Barney Knitting Machinery Co., Inc. was originally founded in 1907 in Brooklyn, New York as a hand knitting mill by Barney Mendelowitz upon his arrival from Europe. Through the years, based on Barney Mendelowitz's contacts, the business has metamorphosed into a supplier to the knitting industry. In 1935, Mac M. Rothkopf joined Barney Mendelowitz and the business became known as the Knitting Machinery Exchange. The business was known for its liquidation acquisitions and sales, appraisals and auctions.

In 1939 D. W. Silverston (Dan Stone) joined the business. By the start of World War II, the business was a major exporter of American-made flat and circular knitting machines. During World War II, the business' manufacturing factories were concentrated on manufacturing products for the war effort. At the close of the war the business resumed representing American textile machinery factories including: Robaczynski Knitting Machinery Corp., Queens Knitting Machinery, Ordnance Gauge Knitting Machine Co., Textile Machinery Corp., Jacquard Knitting Machinery Co. and Lamb Knitting Machine Corp.

The previously existing partnership dissolved and Barney Mendelowitz resumed business as Barney Knitting Machinery Co., Inc., In 1950, Saul Z. Gray, Barney Mendelowitz's son-in-law joined the family business and the company continued to grow. Barney Mendelowitz retired in 1961 and Saul Gray became president of tbe business. In that same year Saul Gray's son Harold B. Gray joined the business, Saul continued to expand the business through diversification into the distribution and representation of European knitting machine manufacturers such as Schaffhausen Knitting Machine Co.

Saul Gray went about developing his own line of full-fashion knitting machines In association with Walter Golasky and others. Mr. Gray developed many different products and held many different patents. Harold Gray continued in his father's inventive footsteps -- he developed a knitting needle line in association with the Torrington Co. and other element manufacturers.

Saul Gray's son-in-law Eli Gerber joined Barney Knitting Machinery in 1975. In 1982 Saul Gray retired from the business and Harold Gray became president while Eli Gerber became vice president. In 1993 Barney Knitting Machinery purchased the Wildman & Wildman Jacquard Machinery Division from Mayer Industries. To date, Barney Knitting Machinery still manufactures replacement parts for the entire line of Wildman & Wildman Jacquard Machines

Barney Knitting Machinery Co., Inc. is still a family-owned business which has been proudly serving the textile industry for over 90 years. We look forward to serving you in the coming years.