Hey Everybody! I would love some assistance on trying to figure out what I have here, but first let me give you somTOTTe backstory:

I received this from a friend after she inherited it, I do not have a loomin' idea what I am doing and would be much happier getting a smaller table loom if I wanted to weave.

So I have another friend who wants to buy it from me for 'fair market value'... what is this worth?

 

What I know:

Manufacturer: Tools of the Trade, New Haven, VT

It is a floor loom, 28" wide and 42" tall. Built very solidly! I have heard very good things about Tools of the Trade though!

It has 8 wooden panes that can move up and down (shafts?)

Only other thing worth noting (I was trying to research this) - the side of the loom has a leather name tag, which is supposed to have a # on it, but it does not (also, the tag is leather burned by hand, not pressed like all the others I have seen online.)

Photos can be found on this page: http://postimg.org/gallery/6ixhczry/

 

Thank you for all of your assistance! :) Oh, and if anyone wants to buy this if my friend does not, I am located in Raleigh NC.

Kieran

 

Comments

Wed, 04/17/2013 - 00:00

laurafry

Are there more pieces somewhere?  It sort of looks like the front of the loom isn't all there....

cheers

Laura

Wed, 04/17/2013 - 00:12

middleofall

Yes, there is more! You can go to this link to see more photos: http://postimg.org/gallery/6ixhczry/

There are a lot more peices, but they can separate and I have no instructions on how to put it together. I could probably figure it out, but I didn't want to potentially damage it.

Thank you for your quick response! :)

Kieran

 

 

Wed, 04/17/2013 - 02:45

SallyE (not verified)

It would be pretty difficult to damage it just by trying to put it together unless you really force something.   Worst case, you won't put it together correctly.   If there is a weaving guild in the area, you might be able to find someone to help you assemble it.   If you really want to sell it, having it together would be best because then it's obvious that all the parts are there.   Plus, you will learn something in the process!

 

Wed, 04/17/2013 - 12:14

sequel (not verified)

Well it says so right on the label!  Tools of the Trade looms are very nice and highly sought after, but no longer in production.

Wed, 04/17/2013 - 22:06

middleofall

Okay - Thanks for the suggestions - I will attempt to put it together this weekend and see how it goes! :)

Thank you!

Fri, 04/19/2013 - 21:48

mrdubyah (not verified)

Don't forget to check under the weaving forum topics/threads here at Weavolution for "TOTT questions" and "tools of the trade loom".
Someone else here is retooling one of these looms too, and has posted photos.

Wed, 05/08/2013 - 01:53

middleofall

Okay! It is all together now (as far as I can tell!) I also discovered that its a 25", 8 shaft, 10 treadle floor loom. I think this is one of TooT's really early ones as it has no sequence number and the leather patch is hand burned into place. Let me see how many photos I can insert :)

Anyone have any more information? How much is this worth? I have seen TooT looms going for anywhere from $450 to $2,000.

Huge thank you to everyone!

Kieran

Wed, 05/08/2013 - 13:55

sally orgren

it is my observation the smaller looms go for more than the bigger ones, in most loom types. People just don't have space like they used to.

This is a valuable loom, because he made them out of rock maple, they are well designed, they hold up and weave a variety of materials well. You don't see them come up much. Lucky you! If I inherited this baby, I would have a hard time letting it go.

I am not sure if having a number on the label is important in regards to selling this loom, i.e. if it is an early or later one. Usually with looms, the "early ones" may have issues that get fixed as feedback comes in from customers. I know he modified the braking system at some point in his loom construction.

He stopped making them around the mid 1980's. I know someone who bought a new one (45" or 54"?) at that time and paid about $2,000 for an 8 shaft castle + bench, but only bought the 4 shafts.

Daryl Lancaster has a small one just like this, she would be a good person to check with.

I saw a 45" TOTT go for just $500 two years ago at auction (the buyer did not know what they purchased!) and I know someone else who purchased one at 45" or greater in the $1,000-1,500 range, the exact same month as the auction. 

Considering the smaller size is desireable and assuming it weaves well, I would guesstimate in the $500-1,000 price point for a friend, and may go higher if you were to put this online and have folks who know what this is start bidding.

My disclaimer, I own one. So I want to be careful and not overvalue the loom just because I value mine. Hopefully, others will chime in. You might want to check the usual sources (Craig's List, Ebay), along with Grandma's Attic for comparables.

P.S. I bought mine used via the Internet in the mid-90's for $900. It is 45" 12 shaft, two beams - one sectional, bench, warp extender, and a ton of extra stuff like tension box, reeds, etc. Yes, I got an incredible deal.

Wed, 05/08/2013 - 15:45

sarahnopp (not verified)

I think you should simply compare it to other similarly sized looms of the same type and same number of shafts, 8 shaft jack. In my area you can find used ones from $800 to $1200 for one in nice condition, needing no work. I would say look at Mighty Wolf looms of the same sort in your area for top price, and four shaft for prices at bottom of the range. I have looked around the contry and there are definite regional differences in pricing and expectation, so make sure you are comparing to the most local examples you can find. 

As far as name brand recognition, newer weavers won't know about this maker (they know Mighty Wolf :), and more experienced weavers will be looking at functional aspects. I purchased my small 8 shaft jack loom Harrisville loom from a guildie for $500, which was the price she had paid for it from another guildie, and the price that guildie had paid for it from the original purchaser, another guildie, over 20 years ago! So market value or...

Thu, 05/09/2013 - 13:04

sally orgren

I checked with a guild mate who bought a TOTT from another guildmate a few years ago. She paid $800 and she said the castle measured 43" (so weaving width might be 36"). I believe it was an 8 shaft.

Thu, 05/09/2013 - 13:24

middleofall

Thank you so very much everyone! I wish I had time to learn how to use this - it was actually a lot of fun to put together and try to figure out how it works. I am amazed at the inventivness of the TooT (and our ancestors who designed a loom in the first place!)

I really appreciate all the info and assistance you guys have given me - I am hoping that in a few years, after things get less busy, I can get a small table loom and try my hand at it :D

Kieran

Thu, 05/09/2013 - 17:46

sarahnopp (not verified)

oo oo oo let me be a bad influence and tell you that there are old children's tabletop looms whihc take up almost NO space. And some need a bit of love and preservation, which I am sure you would enjoy.

Thu, 05/09/2013 - 18:17

middleofall

Oooh, I will keep that in mind! I do work with wood as a hobby and am sure I could recondition an older one :D

Thu, 05/09/2013 - 19:14

sally orgren

I agree. In my case, several have come to me for free. (Can't beat that price!) And I weave on them as much, if not more, than my floor looms.

Sat, 03/21/2015 - 19:04

Nermal

Would anyone recommend a source where I could get one of those "children's" table top looms?

Sat, 03/21/2015 - 23:19

sandra.eberhar…

I have a duplicate of this loom; I had a Baby Wolf and liked the idea (small jack loom) and hated the loom itself.  The TOTT is far superior. The treadle height is adjustable, the shed is MUCH larger.  I can use larger shuttles on it than I could with the BW.  The BW is heald together with carriage bolts, which will round out their holes and have to be replaced.  I sold the BW for $1200, and would ask that for the TOTT if you could pry it out of my hands.

Sat, 03/21/2015 - 23:21

sandra.eberhar…

Ebay always has a selection of small looms.  Stay away from the Bulgarian ones.