Flat-bed machines typically attach to the table or a special A- or tilt-stand with special clamps. The metal bed makes the machines somewhat heavy but also very durable. Metal flatbeds are also more prone to rust than plastic flatbed machines.
Metal flatbed machines come in fine, mid-, stgandard, and bulky gauges.
There are very many varieties of flatbed knitting machines. It is probably the largest category out of all knitting machines for hobbyists or small-production knitters.
Metal flatbed machines are still manufactured in limited quantities. Vintage metal flatbed machines were manufactured by Japanese companies Singer/Studio/Silver Reed, Brother, and Toyota. Most of the machines below I had personal experience with. The ones that I did not, still have pictures I collected with permission on he Internet.
If you are new to machine knitting on flatbed machines, and you just got a machine, consider the beginner-friendly projects I recommended to all my students and customers.
ArtKnitter Knitting machines
ArtKnitter RK-10, standard, basic/manual
ArtKnitter RK-118, standard, basic/manual
ArtKnitter RK-200, standard, basic/manual
ArtKnitter DX-1000, standard, pushbutton
ArtKnitter DX-2000, standard, pushbutton
BROTHER knitting machines
Brother KH210, bulky, manual
Brother KH220, bulky, manual
Brother KH230, bulky, manual
Brother KH260, bulky, punchcards
Brother KH270, bulky, electronic
Brother Eldorado 35, standard, manual
Brother KH35, standard, manual
Brother Knit, Customline model 43, standard, manual
Brother KH212, standard, manual
Brother KH218, standard, manual
Brother KH321, standard, manual
Brother Profile 500, standard, manual
Brother Profile 550, standard, manual
Brother KH511, standard, 4-push-button
Brother KH521, standard, 4-push-button
Brother KH531, standard, 4-push-button
Brother Profile 551, standard, 4-push button
Brother Profile 552, standard, 8-push button
Brother KH560, standard, 8-push button
Brother KH561, standard, 8-push button
Brother KH571, standard, 8-push button
Brother KH580, standard, 8-push button
Brother KH581, standard, 8-push button
Brother KH583, standard, 8-push button
Brother Profile/KH585, standard, 8-push button
Brother KH587, standard, 8-push button
Brother Profile/KH588, standard, 8-push button
Brother KH601, standard, 8-push button
Brother (Empisal) KH610, standard, 8-push button
Brother KH705, standard, 8-push button
Brother KH710, standard, 8-push button
Brother KH800, standard, 12-hole punchcards
Brother KH801, standard, 12-hole punchcards
Brother KH810, standard, punchcards
Brother KH811, standard, punchcards, also pushbuttons
Brother KH821, standard, 24-hole punchcards
Brother KH830, standard, 24-hole punchcards
Brother KH831, standard, 24-hole punchcards
Brother KH835, standard, 24-hole punchcards
Brother KH836, standard, 24-hole punchcards
Brother KH838, standard, 24-hole punchcards
Brother KH840, standard, 24-hole punchcards
Brother KH851, standard, 24-hole punchcards
Brother KH860, standard, 24-hole punchcards
Brother KH864, standard, 24-hole punchcards
Brother KH868, standard, 24-hole punchcards
Brother (Palie) KH871, standard, 24-hole punchcards, built-in knit-leader
Brother KH880, standard, 24-hole punchcards
Brother KH881, standard, 24-hole punchcards, built-in knit-leader
Brother KH890, standard, 24-hole punchcards
Brother KH891, standard, 24-hole punchcards, built-in knit-leader
Brother KH892, standard, 24-hole punchcards
Brother KH893, standard, 24-hole punchcards, built-in knit-leader
Brother KH894, standard, 24-hole punchcards
Brother KH900, standard, electronic
Brother KH910, standard, electronic, mylar sheets
Brother KH920, standard, electronic, mylar sheets
Brother KH930, standard, electronic
Brother KH940, standard, electronic
Brother KH950, standard, electronic
Brother KH950e, standard, electronic
Brother KH950i, standard, electronic
Brother KH965, standard, electronic
Brother KH965i, standard, electronic
Brother KH970, standard, electronic
Brother KH110, 8-push button, fine
Brother KH111, 8-pushbutton, fine
Brother KH120, 8-push button, fine
Brother KH131-48, intarsia only, basic/manual
CORONA knitting machines
Corona CHJ3, Junior Knitter manual/basic
Corona 3.5, fine-gauge, manual/basic
Corona CN-9N, manual/basic, bulky
Corona CN-110, Super Jumbo Knitter, bulky, manual/basic
Corona F-200
Corona Temic CH-501, standard, turn-knobs on the carriage
Corona CH-707, standard, turn-knobs on the carriage
Corona CH-1000, standard, turn-knobs on the carriage
Corona CH-1500, standard, turn-knobs on the carriage
Corona CH-1600, standard, turn-knobs on the carriage
Corona CH-1700, standard, turn-knobs on the carriage
Corona CH-1800, standard, turn-knobs on the carriage
DEFENDI knitting machines
Defendi KM2000, standard, 24-hole punchcards
Defendi KM3000, standard, 24-hole punchcards, built-in knit leader
EMPISAL knitting machines
Empisal Knitmaster Instant
Empisal Knitmaster Vistamatic
Empisal Schnellstricker, standard
Empisal supermatic PB8 KH68, standard
Empisal Knitmaster mod. 100, basic/manual
Empisal Knitmaster 230
Empisal Knitmaster mod. 250, standard, manual/basic with needle selector
Empisal Vistamatic KH531, standard, 4-pushbutton
Empisal Computamatic KH-600, standard
Empisal Computamatic KH610, standard, 8-pushbutton
Empisal KH680, standard, 8-pushbutton
Empisal KH680L, standard, 8-pushbutton
Empisal KH70, standard
Empisal KH90, standard, 8-pushbutton
Empisal KH91, standard, 8-pushbutton
Empisal Supermatic KH880, standard, pushbuttons
Empisal Knitmaster ES-302, standard, turn-knob
Empisal Knitmaster 305, standard, turn-knob
Pros and Cons of Empisal Knitmaster machines with turn-knob patterning capabilities are listed here.
Empisal Knitmaster 260, standard, punchcards
Empisal Knitmaster SK313, standard, punchcards
Empisal Knitmaster 321, standard, punchcards
Empisal Knitmaster 323, standard, punchcards
Empisal Knitmaster 324, standard, punchcards
Empisal Knitmaster 326, standard, punchcards, built-in knit leader
Empisal Knitmaster 328, standard, punchcards
Empisal Knitmaster 329, standard, punchcards
Empisal Knitmaster mod. 600, standard, punchcards
Empisal Knitmaster 700K, standard, punchcards, built-in knit-leader, built-in intarsia
Empisal Knitmaster mod. 700, standard, punchcards, built-in knit-leader, built-in intarsia
Empisal Knitmaster 580, standard, electronic
Empisal Knitmaster 500, standard, electronic
Empisal HK160, mid-gauge, punchcards, foldable
Empisal KnitMaster Hobby, mid-gauge (8 mm), punchcards, foldable
Empisal HK100 (also known as Hobby 100), bulky
Empisal Knitmaster mod. 150, bulky, manual/basic
Empisal Knitmaster mod. 151, bulky, manual/basic
Empisal Knitmaster 155, bulky, 12-hole punchcards
Empisal Knitmaster FK370, fine
Empisal Knitmaster FK270, fine
ELENA knitting machines
(Toyota) Elena 7, standard, punchcards
(Toyota) Elena Auto 7, standard, punchcards
ELNA knitting machines
Elna EK2300, bulky, 12-hole punchcards
Genie Knitting machines
Genie CHJ-3, standard, basic/manual, mini-bed, for kids
Genie KH710, standard, 8-pushbutton
Genie CH-1500, the Magic Knitter, standard, turn-knobs on the carriage
Genie CH-1800, the Magic Knitter, turn-knobs on the carriage
Janome Knitting machines
Janome Junior Knitter CHJ-3, standard, basic/manual
Janome CH-1800, standard, turn-knobs on the carriage
JONES knitting machines
Jones Simplicity, standard, basic/manual
Jones KH551, standard, 4-pushbutton
Jones KH585, standard, 8-pushbutton
Jones KH588, standard, 8-pushbutton
Jones KH800, standard, punchcards
Jones KH820, standard, punchcards
JUKI knitting machines
To my current knowledge, JUKI released only standard-gauge knitting machines
JUKI K-821, manual/basic
JUKI K-851, manual/basic
JUKI K-861, 8-pushbutton
JUKI K-871, One-touch Auto, 8-pushbutton
JUKI K-881, One-touch Auto S, 8-pushbutton
JUKI K-882, One-touch Auto S, 8-pushbutton
JUKI K-883, One-touch Auto S, 8-pushbutton
JUKI KE-1200, Hi-Memory, 12-pushbutton/12-hole punchcard combo
JUKI KE-1500, Hi-Memory, 12-pushbutton/12-hole punchcard combo
JUKI, KE-2400, Hi-Memory, 24-hole punchcards
JUKI KE-2500, Hi-Memory, 24-hole punchcards
KNITKING knitting machines
KnitKing KH230, bulky, basic/manual
KnitKing KH260, bulky, punchcards
KnitKing PC bulky, punchcards
KnitKing Compuknit, bulky, electronic
KnitKing KH830, standard, punchcards
KnitKing KH881, standard, punchcards, built-in knit leader
KnitKing KH891, standard, punchcards, built-in knit leader
KnitKing KK91, standard, punchcards, built-in knit leader
KnitKing KK93, standard, punchcards, built-in knit leader
KnitKing KK98, standard, punchcards
KnitKing CompuKnit ST, standard, electronic
KnitKing CompuKnit II, standard, electronic
KnitKing CompuKnit III, standard, electronic
KnitKing CompuKnit IV, standard, electronic
KnitKing CompuKnit V, standard, electronic
KnitKing CompuKnit Vcx, standard, electronic
KnitMaster knitting machines
Knitmaster 4500
Knitmaster Instant
Knitmaster Vistamatic
Knitmaster mod. 100, basic/manual
Knitmaster 230
Knitmaster mod. 250, manual/basic with needle selector, standard
Knitmaster ES-302, turn-knob, standard
Knitmaster mod. 305, turn-knob, standard
Knitmaster 260, punchcards, standard
Knitmaster SK313, punchcards, standard
Knitmaster 321, punchcards, standard
Knitmaster 323, punchcards, standard
Knitmaster 324, punchcards, standard
Knitmaster 326, punchcards, standard
Knitmaster 328, punchcards, standard
Knitmaster 329, punchcards, standard
Knitmaster 360K, punchcards, standard, built-in knit-leader
Knitmaster mod. 600, punchcards, standard
Knitmaster mod. 700, punchcards, standard, built-in knit-leader, built-in intarsia
Knitmaster 500, electronic, standard
Knitmaster 580, electronic, standard
Knitmaster Zippy 90, plastic bed
Knitmaster mod. 150, manual/basic, bulky (9 mm)
Knitmaster mod. 151, manual/basic, bulky (9 mm)
Knitmaster 155, punchcards, bulky (9 mm)
Knitmaster Hobby, mid-gauge/bulky (8 mm), plastic bed
Koyo knitting machines
Koyo KH-777, standard, turn-knobs on the carriage
Koyo KH-1500, standard, turn-knobs on the carriage
Koyo CH-1800, standard, turn-knobs on the carriage
MITSUBISHI knitting machines
Mitsubishi MH-15, standard, manual/basic
Mitsubishi MH-350, standard, manual/basic
Mitsubishi Color 7 MH-700, pushbutton
PASSAP knitting machines
RICCAR knitting machines
Riccar RK-601, turn-knob
Riccar RK-701, punchcards, standard
Riccar RK-702, punchcards, standard
Riccar RK-703, punchcards, standard
Riccar RK-704K, punchcards, standard, built-in knit-leader
Riccar RK-705K, punchcards, standard, built-in knit-leader
Riccar RK-706K, punchcards, standard, built-in knit-leader
Riccar RK-707
Riccar RK-708, punchcards, standard, built-in knit-leader
Riccar, LECLE, foldable, standard
SILVER knitting machines
Silver SK8, standard, manual
Silver SK101, standard, manual
Silver SK102, standard, manual
Silver SK103, standard, manual
Silver SK105, standard, manual
Silver SK106, standard, manual
Silver SK301, standard, turn-knob
Silver SK302, standard, turn-knob
Silver SK303, standard, turn-knob
Silver SK305, standard, turn-knob
Silver SK250L, lace only, standard
Silver SK311, punchcards, standard
Silver SK312, punchcards, standard
Silver SK313, punchcards, standard
Silver SK315, punchcards, standard
Silver SK321, punchcards, standard
Silver SK322, punchcards, standard, built-in knit-leader
Silver SK325, punchcards, standard, built-in knit-leader
Silver SK326, punchcards, standard, built-in knit-leader
Silver SK327, punchcards, standard, built-in knit-leader
Silver SK328, punchcards, standard, built-in knit-leader
Silver SK330, punchcards, standard, built-in knit-leader
Silver SK360, punchcards, standard, built-in knit-leader
Silver SK500, standard, electronic
Silver SK120 (Kantan Bulky), bulky, manual
SILVER REED knitting machines
Silver Reed F270, punchcards, fine-gauge
Silver Reed F370, punchcards, fine-gauge
Silver Reed SK370, punchcards, fine-gauge, built-in knit-leader
Silver Reed SK670, punchcards, fine-gauge
Silver Reed SK570, electronic, fine-gauge
Silver Reed, Studio by White, SK830, electronic, fine-gauge
Silver Reed SK-6, standard, manual
Silver Reed SK-7, standard, manual
Silver Reed SK-8, standard, manual
Silver Reed SK10, standard, manual
Silver Reed 250L, punchcards, standard
Silver Reed SK280, punchcards, standard
Silver Reed SK282, punchcards, standard
Silver Reed SK360, punchcards, standard, built-in knit-leader
Silver Reed SK700, punchcards, standard, built-in knit-leader
Silver Reed SK700N, punchcards, standard, built-in knit-leader
Silver Reed SK560, standard, electronic
Silver Reed SK561, standard, electronic
Silver Reed SK562, standard, electronic
Silver Reed SK580, standard, electronic
Silver Reed SK581, standard, electronic
Silver Reed, My Studio, SK840, standard, electronic
Silver Reed SK160, manual/basic, mid-gauge
Silver Reed SK-120, manual/basic, bulky, 8 mm
Silver Reed SK-121, manual/basic, bulky, 11 mm
Silver Reed SK150, manual/basic, bulky, 9 mm
Silver Reed SK151, manual/basic, bulky, 9 mm
Silver Reed SK155, punchcards, bulky, 9 mm
Silver Reed SK155P, My Studio, punchcards, bulky, 9 mm
Silver Reed 890, My Studio, electronic, bulky, 9 mm
SINGER knitting machines
Singer 200-E, standard, basic/manual
Singer 500, standard, basic/manual, with needle selector
Singer 555, standard, basic/manual
Singer 800, standard, basic/manual
Singer 666, standard, turn-knob
Singer 888, standard, turn-knob
Singer MemoMatic 210, standard, punchcards
Singer Cardmatic 313, standard, punchcards
Singer mod. 313, standard, punchcards
Singer MemoMatic 321, standard, punchcards
Singer MemoMatic 322, standard, punchcards, built-in knit-leader
Singer MemoMatic 323, standard, punchcards
Singer mod. 323, standard, punchcards
Singer MemoMatic 328, standard, punchcards, built-in knit-leader
Singer MemoMatic 329, standard, punchcards
Singer MemoMatic 360K, standard, punchcards, built-in knit-leader
Singer MemoMatic 700K, standard, punchcards, built-in knit-leader and intarsia
Singer mod. 700, standard, punchcards, built-in knit-leader and intarsia
Singer mod. 740, standard, punchcards, built-in knit-leader
Singer 560, electronic, standard
Singer mod. 580, electronic, standard
Singer mod. 150, basic/manual, bulky (9 mm gauge)
Singer mod. 151, basic/manual, bulky (9 mm gauge)
Singer mod. 155, punchcards, bulky (9 mm gauge)
Singer 890, electronic, bulky
Studio SK-102, standard, basic/manual
Studio SK-103, standard, basic/manual
Studio SK-106, standard, basic/manual
Studio mod. 810, standard, basic/manual
Studio SK-301, standard, turn-knob
Studio SK-303, standard, turn-knob
Studio 310, standard, with needle selector
Studio 280, standard, punchcards
Studio by White mod. 280, punchcards
Studio SK312, Cardmatic, standard, punchcards
Studio SK313, standard, punchcards
Studio 315, standard, punchcards
Studio mod. 321, standard, punchcards
Studio mod. 322, standard, punchcards, built-in knit-leader
Studio mod. 323, standard, punchcards
Studio mod. 324, standard, punchcards
Studio mod. 326, standard, punchcards, built-in knit-leader
Studio mod. 327, standard, punchcards, built-in knit-leader
Studio mod. 328, standard, punchcards, built-in knit-leader
Studio mod. 360K, standard, punchcards, built-in knit-leader
Studio mod. 600, standard, punchcards, built-in intarsia
Studio mod. 700, standard, punchcards, built-in intarsia, built-in knit-leader
Studio by White SK740, standard, punchcards, built-in knit-leader
Studio 560, electronic, standard
Studio 580, electronic, standard
Studio SK120, bulky (8 mm), manual/basic
Studio Bulky Eight, bulky (8 mm), manual/basic
Studio SK-121, bulky (11 mm), manual/basic
Studio mod. 150, bulky (9 mm), manual/basic
Studio mod. 155, bulky (9 mm), punchcards
Studio SK890, electronic (9 mm), bulky
TOYOTA knitting machines
Toyota K 104, standard, basic/manual
Toyota K 106, standard, basic/manual
Toyota K 107, standard, basic/manual
Toyota K 108, standard, basic/manual
Toyota K 109, standard, turn knob
Toyota K 111, standard, turn knob
Toyota K505, standard, turn knob
Toyota K506, standard, turn knob
Toyota K510
Toyota Elena 7, punchcards
Toyota Elena Auto 7, punchcards
Toyota K600, standard, punchcards
Toyota 700
Toyota 701
Toyota KS727, punchcards
Toyota KS747, punchcards
Toyota KS757
Toyota KS777
Toyota KS787, punchcards
Toyota KS858, punchcards
Toyota KS895
Toyota KS901, punchcards
Toyota KS950, punchcards
Toyota KS610, bulky, manual/basic
Toyota KS650, bulky, punchcards
Toyota 210, basic/manual, fine