Hi everyone!

I recently acquired this loom, and I would like to learn what it is and how to use it.  Unfortunately, I think it's missing the back braking mechanism (see first picture) and possibly some pulleys on the top?  I'm not familar enough with the vocabulary to be able to communicate what parts I need when I order.  The back bar that the spools are on is hexagon-shaped.  It has six pedals and four shafts.  Can anyone help?

skennedylee

 

Comments

Tue, 08/13/2013 - 00:16

sally orgren

are indicative of a Structo loom. Cat Brysch is the only person I know that has one of their floor looms. (She is a member here.) 

http://catbryschcreationsstudio.blogspot.com/p/old-structo.html

Or, if no labels, it could be a hand-built loom, and the builder used some pre-manufactured parts, like the Structo spools and hex beam.

Tue, 08/13/2013 - 02:20

skennedylee

Yes, I suspect this was a hand-built loom with some manufactured parts.  There are no labels on any of the components.

Thank you Sally for the info!

Shawn

Tue, 08/13/2013 - 02:47

weaversouth (not verified)

That's nothing like any Structo every made..definitely a hand-built loom.  Interesting, tho.

Tue, 08/13/2013 - 03:07

skennedylee

It's definitely not a Strutco, and it's probably a hand-built loom with some manufactured parts.

The pics don't show it very well, but the front brake is about 6" off the floor on the right, so the weaver can hit it with the right foot.

So... the next questions I have would be...

What kind of braking mechanism do I need on the back?

Do I need pulleys to attach to the shafts?

Shawn

Tue, 08/13/2013 - 12:49

sequel (not verified)

This baby looks like a counterbalanced loom that has been retrofitted to a jack loom.  The spool bar (steel beam) may have been added at the same time.  Other looms, notably Hammetts, came with the steel beam option.

Tue, 08/13/2013 - 22:19

mrdubyah (not verified)

Does it have have jacks?  i.e. when you step on the treadles do the frames rise?  If not, then you'll need pulleys and/or horses to lift the frames.  See the diagrams at: http://www.georgeweil.com/fact_file/understanding_shed.aspx for more detail.  If the front brake works, then all you need is some way to stop the warping beam from rotating under load.  More photos might help.

Wed, 08/14/2013 - 13:16

skennedylee

The pedals are attached at the back, but I don't have them tied up right now.  I attempted to show the action by pulling on the old strings for the pic.  There is a piece of L-shaped metal with a slot attached to the back frame, but I don't know what it does (perhaps part of a prior braking mechanism?).  I also don't know what the thing that looks like a finial is, either.  There are two of them, and I assumed they slid on the top of the frame because that's the only place they fit, but I don't know if they have a practical function.  The front brake is a simple ratchet.

Wed, 08/14/2013 - 14:35

sequel (not verified)

This may have been a device to support pulleys or horses when it was a counterbalanced loom.  It slides onto the overhead piece and the slotted egg shapes hang below.  The jacks, which you are pulling down by hand, do not look original to the loom.  The slotted metal L-shaped piece was part of the "Structo"-type brake.  The hole on the side piece of the loom is probably where the pawl was mounted when the original warp beam was equipped with a ratchet and pawl braking system. 

 

The whole thing looks vaguely familiar, but I cannot find a photo on-line of a Countryside Loom, which had an elaborate beater, maybe like yours?

Wed, 08/14/2013 - 17:02

skennedylee

I can't get it to show up on the pictures, but there's some writing in pencil by the hole that sequel thinks was for the back pawl.  It says, "61 turns."  Would that be a reference to how many turns it takes to warp the loom?  Would that be indicitive of a ratchet and pawl braking system?

Wed, 08/14/2013 - 18:39

sequel (not verified)

I'm guessing that at one time it may have had a sectional beam and someone jotted down the number of turns it would take to make the yardage required.

Wed, 08/14/2013 - 19:31

skennedylee

I repositioned the "finials" per sequel's advice.  This makes more sense.  There are holes through the egg shape where a pin would fit with a pulley.

Thu, 08/15/2013 - 12:03

sequel (not verified)

you could check with Harrisville and see if their pulleys would fit in your mounts - then all you'd need is some heddle horses to restore the counterbalanced set-up if the Jack system didn't working for you...

Thu, 08/15/2013 - 12:20

skennedylee

As a new weaver, I'm not sure which type of system I would prefer... I would like to eventually be able to weave rugs and maybe some smaller projects (scarves, table runners, etc.).  Which type of loom is best for that?  Is there such a thing as a hybrid counterbalance/jack loom?

Thu, 08/15/2013 - 19:53

sequel (not verified)

You have a conversion, not a hybrid.  If it works well as a jack loom, fine.  If it doesn't, try converting it back.  A counterbalance loom works better than a jack loom when weaving weft faced rugs that require a high warp tension.  For conventional rag rugs, a jack loom may be okay.  High tension on a jack loom causes the non-selected shafts to rise, reducing the size of the shed and often leading to problems with weft catching on warps from the opposite shed.  Making boo boos that you usually don't see until it's too late.  Most good weaving books will have the comparisons between the two and a description of how they work.  The only "hybrid" which is actually a precursor to the jack loom, is the countermarche loom.

Sat, 08/17/2013 - 00:35

ellenspn (not verified)

How is the countermarche a precursor to a jack loom?
Sat, 08/17/2013 - 12:37

sequel (not verified)

On the countermarche loom, some shafts are pulled up, while the others are pulled down, but the warp at rest goes in a straight line from back to front.  On the jack loom, all shafts are down, with the heddle eyes below the breast and back beams, while selected shafts are jacked or pulled up to create the shed.  There are a few sinking shed looms, like the Louet David and the Normalo that start with all the shafts "up", with the heddle eyes above the beams and selected shafts are pulled down to open a shed.  Now these are referred to as "reverse" jack looms.

Sat, 08/17/2013 - 12:41

sandra.eberhar…

It could be that whoever made this wanted to use it as a jack loom sometimes and a counterbalance others.  Thought Products' Barbara looms are like this.  Jack for unbalanced weaves, counterbalance for rugs.  I don't know if you could call this a hybrid, it's more of a dual use.

Sat, 08/17/2013 - 12:48

sandra.eberhar…

It does look like a really nicely made loom.   I'm sure it would be well worth whatever effort it takes to get it running again.  The heddle frames look like Leclerc.  Leclerc makes affordable heddle frames in several sizes, and they have been my choice when replacing existing heddle frames in old looms (usually because they are a weird size).