Spool Knitter Evolution?

These spool knitters are made by Spears. I have placed them in order of their manufacture which has become quite an interesting line-up!

The evolution of a spool knitter!

Below are "Knitting Nancies" and their boxes. Funny how the "Nancies" have become more like "Nevilles". The contents are just as I have received them. Made in England


Jeanette la tricoteuse is of course French.


Kurken-breien is from The Netherlands.


Has Nancy had an "operation"? Another thing about these is that the spoolie on the cover doesn't always match the one inside!


Another change.


The 'Neville' above with his arms crossed and looking somewhat grumpy, I think is displeased at being referred to as a Knitting Nancy! We find later knitters with a more agreeable expression.
The 'Nevilles' are to be found in abundance, together with the most up-to-date of the "Nancies/Nevilles" below. It is great to find more than one in a box!

Added 2012 ...... When going back through my posts there are some things since
discovered and things that really need to be put right. I now know that the
male form knitter by J W Spear - Jacob Wolf Spear -
was referred to as Strick Peter in Germany
 in the early years before the war. In England, they just stuck with
Knitting Nancy whether it was the male or female figure.