After looking at it multiple times over the past several months, today I bought a shuttle at a little antique store.  It's an end feed shuttle, which I've never used before, so I need help learning how to thread it and to identify what its various features might be.  I'm guessing it was made for a fly shuttle, which I don't own.

Here's the entire shuttle, top shot. As you can see, it's pretty long.  Some of the metal parts (not stainless) are rusty, but I can clean them up.

shuttle top

 

On the top is a arc stamp showing it was made by the Penn Reed & Harness Co. in Allentown, PA.  Coincidentally I bought it in Allentown, NY.  You can also see that the word RIGHT is stamped on it.  I assume that means that side should always be facing one way or the other.  Which way would that be?  Or is that only relevant if you're using a fly shuttle?

shuttle top end

 

 

Here are shots of the top from each side.  What's that little clamped thread for in the first photo?  Do I need to figure out how to go in and around each of these 'pegs' in the second photo?  

shuttle side top 1

 

shuttle side top 2

Here's a shot of the side near the bottom.  Is this opening functional or just to reduce weight?

shuttle side bottom

Here's an opening on the bottom.  Again, is this opening functional or just to reduce weight?  FYI, the shuttle was in their 1/2 priced section so I only paid $5.00 for it. YAY!

shuttle bottom

Thanks for your help!

Peg

 

 

 

Comments

Sat, 03/23/2013 - 16:44

Joanne Hall

Hi Peg,

The shuttle you choose to use depends on the loom you are weaving on and what you are weaving.  Tell us what loom, what you are weaving, the width and what thread you are using for weft.  Joanne

Sat, 03/23/2013 - 17:10

Peg.Cherre (not verified)

Thanks, Joanne.

I own 2 floor looms, both small.  A 4H counterbalance, 20" max weaving width & an 8H Mac, 32" max weaving width.  I do realize that this shuttle is overkill for these looms and may never actually use it, which is why I looked at it so long before buying it, but I'd like to know how to use it regardless.

Sat, 03/23/2013 - 18:34

SallyE (not verified)

My understanding is that when a shuttle has a metal end, it was for a fly shuttle.  I don't see why you couldn't use it for hand use, but I'd be very careful of hurting my hands.   These tend to be heavy, and if you happen to catch it with that metal point, you could get quite a bruise.

 

Sat, 03/23/2013 - 19:07

Joanne Hall

were designed to be used with a fly shuttle loom.  These are factory looms.  You can get a fly shuttle for a hand weaving loom, usually when the loom weaves very wide.  If you get one sometime, you can try this shuttle.

So, this shuttle was not meant to be hand thrown.  Some weavers put them on the shelf as part of their collection of interesting things to look at.  A shuttle for hand throwing should weigh from 2 to 5 or 6 oz at the most.  If you did a lot of weaving with this shuttle, you might find that your wrists will be talking to you.

Joanne

Sat, 03/23/2013 - 19:57

laurafry

Did you get any pirns with it?  You'll need some that fit that particular shuttle if you are to do any weaving with it.

Most of the holes are just to reduce weight, so far as I know and/or to help the shuttle function in an industrial loom.

If you want to hand throw it, file off the very sharp metal points.  As as Joanne mentioned, be very careful about how long you use it or you may start to have carpal tunnel problems.

I don't even use end feed shuttles for hand throwing because I weave so much my wrists start to ache if I do.  Much better for me to stick to my boat shuttles...   ymmv

cheers,

Laura

Sat, 03/23/2013 - 21:01

Peg.Cherre (not verified)

Thanks for all the insights and cautions, weavers.  I really do appreciate it.