Studio SRP50 ribber was released to the market in the late 1970s to convert standard-gauge metal flat bed machines manufactured by Silver Reed and its subsidiaries (Singer, Silver, Studio, Riccar, Empisal Knitmaster) into double bed machines.

Studio SRP50 ribber has 200 needles, 4.5 mm apart.

Studio SRP50 fits a large variety of Studio knitting machines, model numbers 32X and above, some 2XX (SK210, SK260 and SK280) and 7XX (SK700 and SK740) models, electronic models starting with 5XX, and later models starting with 8XX. Some knitting machine model numbers are interchangible with Singer/Riccar/Empisal/ Silver Reed/Silver and some are not.

Similar to Brother KR830 and KR850 ribbers, Studio SRP50 has all-plastic retaining bar, which is a huge advantages: no need to replace the sponge in the typical (for most knitting machines) metal retaining bar.

I felt that the manual is written well: it had a lot of small details that were important. (I felt that the Brother KR830 and KR850 ribber manuals did not cover those details as thoroughly).

Studio released several other ribbers for the standard-gauge machines with punchcard capabilities: Studio SRP20, Studio SRP60, Studio SRP60N, Studio SRP321 and Studio SRN321. In almost all instances, these ribbers are interchangible with these machines. I am researching what the difference is between all these ribbers.

The standard setup comes with a so-called close knit bar. It is a very narrow (1 mm) plastic strip, 91 cm (36 inches) long. It is often missing because it is very easy to misplace (even the manual mentions it).

SRP50 ribber has auxiliary pieces (sort of like setting plates for Brother ribbers). So does SRP60N. All other ribbers listed above do not have those pieces. These pieces are often installed incorrectly by inexperienced knitters.

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PROS and CONS:

Pros:

• it fits a HUGE variety of Studio/Silver/Silver Reed/Singer/Riccar/Empisal knitting machines.
• parts (including needles) are still easy to find, new and old stock simultaneously. Lots of parts are available in my Etsy and independent shops.
• the manual is well-written so it is relatively easy (just a lot of steps) to set this ribber up.

Cons:

• cannot do double-bed jacquard automatically
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• when knitting on the full bed (all needles), especially when the ribber is dropped out of the way and you are knitting with a regular sinker plate), the sinker plate wheels catch a bit on the setting plates. SOLUTION: knit on all needles it only necessarily. When knitting not on all needles, do not move the carriage too far, pass the setting plates.

• when the connecting arm is attached to the main carriage, you cannot move the carriage cam from L to stockinet. Just something to be aware of. The manual for the ribber mentions it too.
• new knitters often confuse how to correctly insert the setting plates.