Hello there - I've just arrived here, I'm a returning weaver (after a long break) living in England.
I'm buying a Berga Savonia 8-shaft counterbalance loom off someone over here, and I wondered whether anyone on this forum has one of these? Specifically, does anyone have a countermarche version, because I'd like to convert this loom to countermarche. There's virtually no info at all available about Berga looms (they went out of business a while ago, I believe) but there seem to be more owners in the US and Canada than anywhere else, so I thought this was a good place to ask!
If anyone has a Savonia (or other Berga model) countermarche loom and would be willing to email me photos of the castle setup (or copies of any manuals they have) I'd be really grateful.
Use the loom search and you might be able to narrow your search!
None on here, but I've been able to find a few owners online since I discovered it's spelled Bergå, not Berga :).
H padmavyuha,
These looms were made in Finland and are similar to Toika looms. However, there is no reason why you cannot make a countermarch for it. You just need two cross pieces to hold the jacks, pulleys if you want a vertical countermarch, and then the long lamms. You will probably find a place to put a metal rod to attach the lamms.
Joanne
Thanks for the replies. As I've mentioned in my other CM vs. CB thread, I've lost the opportunity to buy this loom after all, but I may be able to buy a Louët off someone a lot closer instead, so all is not lost :)
Louet looms are smaller than the Berga looms, so if you are tall, try it first. One way to check before making the trip is to ask the breast beam height. If it is not at least 33 inches, you need to consider leg space for treadling. The Berga is probably taller than that.
Joanne
Yes, I'm 6'3" so it's a foregone conclusion that I'll need to add to the loom height itself and then lower the treadles. I'm accustomed to making non-destructive adaptations to looms now! A low loom is hell on the hips. I'm also surprised that loom benches are always built flat instead of with a slight forward slope down - much less pressure on the thighs that way.
not all benches are flat - "pisa" is not (the bottom one)!
Thanks! That's the first really sensible vävpall I've seen. I'm guessing that an avställnigshylla is a box-with-a-lid that's part of the seat?
It just means "shelf" - I guess it is the same as the shelf on the other bench.
Myself, I would like to have a pivoting bench. There was one for my AVl, but it was WAY too low for me. I replaced it with a better bench I already had - but maybe I should have changed its position instead...
That's a long word for "shelf" - does the avställnig refer to the raised sedges?
Yes, pivoting would be best - I've been designing one in my mind for some time, as it would always be at the right angle. With something to stop it pivoting too far, of course! And pockets at the sides for bobbins and shuttles, and and...
Avställning - one of the famous Swe compound words :-) - "ställa av" -> put away.
So: "shelf to put away things on" (as opposed to "bookshelf", I suppose? or, perhaps, to emphasize(sp?) that it is ok to put both shuttles, yarns and the occasional coffee mug w/o it disintegrating ;-) ? )
I suppose the equivalent in English would be "storage shelf" then. My online dictionary said "shutdown", which is why I assumed a lid!
I love languages. Looking for looms has led to me learning several Swedish words now - before that, I only knew Skedstork - and also some Finnish weaving terms, since I've been trying to suss out Toika's catalogue.
well - that's what I always say: nothing like a native speaker to find the correct words ;-)
(feeble try: isn't "storage" something more permanent...?)
Heh, translation's both fun and exasperating!
I chose 'storage' because it has the sense of 'put away' that I think avställning has, and because I wanted a word that qualifies the 'shelf' as something more than just a plank of wood.
Looking at the photo, it's not just a plank, it has a lip around the edge to stop your bobbins from leaping for freedom, and to me, 'storage shelf' implies something with depth (more like a container). So it's permanent in the sense that if you put something there, it'll still be there when you come back, and not rolled off under the radiator somewhere.
If I wanted to be really picky (and avoid accusations of false descriptions), I'd probably call it a 'storage tray', since it's really not very deep!
I have also been searching for a better bench. I'm average height and want one that doesn't cut into the back of my thighs. I found one on ebay HERE and not sure if he would ship to UK. Might be worth asking. It does have a stop on it so the bench only tilts so far forward or back. I am waiting to sell my Baby Wolf so I can buy this a a few other items for weaving.
Claudia
Walt's benches are a great pleasure to sit on. I ordered one a few years ago and have never regretted it. The price is more than one would pay for some but Walt will build it for your height and your loom.
Here's his link.
Tommye
Walt's benches are GREAT!! My husband has one and I have one on order. He makes them to your measurements and to your loom. The only drawback is the delivery time is about 2yrs. But believe me it is worth the wait. Sally
