in stride, too, at least as much as any repetitive labor can be taken in stride!" 
        Toni's article certainly provides a "guide to discovering" the job of cleaning fleece. It has been a genuine pleasure to meet Toni through her narrative about her 5 acre farm, The Fold, and her informative article "Wool Washing at The Fold".