I am finishing restoring an old 60" Nilus Leclerc floor loom. The reed should arrive tomorrow,  and I am replacing the canvas that had molded tomorrow as well. I'll have to check prices and availability at Joann's tomorrow to see how I do it.

 

Anyway, with the loom is what appears to be the top of a beater to a narrower loom and this...

 

it looks like two treddles, but they're not attached to anything, and missing some eyes for the tie ups. Like I said, there is a piece I'm pretty sure belongs to a different loom, but I have no idea what this is.

Comments

Sat, 11/30/2013 - 10:36

ReedGuy

I would say they are treadles that are made as an attachment. The shape of them are the same as Leclerc treadels, the holes there hold eye bolts where the tieup cords go. Where there treadles and shafts? Then these two separate. They would be used for something like overshot weaving, where they would be used to weave the tabby ground webbing.

Sat, 11/30/2013 - 13:57

sequel (not verified)

These may be a treadle set for a tapestry loom.  As far as canvas goes, I use artist's canvas from a real art supply store, not a hobby shop.  You could substitute a heavy cotton upholstery fabric or cotton duck.  I would not wash it first as the sizing in new fabric will help prevent stretching.

Sat, 11/30/2013 - 14:44

sandra.eberhar…

I  am very sure they don't go to your loom.  I think treadles to a tapestry loom, or a band loom.  I bought an old loom recently, and it came with some rusty reeds, a rigid heddle reed, and two pair of drumsticks.  No idea of whether someone used drumsticks to warp, or they were just there.

Sat, 11/30/2013 - 15:28

tommye scanlin

The treadles in the photo look just like my original treadle set on my Tissart loom (Sequel mentioned Tissart in an earlier message and BWSD also said tapestry loom).  The Tissart is no longer made by Leclerc but is an upright two shaft tapestry loom.  The 45" size came with a set of treadles just like that shown.

I ordered two additional sets on my Tissart loom, purchased as separate items from Leclerc.  My reason was because I do tapestry by building shapes and sometimes am sitting at one side or the other of the loom rather than in the center.  It's more comfortable to be treadling directly below where I sit rather than stretching a leg to the center.  Perhaps there was a reason to purchase a set of treadles?

Tommye

Sat, 11/30/2013 - 16:15

Cadenza

Awesome!  Thanks!  I wanted to be sure they weren't some weird piece of my Nilus before I stuffed them in the basement or let our young woodworker have them. I was pretty sure they weren't. I can't tell from the pictures I found,  but would a Tissart have a piece that looks like the top  of the beater on my Nilus? Because I have a piece like that and it looks like it would fit a 45" weaving width, which is too small for my loom. So again,  I am pretty sure it goes to something else, though not necessarily the same thing the treadles are.

Thanks for the ideas to replace the canvas.  I am also thinking that I am going to need some sort of oil for the shafts?  Not sure if that's a good idea or not. If so, any particular oil I should use? 

 

Sat, 11/30/2013 - 16:43

Joanne Hall

Yes, those are Tissart treadles.

And be careful with those shafts, especially in the middle where the metal screw is, as they are very thin.  I would not do any more than clean them. 

I would use Texsolv cord for the treadle cords.  Then they will be adjustable.

Joanne

Sun, 12/01/2013 - 03:14

Cadenza

The cords appear okay (for now) but the canvas on the beams was moldy. I want to do the minimum to make it function before fully restoring or replacing everything that could use it. Unfortunately between the store and the house the 4yo dumped half a can of soda into the bag with my duck cloth. (And a half cup of cocoa on the bandaids and shaving cream, but that's another story) So though I hadn't intended to wash it,  it became necessary... Spot cleaning wasn't going to cut it. I washed with cold water and it's hanging to dry so hopefully that will minimize any stretching and shrinking.  Hopefully tomorrow it will be dry and I can hem it and make the pockets for the rods. If I'm really lucky, staple the new cloth on the beams. 

Sun, 12/01/2013 - 03:14

Cadenza

The cords appear okay (for now) but the canvas on the beams was moldy. I want to do the minimum to make it function before fully restoring or replacing everything that could use it. Unfortunately between the store and the house the 4yo dumped half a can of soda into the bag with my duck cloth. (And a half cup of cocoa on the bandaids and shaving cream, but that's another story) So though I hadn't intended to wash it,  it became necessary... Spot cleaning wasn't going to cut it. I washed with cold water and it's hanging to dry so hopefully that will minimize any stretching and shrinking.  Hopefully tomorrow it will be dry and I can hem it and make the pockets for the rods. If I'm really lucky, staple the new cloth on the beams. 

Sun, 12/01/2013 - 04:22

pammersw

Since they go to a different loom, you might want to sell them rather than just trashing them.

Sun, 12/01/2013 - 05:40

ReedGuy

The treadles themselves are the same shape as the rest of the Leclerc treadles. Don't know the dimensions. And if you needed an extra eye bolt hole you could drill it out on a drill press. If they are the same dimensions as the rest, I would keep them for replacement or expansion parts. :)

You gotta laugh sometimes, some folks like to include 'extra things' not pertinent to get rid of it. LOL 'drumsticks' with the loom. ;)

Sun, 12/01/2013 - 09:46

pammersw

Maybe the drumsticks were used as lease sticks? 

Sun, 12/01/2013 - 10:51

ReedGuy

Probably might be difficult, as the ends need to be secured so the yarn doesn't slip off the ends. They are also tapered in thickness from one end to the other, where a lease stick has a uniform shape from end to end and rather flat with beveled edges. A lease stick has a centred hole on each end to secure them as a pair.

Mon, 12/02/2013 - 04:15

pammersw

I just used a couple of skinny dowels,  tying the ends together without any holes in them, and without any issues. Drumsticks are tapered right above the pointed blob at the end but I don't remember the rest of them being pointed. At any rate , it was probably a case of "here's more wood stuff that probably goes with the loom," as you said. 

Mon, 12/02/2013 - 10:02

ReedGuy

Well, people in general will find a way to make something work for a task. So never know I guess. :) Me, I'd be cursing probably with the tie yarn slipping off them dowels and losing my cross. LOL ;)

Mon, 12/02/2013 - 14:35

sequel (not verified)

the drum sticks were there because the treadles were used to control the High Hat - those cymbal-like things on a stick above the drum set.

Tue, 12/03/2013 - 02:24

Cadenza

Maybe the loom joined a drum circle! 

Thu, 12/05/2013 - 12:01

Woodburner

Top of beater might be cap for a raddle?

Sat, 12/07/2013 - 21:31

Cadenza

Could be,  but most of the pictures I've seen of raddles don't look quite as hard core as this piece is.