There is a Lervad 12-harness countermarch loom up on eBay. I can't find much info about them on the internet and nothing in my old magazine issues either. I guess they are not very common in the U.S. The seller is getting me a quote on shipping which I think is going to be a lot more than what she thinks it will be, but no harm in finding out. Before I do decide to bid, I'd like to know something more about these looms if possible. Anyone have any info? Thanks.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lervad-12-Harnes...

Comments

sandra.eberhar…

This is a scandinavian style loom (think lightweight Glymakra).  It is complete, but the heddles are way too small.  I ordered new heddles.  It cost me $250 to ship from Northern WI to Western MI. It has a very heavy beater, which would translate to use as a rug loom.  It has the structure to be a rug loom, but will need help to keep from walking, as it's not heavily built.  I won the auction.

Penny Skelley (not verified)

Congratulations on getting the loom. I never did bid on it, as I thought shipping would be way too much--probably more than double what you paid to get to Texas. I'll be interested in hearing more about how you like weaving on  it.

 

 

EvaHall

The Lervad looms are danish and they are commonly on sale in Denmark, but as far as I can see they are not produced any more. They look lighter than a Glimåkra, but the Glimåkra is made of fur while the Lervad is made of beech, which is much heavier. Like the Glimåkra they can be used for rugs as well as for lighter things. 

Here is a cm loom for sale in denmark

http://www.dba.dk/vaev-lervad-140cm-bred-8/id-86783507/

Most Lervad looms on the market seem to be rigid heddle looms, there is one or two new on the list every day

http://www.dba.dk/vaev-lervad-rammevaev-nr-11/id-87288647/

Ellen (not verified)

I am the owner of a Lervad loom, and that was the lightweight version,which I didn't like so much, so I don't use it any more. But they also made some very big and very heavy looms, which as was said above are often up for sale here in Denmark. They are long since out of business, but I believe they are good looms.

Sara von Tresckow

Lervad is no longer making looms. They produced a full range of looms - from rigid heddle to therapy looms to full sized professional countermarche looms. Naturally, the lighter, smaller inexpensive looms are more often on the market.

Made of solid beechwood, they look lighter than the pine looms out there, but because of the hardwood construction are very sturdy. As with any Scandinavian countermarche loom of traditional design, replacement parts are not dependent on a factory supplying original parts - though metal ratchet wheels would definitely be in order if one wanted to make rugs.

One of their more popular models was a little folding countermarche loom that offered a countershed without taking up tons of space and not costing a lot.

When one sees "Lervad" with "loom" it is first necessary to determine which model and if that model is something you are interested in.

To extend their life as loom maker, they had a policy in the 1970's and 1980's where a fiber shop could only become a "dealer" by purchasing an assortment of their looms - insuring a certain level of sales, but when these little shops went out of business after 2-4 years, there were always plenty of used Lervad looms - mostly the little ones - out there at a discount. It doesn't surprise me that they are still being offered on the auction sites - they were good little looms.

sandra.eberhar…

I have done some searching for Lervads, and I found one of the small table-type countermarche looms for sale in Australia.  I saw several small ornate four harness counterbalance (think parlor loom) and several very large, massive looms with attached benches.  I found one exactly like this one being used by an artist in Scotland.  I think that this loom was made for export (it says "Made in Denmark" in English), and I think that it was made later in the company's career, maybe the 60's to 70's because of the smaller footprint.  It is about the size of the smaller Glymakra.  It has 12 harnesses and came with string heddles that are 9" long.  I have Texsolv on order. 

Tina

Hi, I just read your post and wondered if you still have the Lervad loom, I am trying to find some photos of one to get an idea how to build the one I have just bought. I don't even know if I have all the parts. There isn't a reed with it. I would appreciate any advice. Thanks Tina

Sara von Tresckow

I learned to weave a bit south of the Danish border in the late 1970's. Your assumptions are way off. Those older counterbalance looms were made at the turn of the 19th century for home weavers - many imported by Jane Adams for Hull House in Chicago -  which is why they are still found in the Midwest.

They were always stamped "Made in Denmark" - have been using one of their temples all afternoon - bought in Germany, and stamped "Made in Denmark" - I still have an old catalog showing all their models. Many of my weaving friends sold them in their little shops - the "assumptions" made by weavers in the US about European looms never cease to amuse me - all of these companies are/were supported by cabinetmaking, furniture making or other custom woodworking and made looms as an adjunct. None of them has ever done marketing as large manufacturing - they have all been small family owned makers of quality equipment. Most of these looms are easily retrofitted with parts copied from the existing shafts/lams/treadles.

Your loom is probably the Nr. 7 or 9 home loom - the largest(Nr. 2) was the one with the attached bench. Due to price and space concerns, most of the looms sold were the smaller variety. It is certainly  not a special model - was sort of their flagship big loom for quite a while - graced the front of their prospects.

Del (not verified)

I have just set up a (used) 8 shaft Lervad that I bought last summer. I'm please with the sturdiness of the loom, in spite of its frail appearance but the very narrow distance beween the front beam and the shafts is driving me crazy. I have to get up and advance the warp every few minutes. (I'm doing a  series of lap throws with 2-ply fine wool as the warp, 13 epi; undulating twill threading on 6 shafts.) And the tension brakes on the front and back beams could use larger, more comfortable "handles". Thus far all else seems fine. But if I ever put rugs on it they will befairly small and not very heavy.

sandra.eberhar…

One thing I want to do to the Lervad that I have is to set up a trip line to the warp beam pawl so I don't have to get up to release the warp tension.  This will be a cord that goes over the top of the loom to the warp pawl, with pulleys to carry it over bends.  I pull on the cord, the pawl releases.  Let go, and a weight pulls the pawl back into place.

Sandra

Ellen (not verified)

That's the system I have on my Glimakra. But I never use it, because as I use quite a lot of tension and release the warp pawl it springs forward too much. I like to get up and manually decide how far forward the warp moves, - and it feel good to move about a bit as well. 

hpoullard

Hello,
I tell you from France. You said right and better wood than Glimakra. My parents were solders of them then died. Now I have the most famous Lervad one to sell if you now where I can deliver it ! (in Europa, better) You may see it, number 2 with the whole kit necessary :  http://hpoullard.free.fr/tiss/ . The maximum weidth is 270 cm. 160 cm for weaving. I know how to use it properly. Please tell to the world.
:-)
Nice to read your comments here. A bientôt. Hervé

Tina

Hello all, I am new to this group and trying to find something out about the Lervad looms, I have just bought a pile of wood, which I hope to turn into a loom, not haveing any photos or instructions, I have no idea where to start. Please see photos, I don't know if it should have another ratchet like the one in the photo. It measures approx 40" in width, thats measuring one of the reed poles, it does not have a reed with it. Do you think I will be able to assemble this into a loom, its certainly a challenge. I would appreciate any photos or information on these looms assembled, just to give me an idea. Many thanks. Tina

sandra.eberhar…

The Glimakra website has pictures of similar looms that can show you what the framework and beams look like.  Most of the Lervad looms that I have seen are similar to Glimakra in construction.  

Abby Kishon

Hi Not sure if this comment will reach you so long after.  But I was just gifted a Lervad loom and have no idea which one it is or where to get instructions on how to set it up!  It has a reed of 120cm (4ft), and was wondering if you made progress on finding info on how to identify and put it together.

Thanks!  Abby

sandra.eberhar…

You won't find a "manual" for the loom.  Most looms come with instructions on how to assemble them; some don't.  Old ones seldom do.  Only looms that are very unusual (like dobby looms) come with instruction for how to use them.  If your loom is a square frame, type, look at the Glymakra website for what it should look like and put it together.  You may find that it has been marked (BB to BB etc.).  If not a square frame, you may have to search for pics of similar looms.  I have a square frame Lervard, but it has been modified quite a bit.  It would still show you how to put the frame together.