Some months ago I bought an 8H Macomber, in pieces, from someone's barn. I successfully assembled it and have woven a few pieces on it. (I use my beloved 4H counterbalance whenever I can, since it's so quiet and easy to operate.) The Mac came with about 30 each of the old style and new style hooks that you use to tie up treadles to lamms. Neither is quite enough to do a moderately complex tie up. I need to purchase more hooks.
I've found both types of hooks to be somewhat problemmatic. The new style (over the lamm) hooks tend to be either too tight and require amazing strength to get off when tie up changes, or too loose and either catch on the lamm next to them or simply "jump" off when another treadle pulls that lamm down.
The old hooks are more of a pain to put on, and have also "jumped" off on occassion.
Here's my question to Mac users - which type of hooks do you prefer and why?
Peg, I have used a combination of both plus texsolv. You can reshape the new hooks with pliers if they don't fit quite right. I found that they worked well except right over the places where the lamm mechanism connects. The old hooks do better there. Sometimes the older/heavily used looms have worn hook holes that will not hold onto an old hook. Or, a shaft has shifted/been miscut and the holes are not directly aligned over the treadles. Use the new hooks there. On the portable floor looms there should be two S-hooks which connect the treadle frame to the loom frame in the front. If these are not engaged, the loom will shed hooks like crazy, starting with the back shafts. Also, there is a slight difference in the way you treadle a Mac. Other looms are treadled, Macs are danced. Step down squarely rather than push at an angle (which causes hooks to jump off).
If you find there is a place which will not hold either hook, try a texsolv ladder cord tie instead. Buy a roll and cut what you need, securing with a plastic arrow pin under the treadle. Keep a piece of roofing metal under the lamms so you can hear when a hook falls off.
There is a device from Macomber to hold down the shafts while you put the hooks in, or you can lift the treadle rather than holding down the lamm to put in the hook.
Macs are lovely to weave on, once you get used to the dance.
Laurie Autio
Thanks for the advice, Laurie. I had been previously advised that I couldn't mix hook types - you obviously do successfully. Also, I love my texsolv tie ups for my 4H counterbalance, but hadn't considered them for the Mac. I must say -- those would not be fun to change regularly! Maybe use them for the tabby treadles?
And I bet I do tend to push the treadles down at an angle, particularly #1 & #10, which are the longest reaches for my short little legs.
The only thing that would prevent you from mixing hook types (and texsolv) is if the lengths were not adjusted to bring each shaft to roughly the same height. As long as that happens, you should be ok.
For the texsolv: you cut a cord long enough to go over the bar, through itself, and then hit the floor plus an inch or two. Put it through the treadle and put the pin the the right spot when you need it. Take it out (or just move the pin to the bottom hole) when you don't need it. Still quick, but not quite as fast as the hooks. I would start by only using them in places where you consistently lose hooks. So, if a hook falls off the same shaft on the same treadle three time, replace it with texsolv.
Remember that tabby is not the same for every structure and there is no universal tie-up for 8 shafts.
Macombers tend to be easier for taller weavers. I remember hearing that Mrs. Macomber, whose husband designed the looms, was 5'7" or 5'8". Don't think it makes much difference on the baby Mac's, but it can on the big Mac's.
Enjoy, they are good looms.
Laurie Autio
