There are two major “branches” of Empisal knitting machines. Brother sold some of its machines under the Empisal brand in Australia and New Zealand (probably after purchasing rights for that distribution channel or that branch).
Silver Reed manufacturer of knitting machines bought the distribution rights for knitting machines in the UK and therefore Silver Reed machines coming from the UK are branded under Empisal as well (very often with the added “Knitmaster” surname to it).
Empisal by Brother and Empisal by Silver Reed have different looks, and features and therefore are easy to distinguish. Well, join me on this journey – figuring out which Empisal machines resemble Brother ones and which Silver Reed’s. So far, I discovered that Empisal models with the “Knitmaster” word followed by are identical to the machines manufactured by Silver/Silver Reed company (which also come under Studio/Singer brand names). Silver Reed sold under the “Empisal Knitmaster” mostly in the UK markets.
For now, the list below shows all machines branded under the Empisal name.
Standard-gauge
All Empisal standard knitting machines are of 4.5 mm gauge.
Empisal Knitmaster Instant
Empisal Mini Instant Knitter
Empisal Instant Knitter
Empisal Knitmaster Vistamatic
Empisal Schnellstricker
Empisal Supermatic PB8 KH68
Empisal Knitmaster mod. 100, basic/manual
Empisal Knitmaster 230
Empisal Knitmaster mod. 250, manual/basic with needle selector
Empisal Knitmaster 310, basic/,manual
Empisal Computamatic KH-600
Empisal KH610 Compumatic, 8-pushbutton
Empisal KH680, 8-pushbutton
Empisal KH680L, 8-pushbutton
Empisal KH6850L, 9-pushbuttons
Empisal KH70
Empisal KH90, 8-pushbutton
Empisal KH91, 8-pushbutton
Empisal Supermatic KH880, 8-pushbutton
Empisal Knitmaster ES-302, turn-knob
Empisal Knitmaster mod. 305, turn-knob
Pros and Cons of Empisal Knitmaster machines with turn-knob patterning capabilities are listed here.
Empisal Knitmaster MK70, punchcards, foldable
Empisal Knitmaster 260, punchcards
Empisal Knitmaster SK-313, punchcards
Empisal Knitmaster 321, punchcards
Empisal KnitMaster 322, punchcards
Empisal Knitmaster 323, punchcards
Empisal Knitmaster 324, punchcards
Empisal Knitmaster 326, punchcards, built-in knit leader
Empisal Knitmaster 328, punchcards
Empisal Knitmaster 329, punchcards
Empisal Knitmaster 360K, punchcards, built-in knit-leader
Empisal Knitmaster mod. 600, punchcards
Empisal Knitmaster 700K, punchcards built-in knit-leader and intarsia
Empisal Knitmaster mod. 700, punchcards built-in knit-leader and intarsia
Empisal Knitmaster 500, electronic
Empisal Knitmaster 580, electronic
Mid-gauge
The machines below are 8 mm gauge. Some call them bulky, some call them mid-gauge. I knitted on one of those machines and I felt that yarns that are accepted by other bulky machines did not knit as well on the Empisal 8 mm machines. Thus, I am placing them in the mid-gauge category.
Empisal HK160, 8 mm, punchcards, foldable
Empisal KnitMaster Hobby, 8 mm, plastic bed
Empisal HK100, 8 mm, plastic bed
Bulky
Empisal Knitmaster mod. 150, manual/basic, 9 mm
Empisal Knitmaster mod. 151, manual/basic, 9 mm
Empisal Knitmaster 155, punchcards, 9 mm
Fine-gauge
Empisal Knitmaster FK370
Empisal Knitmaster FK270