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Serge Massal , always looking for new challenges, has found a flat-knitting cotton machine, Reading , 42 gauge that he has installed in a new worshop at the end of December 2008. So , with the other five machines already there , his equipment is complete.
This workshop is unique – from Gibraltar to Vladivostock – because there you can get to know and understand the saga ( DNA ) of the fully-fashioned stocking .
There you can discover the history of the production in the Cevennes region , From the 1900’s‘ to the 1955’s ; from the “ one knitting head “ machine of the 1900 ‘s , the 8 and 12 knitting heads of the 1920’s , the 24 knitting heads of the 1930’s , the 30 knitting heads of the 1950’s :this is the complete story of this stocking .
The workshop , air conditioned for quality production , is situated in the old mill of the 1900’s. Th e 42 gauge Reading machine comes from the textile museum of the town of TROYES ; the president of the museum , Mr Jean Claude WILLIG has conceded it to l ‘ Arsoie because L ‘ Arsoie is considered as the only company , on the planet ,capable of restoring the machine , unique because of its gauge , and complex in its setting and functioning .
This 42 gauge Reading machine was transported fro TROYES by TRANS MANU MACHINE company – the same comany that used to transport the Cotton machines in the 1950’s . The machine was therefore transported after being divided into 2 parts and fixed on strong frames , so that it could not be twisted – the least “twist “ in the body of the machine meaning the “ death “ of the machine .
It took 12 months to take the machine to pieces –( 2 technicians full time ) : these parts were rusted , jammed , frozen and they had to be cleaned with tooth-brushes to set and reset them again and again . The 2 parts of the machine had to be put together again : total length 20 meters and weight 20 000 kgs . All parts had to be set with a precision of 1/100 ., the thickness of a cigarette leaf .
The generator which dated back to 1950 was totally repaired thanks to retired electricians who , thanks to their knowledge and past experience , set the speeds of the machine to avoid any breakage problem . The chains were also redone so that the rods could function . More than 300 parameters had to be defined according to the standard , because there no tolerance is accepted to date , the largest part of the enormous task is done , and the “ encounter “ has happened between yesterday and now .
CERVIN may bluntly say now : the Cotton Knitting machine is a marvel of engineering !!!!!!
Then , you can better understand why the genuine Fully-fashioned stocking is the stocking of Haute Couture , because it takes one hour to knit , in accordance with the production of a genuine luxury product , very meticulous process which call on a real Know How. This Know How , Cervin will restore in 2010. ; because of these prestigious stitches , CERVIN will produce and reoffer products which had disappered from the world of luxury since the 1920’s , and even will create new ones !!
CERVIN LUXURY PRODUCTS ARE BEING INVENTED
Our products proposed on the Reading 42 gauge will be :
They aren’ t ceremonial products , but the feature of something extraordinary , exceptional , Unseen . On the occasion of the 90TH anniversary of l ‘Arsoie company , CERVIN promises to disclose unique and exceptional products .
Please note that the first orders could be delivered in September . The launching of the partnership between the town of TROYES and l ‘ Arsoie ( CERVIN ) should take place soon and show the world that : “ IMPOSSIBLE IS NOT FRENCH “!!
This partnership shows that sometimes the past can be ahead of the present, through the reproduction of luxury products beyond our imagination !
In December 2008 , Serge Massal took delivery of the 42 gauge Reading machine , on its frame , from the TROYES textile museum .
