COMPARISONS

It is amazing that even in the spool knitting collecting world there

are so many questions as to why things are the way
they are. The more you get into it (collecting), the more there
are puzzling finds.

Below are two vintage Knitting Nancy boxes. Have you ever
wondered why the Knitting Nancy illustration is shown knitting
on four double pointers?

The first box shows a different "Nancy" (note the missing staples/nails)
on the lid compared to the second "Nancy" box.

Written on the lid is - Registered Spear's Games in Great Britain. Made at the Spear Works Bavaria. Designed in England Copyright.
I would take a guess and say that this one is the older of the two boxes.

Funnily enough, this was the "Nancy" found in this box.

This box has - Trademark Reg. Spear's Games Great Britain and Canada.
Made at the Spear Works Bavaria. Boxed in England. British Wool.
Also - "With improved Staples"

And again, this "Nancy" was found in the second box.

Above are the two "Knitting Nancies" shown together.
(Yes, they are more like "Nevilles").

And now we have a box dated 2003 from Rocket Toys & Games
with an address in England, an email address, and a website.
The Knitting Nancy found in this box is the same as
the later Knitting Nancy from Spears Games from
the 1990's before it (Spears Games) was sold
to Mattel. Even though the lid of this set shows
yet a different "Knitting Nancy",
the picture on the instructions found inside
show that this IS the original to this set.
See below........And now for a complete surprise ....... is this French Knitting Set
by Airlite Regd. - Product of G. Lawrence (Art Needlework) Ltd.
Petts Wood. Kent. - note how many nails? Three, and no,
there isn't one missing. This is the first VINTAGE spool knitter
I have found with just three nails. Take a look at the
picture on the box - three nails. There is no date or instructions
with the box.
I know that spool knitting is possible with different numbers of
nails - I have new spool knitters with two or more nails.
But this is the first VINTAGE product found with three nails.
I would guess it is possibly from around 1950's to 60's.

KNITTING NANCY

Spear's Games Vintage Knitting Nancy

Francis Spear, a family member of the Spear's Games empire, and myself have been corresponding over the past few months.

Francis has been wonderful in assisting me with my enquiries regarding how the Knitting Nancy came to be.
I was in particular, interested to find out about the painting of the Knitting Nancy.
The following is what Francis has told me, ... quote ...
"J. W. Spear & Sons was originally a German company and all items were manufactured in Nuremberg. In 1932, a factory was established in England which made and assembled English language boxes but obtained most of the components from Germany.
After the war, both branches were independent as far as product selection and design was concerned, but did not compete in each other's territory."
"... the English branch in particular sometimes took liberties with the designs, the important thing being - in the case of a handicraft item - that it worked, had good instructions, and was easy for the child to do.
As a secondary consideration, production cost was also important and often designs were changed to reduce this. Knitting Nancy figures were an example.
Originally, they were mostly hand-painted but some time in the 1970's or 80's, the process was mechanised, the solid colours being applied by dipping and for the face and hair, we used a special printing machine."
Thanks so much again Francis, your friendship is invaluable!

Because I love the Spear's vintage Knitting Nancy so much, I decided to paint my third blank spool knitter as a "Knitting Nancy", (see previous post), even though it is a little larger and slightly different in shape, I am rather pleased with the results. I would really love to find more (blanks) so that I can paint them in other colours, too! Do you like it?

Here it is with a vintage "Knitting Nancy" for comparison.


And here are the group of the rest of the "Knitting Nancies". The first one is
a very much loved Knitting Nancy!


For further reading about Spear's Games Knitting Nancy please see my other posts
on August 6, 2007 - Spool Knitter Evolution!
and September 21, 2007 - A Little More About Spear's Games Knitting Nancy ..........

HAPPY SPOOLING!