positions of intermediate plates 28 28 39 28 34 28 34 39 and 128 influencing the knitting needles not illustrated on flat bed knitting machines whereby the intermediate plates are designed depending upon the type and construction of the cam box carriage and its cams either in the form of jacks acting directly on the knitting needles or in the form of trigger plates acting on a needle plate arranged in front of the knitting needle according to the present invention electro magnetic selection devices 13 14 and 113 114 are provided according to fig1 a which shows a view in section through one of the needle beds 16 arranged in a v shape to each other a needle plate 18 is arranged to slide longitudinally in the direction of the arrow x and can be pressed in under the effect of spring loading into the needle bed at each of the multiplicity of tricks 17 of the needles and instruments of knitting needles not shown the needle plate 18 which with its front end not shown and in this case the right hand end lies against the knitting needle and lies there on the bottom of the trick 19 projecting with its left or rear end shown in fig1 a over a recess of the trick 21 between the end of the needle plate 18 and an integral extension 22 of the needle plate 18 is arranged a needle plate butt 23 which can be pressed into the needle bed 16 or needle trick 17 the needle plate extension 22 is pressed by a leaf spring 26 supported at the bottom of the needle trick recess 21 against a stop 27 and an intermediate plate 28 arranged over it.