I need help with my Tools of the Trade loom.  It is an 8 shaft, 10 treadle loom (#74).  It has no handle for the take-up or the warp beam.  It has 2 prawls for the takeup mechanism, but no lower stop or handle.  The brake works fine, but again, no handle for the warp beam either.  The first shaft also hits the castle a bit when treadling.  It appears to be just slightly bent.  Is there any way to adjust for this? If not are Le Clerc interchangable with TOTT?  I know Le Clerc has handles but which one?  This is my first jack loom.  The only other loom I have used is my Navajo.  I am admittedly lost and winging it here.

Comments

Tue, 12/27/2011 - 05:09

sally orgren

Please search this site for other TOTT posts. There are detailed photos posted that might answer your questions on already established threads. Here's one—

weavolution.com/forum/weaving/tools-trade-table-loom

You can see the folks who posted comments, and you can send them a PM (private message) by selecting their name from their post.

Yes, LeClerc provided the hardware. You might contact them and see what they recommend for your loom, as I imagine they have helped other TOTT owners in the past. BTW, #74 is just the number of loom made, and because you have a low number, you must have an early one!

Art stopped making TOTT's in the mid-80's, but they are great looms. Several well-known weavers work on them. I am willing to bet you can get it up to speed in no time.

What state are you located in? 

Sally

Tue, 12/27/2011 - 15:38

Mindy Stowers (not verified)

Thanks Sally, I have looked at all those posts and none of the pictures are quite like mine, maybe because mine is earlier.  I did not know it was appropriate to PM someone with a specific question.  That is wonderful and thanks so much.  I have emailed my problem to LeClerc.  No answer as yet. I am soooo ready to get started with this loom.  Thank you for your kind reply.  Oh, I am in SW Virginia near the WV line.

Mindy

Tue, 12/27/2011 - 21:32

sally orgren

Mindy,

I was hoping you might be closer to one of us, so someone could take a look or provide you with a loom part you could measure from. (Sorry, I am in NJ.) Hopefully, a TOTT owner will pop up closer to you.

Here's some images of the particular parts you mentioned from my loom, which is a 12 shaft, 2 beam model, #426.

A & B) Front of the loom — the cloth take up apparatus. (no crank, at least, not one like the back of the loom.)

C) Back of the loom, a single crank works for both back beams.

For sticky shafts, if the heddle rod is bent, and this is the part that is catching on the next shaft, it can be gently shaped back into position.

Also, try flipping the shaft in the castle. My loom came to me used, and the previous owner numbered and labeled the shafts front-to-back, in order. If I have sticking, I just rotate them around or flip them. If a shaft is seriously warped, it might be time to call in a woodworker to replace. (Luckily, s/he has your other shafts to use for measurements.)

Weavers Daryl Lancaster (NJ), Jan Friedman (IA), and Marjie Thompson (ME), are a few folks I know that own TOTT looms. I think if you saw someone post on a previous forum about TOTT help here at Weavolution, it is then okay to send them a PM with your specific TOTT question. (Daryl is a particularly good source for information as she has several of their looms, and has owned them since the 70's.)

Also, I see Interweave has a new book out by Tom Knisely (of The Mannings) called "The Loom Owner's Companion." It might have helpful general troubleshooting advice. 

Post photos of your loom if you can. Let us know what you end up finding out or doing to complete the loom.

Sally

Tue, 12/27/2011 - 22:02

Mindy Stowers (not verified)

Good info Sally! I moved the front shaft to the back, now no problem. For now I have the first two treadles tabby so I can check it out.  Not sure how to post pics here, but I will see if I can figure it out.  Baby steps, right?

Mindy

Wed, 12/28/2011 - 17:35

Mindy Stowers (not verified)

I think we finally have it figured out after studying Sally's pictures better.  I appreciate you help very much.  I will check out the links to the guilds...and oohh, yarn!  I wil definately check that out!

Thanks so very much!

Mindy

Wed, 12/28/2011 - 19:51

sally orgren

Mindy, Hopefully with these photos, LeClerc might be able to steer you in the right direction. Might persue this again after Jan 2nd, as they are probably on holiday break.
Thu, 12/29/2011 - 00:36

Mindy Stowers (not verified)

Sally, thank you so much.  I am downloading  "The Loom Owners Companion" right now.  Just bought it.  I am so excited!  I got 7 reeds with my loom and I cannot wait to test them all!  I will try LeClerc next week.  You have been so very helpful.  Thanks for taking the time during this busy season!

Mindy Stowers

SW VA

Sat, 12/31/2011 - 04:51

sally orgren

Mindy,

I just found this in my "photo bank" for the TOTT. This matches the same angle as your image posted earlier. We are rooting for you to bring this loom back to life!

Sally

Sat, 12/31/2011 - 20:45

theresaknits (not verified)

I hope you all don't mind me jumping in here with another question, but I've recently received a new-to-me TOTT 4-shaft loom.  It seems to be in good working order, except for a sticky shaft in the back which occasionally drops a tiny bit too far then won't come back up.  I'm going to try the fix mentioned earlier about moving positions and see if that helps.

But my main question was this.  I notice on the bottom of the beater bar arms (for lack of a better word) that there are two slots.  Does it make a difference which one is centered of the bolt at the bottom of the loom?  I can see that it would change the angle, but can't really think of a reason why one position would be better than the other.  I'm attaching a picture so that you can see what I'm talking about.

Theresa

 

Sat, 12/31/2011 - 22:08

Mindy Stowers (not verified)

Sally, this is exactly what I need!  I am so touched by the attention and concern here.  I think I should be up an running in a week or so.  I am so excited!  Thank you so much!

Mindy

Mon, 01/02/2012 - 19:00

sally orgren

Theresa,

You have discovered one of the cool things about TOTT looms!

Yes, the beater bar can be lifted and repositioned between those two slots so that you don't have to advance the warp as often while weaving. (You just need to be sure both sides of the beater are in the same slot position, parallel to the castle.)

When weaving, the reed/beater should hit the fell line at 90 degrees. Being able to lift and reposition the beater as the cloth advances toward you is a nice option to keep the beater at the correct angle for optimum performance, before you have to advance the warp. Gives you a slightly bigger "sweet spot" than with other looms.

Another nice design touch is that some of the models allow the same adjustment at the back of the loom, to extend the back beam out. I have three different positions. So I can start out with the loom at the longest setting — this gives the best shed at the front. I have also shortened this distance near the completion of a project to reduce the loom waste at the back of the loom.

Lucky you to own a TOTT!

Sally

Wed, 01/04/2012 - 02:47

theresaknits (not verified)

Thanks Sally!  That is a very cool thing!  I was really excited to get the loom, especially after hearing so many people love theirs.  I'm looking forward to getting that first warp on it!

Wed, 01/04/2012 - 02:48

theresaknits (not verified)

Thanks Sally!  That is a very cool thing!  I was really excited to get the loom, especially after hearing so many people love theirs.  I'm looking forward to getting that first warp on it!

Mon, 01/23/2012 - 16:57

Waechter

I just today purchased a Tools of the Trade 36" 4 harness loom from a local woman who was looking to "unload" before a move and I need some help with the back brake. I am not sure if I am missing something (i.e. a part or just knowledge). The woman I bought it from had not used the loom herself since 1980's and didn't really remember how it went. A member of our local craft guild has a ToTT but hers has a tension brake at the back and mine does not.

I have a ratchet and pawl for the cloth beam, and also for the back. The ratchet is located on the inside of the leg of the back beam with a small hand crank on the outside for access. The pawl is underneath the ratchet. At the top of this leg is a small screw that sits out a bit: 

At the floor is a brake pedal with a screw eye in it.. there is a chain with hooks that will reach from the eye to the hole in the pawl - but the hook is not big enough to be secure in the pawl end - I'm not certain the chain actually goes there. For now, I have devised this: a shoe-lace tied from brake pedal to pawl for a connector and an elastic from pawl to the screw to bring the pawl up to the ratchet to keep tension on the warp beam, and also enable it to release and spring back when I step on the brake pedal.

I have been cruising weavolution brake and ToTT topics for help but haven't found what what I am looking for yet. I will also take pics to my local craft guild next time we meet.  If anyone can tell me how that is actually supposed to work.... or even what that chain might be for.... I would appreciate it lots! :(

Thu, 01/26/2012 - 23:16

Mindy Stowers (not verified)

I am so sorry, This doesn't look anything like mine.  Daryl has a number of TOTT looms maybe you can PM her.  I am waiting on a shipment of my very last part so I can warp my loom for the first time.  I love TOTT loom. Be just a bit patient.  I really got mine together from pictures here.

Best of Luck,

Mindy

Fri, 01/27/2012 - 15:24

sally orgren

Waechter, stay tuned!

I sent an inquiry to my neighbor and guildmate, who I believe also has the 36" model. If she has the same brake system, I will go over and get a photo for you.

Sally

Sat, 01/28/2012 - 20:46

Mindy Stowers (not verified)

I don't know anything about this company but I have looked at pictures of parts here and some of them look like your brake system.  It also has a conversion kit you may be interested in doing yourself.

http://www.camillavalleyfarm.com/weave/loomparts.htm#26

maybe someone here will know something about them.

Mindy

 

Sat, 01/28/2012 - 21:41

sally orgren

It occurred to me you can always use Kati Meeks' "live weight" tension system, and that might actually be a better alternative than restoring this to the original brake system. Kati has a website and sells a book that has excellent illustrations on how to rig it up.

(I believe Daryl said the earlier models are as yours, Art later went to the tension brake system.)

Mon, 01/30/2012 - 15:15

sally orgren

My guildmate's 36" TOTT has a tension brake, so no help there.

Mon, 10/08/2012 - 14:40

Mindy Stowers (not verified)

I can't believe it has been 10 months since you helped me with my loom.  I just finished my first project!  I know that sounds ridiculous but my life really crashed.  I have had a horrible life threatening illness.  Things will never be the same for me.  I have lost my job.  I will never work again. Then I had surgery due to a fall and we had to move.  My son is in crisis.  Bla, Bla, Bla... I wanted to tell you that my loom has been such a blessing.  I can weave maybe 15 or 20 minutes at a time, but it is pure joy.  I am so grateful for the resource here it is like none other anywhere.  But I am most grateful for the people who stop and take time out of their day and are interested and eager to help, encourage and cheer you on.  You gave me such a huge gift all those months ago.  I am even participating in Halloweave!  Sometimes God does not let us know how we touch each others lives.  Sometimes we forget to tell each other.  Your kindness, concern, time and energy helped me get my loom up an working easily and affordably and it has got me out of bed and given me joy on days when I had none.  Thank you.  Mindy

Mon, 10/08/2012 - 19:09

sally orgren

Thanks so much for taking the time to let us know!

I am so sorry to hear about all these challenges in your life over the past year. I take inspiration from my fellow weavers and guildmates, so I am just trying to model the inspiration and kindness they have given me in the past. My way of passing it on. And now YOU are inspiring others just as well!

Mon, 10/08/2012 - 21:50

Claudia Segal (not verified)

Oh, my Mindy.  What a lot on your plate!

I am so glad to hear that weaving has helped bring you happiness.  I am also thrilled the TOTT loom has been good for you.  I had one for about 2 years and could never get it working quite right.  I was lucky to sell mine and buy a Glimakra Standard which I love.

I totally understand what you mean about support.  I hope things improve for you and your son is able to find his way out of his problems.  Feel free to lean on your online friends any time.  That's what we are here for.

It makes me feel particulary happy to hear you say such nice things about Weavolution since I am one of the three women who founded the site.  I put thousands of hours into it before selling it to Erica and Oliver who are now its guardians.

Claudia

Wed, 10/10/2012 - 04:01

Mindy Stowers (not verified)

Thank you so much, you sent me the manual and  some pictures, sorry I left you out. I absolutely love weaving.  I would have never begun without weavolution.  Your support and help honestly saved me.  The moments at my loom are so wonderful.  I hope your blessings are multiplied back to you many times.  Thank you so, so much,

Love, Love, Love,

Mindy