I am a new weaver and just "rescued" a Loomcraft 8-harness jack loom. Missing are the brackets that secure the back beam. I was hoping that someone could take photos of these brackets and send them to me along with the dimensions. The husband of a local weaver has offered to make them for me, but he needs to know what they look like and the measurements. If you own a Loomcraft loom, you already know that they are no longer made, and there is no easy source for parts. 

Thank you!

Beammeup

Comments

Kiiki (not verified)

Are you looking to replace the metal pieces that hold the warp beam in place? Here's the link to my Loomcraft pictures on Flicker. I added some pics of the metal pieces. They are held on by wingnuts. Let me know if this is what you want and I can try to measure.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/13618079@N06/sets/72157627353150241/

Beammeup

Dear Kiiki,

Yes, I meant the warp beam and was going to make a correction when I found your reply (thank you!). I am missing both the trapezoidal wooden extensions from the frame vertical, which your loom doesn't show or have) and the metal brackets you show. Sending me the dimensions of the metal brackets would be a huge help. I can see that they are in two parts from your excellent photos. I would need to know the thickness of the metal as well as the lengths and widths of the brackets.

What confuses me is the difference in the way your warp beam is secured to the frame and the way it is secured in the photo on this site

http://itsterri.blogspot.com/2007_02_01_archive.html

If you scroll down and double click the photo, you will see wooden pieces to which (I believe) the metal brackets are then attached. Possibly, the different set ups are to accommodate different sized warp beams? (Remember, I'm really new at this.)

Thank you, again, for answering my plea.

Beammeup

Kiiki (not verified)

I don't have it and there are no marks to suggest it was ever there (the trapazoid thing). I have a Loomcraft sales brochure, and the picture of the loom with two warp beams shows it, but the single beam picture does not. I'm happy to forward the brochure to you if you give me your e-mail address. I scanned it for safe keeping.

Yes, the bracket is in two pieces. The part that attaches to the loom curves upward at the bottom and the warp beam nestles into it. The top part just secures the bracket. It's a nice feature--the beam is still supported while you are removing the bracket cover.

The pieces are 1 1/4" wide (the width of the wood they secure to). Looks like when they are fitted together they measure 3/8" thick. And each piece seems to be about 3/16" thick. Bottom piece is about 3" long (a little curve at the top, so it's hard to tell. Top piece is about 2 1/2" long. Hope this helps some.

Su Butler

Hi Beammeup....you need the trapezoidal extensions if your loom is an 8 shaft and has a 1 yard circumference plain or sectional beam. This allows the beam to sit at a point where it will not interfere with the shafts. If you have a plain beam, you do not need the extensions. Does your loom have any holes to indicate what might have been there before you got it?? That would be helpful. The brackets that are missing are nice because being in two parts, they allow very easy removal of the warp beam. However, if you don't intend to take the warp beam off very often, you can use just about anything that will allow the beam to turn in place and hold it at the right height so the ratchet and pawl can engage. If you hold the warp beam axil right up against the legs of the loom and there is space between the beam and the shafts, you don't need the extensions and can use whatever you want to fasten the warp beam in place. Su :-)

Beammeup

Thanks to both of you, I now have the information I need. The loom indeed has 8 shafts, and the plain warp beam measures about 31" in circumference. The wooden trapezoids would be needed for the clearance from the shafts and also to put the ratchet in the right position to engage the brake lever. Quite an adaptable system, come to think of it. Again, I do so appreciate your helping me out. I will post a photo once the loom is back together...could be awhile because of fabrication of the metal parts. Kiiki: I would like a copy of the brochure and will send you my e-mail.

Kind regards to you both,

Beammeup

Kiiki (not verified)

Let me know if you don't get my e-mail. The file is rather large and sometimes doesn't get to its destination. It's zipped, though, so hopefully you'll get it.

zhenya

Recently purchased a loomcraft 45 inch. Very beautiful. Thanks to the great pictures by Terri, I was able to successfully put it together without losing my mind. I am missing the warp brackets and will figure out how to fabricate something, but does anyone know anyone who might have old loomcraft parts like this? Happy Weaving to all.

Beammeup

Hello, Zhenya--

I was missing both the metal brackets and the wooden "spacers", which are trapezoidal blocks needed to move the warp beam out from the frame far enough so that it can turn. I was able to get the missing parts through the kindness of Halcyon Yarn in Bath, Maine <http://halcyonyarn.com/>. They DON'T have the parts but are still close friends with John Post (now in his 90s) who originally made these looms. They contacted him and he graciously made the parts for me, almost a year ago. I think the price was $150.00. I don't want to be discouraging, but I was not able to find old parts after very extensive searching. See the photos (if I can upload them) and let me know if you need measurements, for I think having something fabricated will be your best bet. I hope this helps.

See my next post for the photos.

 

gottoweave

Hey, Beammeup! Would you be able to tell me the dimensions of your spacers? Or anyone else? I have to recreate them for my new to me Loomcraft. Oh, and any additional pics of the pawl. Have to recreate that, too, Thanks! Kristen

Beammeup

Hello, Kristen--

I assume you've read all the previous posts about John Post, the maker of the looms, which were originally sold by Halcyon Yarn in Bath, Maine. Other than the pictures I've already posted, I can't get to the loom to take any more of the pawl. Here are some measurements that might help: The pawl is about 7 1/8" in diameter and about 3/8" thick, with 22 teeth.

The trapezoidal spacers measure as follows:

The two bases measure 3" and 4 1/4"; each leg measures 2 1/4". The block is 1" thick.

For someone handy, I don't think recreating the spacers will be a problem, especially if you already have the brackets. The pawl possibly will pose more of a challenge. I don't know if Mr. Post is still alive and would have any extra parts. You might try sending a query to Susan at Halcyon Yarn: [email protected]

Let me know if I can be of any further help. My Loomcraft, by the way, is cherry, 8-shaft, 12-treadle. These looms are certainly a quality product and I think very worth making functional.

Jean

Beammeup

Hello, Kristen--

See member kiikiknits' Loomcraft photo album at

http://tinyurl.com/m3yoxhh

for great photos.

Jean

gottoweave

Hi, Jean! Thanks for the measurements! I found a lumber yard in NJ that is not too far from me and they actually have cherry wood in stock. Going to take a drive out there on Saturday. The width of my loom leg is 1 1/4" wide, and they have some cherry that is 1 3/4" wide, so I think I can work with that. I have a borrowed miter saw and a sander. Mine is also an 8 shaft, 12 treadle, and cherry. Beautiful loom. I put a coat of lemon oil on the parts that hold the shafts up and I'm so impressed by the simplicity of the design and how well it works (aside from the missing parts, of course). I am the second owner of the loom. I bought it from a seller in Maine whose grandmother had bought it in the 1970-80 range. And yes, KiikiKnits has some great photographs of her loom. I have been poring over them. Do you happen to have any pictures of the other side of the breaking system? I think the gear thing with teeth might actually be the ratchet, and the long ruler shaped piece of metal is another part I am missing. I thought that part was the pawl, but it's new to me. It seems to me that the breaking mechanism on that part might be a nut/short screw about 2" from the front edge?

Beammeup

Hello, Kristen--

I think what you are asking for are measurements and arrangement for the cloth beam gear and pawl. Because my loom is stored in the garage, I can't get to it easily, so can only help a bit. The mechanism consists of a two-part arm, wood with a metal extension (ratchet advance lever). The wood piece is 9 1/4" long and the metal extension 7 3/8". The first pawl is attached to this and is 2 1/2" long and 1 1/4" wide. The second pawl is 4 1/2" long and 1" wide. They both engage a gear tha is about 4" in diameter and has 45 teeth. See the photos. These were taken with my iPhone because I can't get the Nikon into these spaces.

gottoweave

I do have the wood pieces and pawls for the front cloth beam. Thankfully. Just missing the pawl for the back beam where the warp lies. Oh, and unfortunately, when I called Halcyon Yarn last week, they let me know that Mr. John Post had passed away. I am so glad you were able to get his help for your loom a few years ago. It's too bad he hadn't passed his business on to an heir. It's a beautiful loom.

Beammeup

I was afraid that might be the case, that Mr. Post is no longer with us. He was already into his 90's when he helped me. He was lovely about the whole process of making the wooden spacers and sending me the brackets for what I thought was a very reasonable price. I guess the good news is that quite a few on Weavolution recognize the quality of his work and are willing to put the effort into keeping his looms working. A very nice tribute. Good luck in your efforts--it will be worth it.

Jean

Victoria Davidson

Hi,

Any Loomcraft users know what type of finish to use to rejuvenate the wood?  My instructions read that you should use no wax or furniture polish but instead use the third coating of finish.  Can't ask the manufacturer so I wonder if anyone knows the answer.  Thanks in advance!!

Beammeup

Sorry I don't have a specific answer for you, except that the looms were given a "hand rubbed finish". This type of finish is usually achieved with a penetrating oil and lots of elbow grease. You can read about the method here:

http://www2.ca.uky.edu/HES/fcs/FACTSHTS/HF-LRA.055.PDF

I would stay away from regular furniture polishes. You might try a wood restorer product like Howard's "Restor.A.Finish (neutral). It is made by Howard Products, Inc. and won't harm the existing finish. I would try a small, out of sight, area first to see the effect. I have used it on other items and it works pretty well. Use with PLENTY of VENTILATION. Hope this helps.

Victoria Davidson

Thanks so much for the prompt reply!  I found a neutral finish with boiled linseed oil and beeswax but I wonder if the wax part is what Loomcraft found undesirable.  I will research using your link Smile

Kwilli53

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