ALEXIS4U

We feel that for that very special occasion this sexy, most feminine and sheerest Vintage Full Fashioned seamed hosiery with the alluring Cuban Heel, full reinforced sole and key hole at the welt to be gartered to the garment of your choice is the 
finest of all stockings that were made back in the 50s.  

These Vintage Nylon stockings are set Flat Knit at 51 gauge and Some at 60 gauge with its silky smooth 
sexy feel and as clear as a mountain spring using 15 Denier nylon.  

Denier

This is the thickness of one thread of nylon used in making Hosiery. The lower the number in denier, the lighter and finer the yarn, and thus the Sheerer the stocking. Formula – weight-per-unit-length (It is numerically equal to the weight, in grams, of 9,000 meters or 9842 Yards of yarn).

Gauge

The number of threads per 1 ½” in a single knitted row. 51 gauge means 51  threads per 1 ½ inches. The more threads per area the higher the gauge. Increasing the gauge makes a stocking more silk like and adds to its durability. To manufacture a higher gauge stocking increases cost to both manufacture as well as consumer.

This hosiery cannot be reproduced today because of its exceptional quality and workmanship.  

As with all my Vintage Hosiery these are of a very limited stock and are probably never going to be replaced.  

Alexis  

Vintage

Full Fashion

Stocking material is knitted flat in sheets, cut to the correct size and a seam up the back unites the two sides afterwards. As a result of decreasing stitches over the calf to make the hose narrower in the ankle, small "fashion markings" or loops are visible running parallel to either side of the seam.

Sheerness

This is determined by a combination of gauge and denier and not as many peoples mistakenly believe by gauge alone. It is obvious that the denier or thickness of the yarn has as much to do with sheerness as does the gauge. A 51 or finer gauge stocking is sheer only if the yarn with which it is knitted is a thin or low denier yarn. However a 60 gauge 15 denier stocking for example, is actually less sheer than a 51 gauge/15 denier stocking  because even though the weight of the yarn is the same in both, 60 gauge has more yarn pushed together in 1 ½ inches of stocking. It is very difficult to see the difference in the sheerness of these two types of stockings and the added benefit of the silkiness of the 60 gauge stocking
is well worth it’s price.

Found these interesting Tid bits below, just a little in site of what it was like in the hosiery industry many years ago. 
Writing in Quotes from job-descriptions.org. Great Site, take a look.

"Full Fashioned Hosiery Automatic Knitting Machine Operator Wanted"

"Full Fashioned Hosiery Automatic Knitting Machine Operator - Operates knitting machines to knit hose to shape of foot and leg: Places spools of yarn on spindles of machine and threads machine. Places welt rod in retaining notch of welt bar and turns lever to lower welt bar to knitting position. Pushes yarn carrier into position and turns bar to start machine to knit welt. Hooks draw-off straps from take-up roller to welt rod to hold welt and leg taut during knitting. Turns handwheels to position picot bar to knit stitches joining welt to leg of hose and to raise picot and welt bars after welt is knitted. Stops machine and clips loose threads at welt and toe of completed hose, using scissors. Removes welt rods and hose from machine. Counts, bundles, and attaches identifying ticket to hose. Replaces and aligns needles and points of machine, using pliers. May also clean and oil machine." From job-descriptions.org

Oh yea, please bring machine with you if you have one, I could use it. Wow, a bit of History here,
can you hear the Unions complaining on this job description.

Sewer And Inspector of Hosiery

"Sewer And Inspector - Inspects seamless hose for knitting defects and operates sewing machine to close openings in toes of hose: Pulls hose over inspection board to turn hose inside out and inspects hose for defects, for example holes, runs, and dropped stitches. Revolves inspection board by hand to inspect both sides of hose. Slides toe portion of hose off end of inspection board and positions toe of hose under presser foot of sewing machine. Presses pedal to start machine and guides toe of hose under needle of machine to close toe. Strips defective hose from inspection board by hand and places hose aside for mending. Pushes hose without defects from left to right off board, where hose is sucked through opening in end of board to turn hose right side out and stack hose in rack. Threads and cleans lint from sewing machine. May also examine stitch markings on defective hose to identify malfunctioning knitting machines and flip switch under corresponding machine number on panel board to stop machine and notify fixer. May also attach toe of hose to mechanical device that automatically feeds toe of hose under needle of sewing machine to close toe." From job-descriptions.org

Sizer 1

"Sizer 1 - Length control tester, seamless Sizer, size tester Measures un-dyed hose to determine if size meets specifications: Pushes stretch measuring devise to machines and collects sample hose from storage bag under ejection chute of each machine. Pulls hose onto closed parallel leg-shaped hydraulic form of stretch measuring device, moves lever to release air into form to spread form and stretch hose, and reads scale device to determine whether hose meets product stretch specifications. Repositions hose on form and repeats process to measure stretch of specified sections of hose, according to procedure. Records results and informs KNITTING-MACHINE FIXER (knitting industry) 689.260-026 of any machine malfunctions. Adjusts knitting machine to correct minor malfunctions." From job-descriptions.org