I have a modern plastic knitting needle gauge that's pretty boring, so I was pleased to receive this at my recent birthday - a vintage Milward metal gauge. This company has a long association with needles, though as far as I can see, not actually with knitting needles. The Milward's business was founded in 1730, absorbed by Coats and then later by Entaco. Henry Milward's name was on needles and fishing tackle (his hobby then part of his business) until 1965. I suspect that my gauge was a 'freebie' for the haberdashery trade in the early 60s. You can find more needle history at the Entaco site. On the subject of gauges and measures, you can find some new craft tools at pennyandpenny.co.uk, particularly useful is the knitting needle size conversion widget, which can translate Imperial/US/metric with just one click.
Photo: Susan Penny
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