How a Brother punchcard knitting machine works

[@Stormystormybg]

Thanks for making this video. :-). Fascinating to see the mechanical engineering involved!

[@pameladale4874]

Thank you for this video, I can see exactly where I’ve gone wrong reinstating this card reader and will be putting it right at the weekend while watching your video again. One other problem I have is screws, according to the manual they refer to the screws as 3.18, what does that mean as my screws are getting impossible to use please?

[@singlentendre]

I don't know what the reference to 3.18 is, but I can tell you that the screws used are common between most Japanese machines, and also common across most of the whole machine, so if you have stripped or mashed the head of a screw you can nick one from elsewhere and use that

[@janish7784]

What’s the best way to contact you? I’d love to take up the offer of a machine to renovate and experiment with, assuming it is still available?

[@singlentendre]

Yes it certainly is! I'm in Milton Keynes - how does that work with where you are?

[@janish7784]

@ I’m based near Liverpool. A bit of a trek for sure. I’m definitely interested, need to sleep on it.

[@singlentendre]

I occasionally visit my Mum near Ripon - does that help?

[@janish7784]

@ possibly! I could meet you en-route. I also have family not too far from York so they might be able to pick up on my behalf.

[@singlentendre]

@janish7784 can you check your email please? Thanks!

[@Falney]

I'd correct your disclaimer to "don't take a card reader that works off" or "don't take it apart unless you are willing to make it irreparable" The whole "don't take it apart unless you know what you are doing" prevents the next generation from learning and so the ability to maintain will die with our generation.

[@singlentendre]

I stand by my comment! There's plenty of literature out there if you wish to learn what you are doing - the service manuals, for example, are readily available for free on t'internet. The next generation are probably fine...

[@Falney]

@singlentendre even with literature, there is no replacement for actual experience. How do you take the first one apart if you can't take it apart if you haven't the experience necessary to put it back together again. My mother always says "knowing how to do something and being able to do something are two completely different things" I know how to build a nuclear reactor but could I do it?

[@singlentendre]

Indeed. But the fact remains that I don't - and can't - recommend taking a card reader apart unless you know what you're doing. To do so is the quickest way to turn a working machine into a pile of bits, and there are few enough of these around as there are. Maybe what I would suggest to anyone who asked is to buy an already-broken one for playing with. That's how I learned how to fix cars...

[@Falney]

@singlentendre I did say "don't take off a card reader that works" There's the old saying "don't fix wot ain't broke"