I am in the market for a floor loom, and there is a 40" Macomber Ad-A-Harness loom with 8 harnesses that is available about 160 miles from where I live. I'm thinking of driving down to look at it, and am wondering what I should look for and what questions I should ask before deciding whether to buy this loom. I want a sectional back beam, and it doesn't have one, so I know I would need to buy one. This loom dates from 1956; does anyone know if the sectional beams available now from Macomber would fit on this loom without any problems or major adjustments? Thanks for any advice you can give me.

Ruth

Comments

Sun, 03/06/2011 - 21:21

andsewon (not verified)

Ruth, While I can't answer your question with any authority, from what I can see, the looms haven't changed much since then. Mine was made in 1954. Most of everything I've looked at seems to be the same on the newer ones. Call Macomber and ask! They can quote you a price right then, too. Eddie has been very helpful to me. 207-363-2808 Calling in the morning is best.
Sun, 03/06/2011 - 22:29

Pango (not verified)

Thanks--I'll follow up with Macomber. Are you happy with yours?

Mon, 03/07/2011 - 02:47

Michael White

when buying a Macomber loom. If this is a 8 harness loom you should have 8 harness, 16 jacks w/chain, 16 operating rods, 8 lamms, 10 treadles, lamm hooks, parts for the brake including a handle, a cloth beam advancing handle. A heel rest, the beater assy. heddles and a reed. Remember to take everything with you. If the loom is in pieces you can use the about as a check off list.

See my talk about beams below. A 40 inch 3/4 yard sectional beam is around $125. Macomber web site: http://macomberloomsandme.blogspot.com/

Michael

Mon, 03/07/2011 - 04:34

andsewon (not verified)

Ruth, I've only had mine one full week, and I've been refurbishing it. It's in pieces in the garage, so I can't say if I like weaving with it or not! lol But I can tell you that from everything I've seen, it does look like a wonderfully made, well-designed loom. I'm hoping to have it all together and ready by mid-week. I have yet to make some new aprons for it. Connie
Mon, 03/07/2011 - 12:14

Michael White

Connie, are you going to be using a raddle and lease sticks?

Michael

Mon, 03/07/2011 - 13:36

andsewon (not verified)

Hi Michael, I typically warp front to back, so don't use them. But with the front beam capable of being moved out of the way, I might be trying back to front. Why do you ask? Connie
Mon, 03/07/2011 - 14:11

Michael White

On the Macomber as you know the front beam folds down. Also the warp can go right up to the heddles reducing loom waste. If you make a raddle make it 1/4" smaller then the inside of the castle (side to side) measurement. You could add a permanent holder for the lease sticks and raddle. I will sent a picture if you like. Cheryl and I put on (BtF)17 yard warp (30"w 20epi for towels) in 30 min yesterday afternoon. Cheryl will slay the reed tonight after work. So if you need information on raddle/lease sticks let me know, sounds like hubby can make them to order.

Michael

 

Mon, 03/07/2011 - 18:18

andsewon (not verified)

I got a raddle and MANY lease sticks with the loom. The raddle looks homemade to me and it is too long, so Dh will have to cut it down for me. Good to know about the length. Yes, pictures, please!
Mon, 03/07/2011 - 20:39

Michael White

Connie, here are pictures of the raddle and holder.The hold can drop out of the way if the loom needs to be folded. You will note that the holder is not in the way of the reed so it can stay in place all the time. The loom is ready to have the reed slayed, the raddle have been removed and just the lease sticks are in place.

     

Tue, 03/08/2011 - 02:41

andsewon (not verified)

Michael, I see what you're talking about, but the insdie of my castle where you have the holder bolted is all full up with 12 harnesses. I'm sure we can some up with something, though. Thanks! Connie
Tue, 03/08/2011 - 06:19

Pango (not verified)

Thanks, Michael and Connie for the good advice!

Ruth

Tue, 03/08/2011 - 12:24

Michael White

even with 12 harness there should be space on either side of the frames. yes? What is the distance between the castle and the frames.

Michael

Tue, 03/08/2011 - 18:23

andsewon (not verified)

Michael, It isn't the distance between the frames and the castle that is the problem. I don't have any space to bolt the holder to the inside of the castle. ;o) The rod thingies that go from the jacks to the lamms take up all but about an inch of the width of the castle I'll go look again to make sure.
Tue, 03/08/2011 - 19:27

Michael White

Connie, I understand now. Have your husband cut slots for the rods  or cut a slot off the side where the rod go, leaving a pieces on the end to just catch the edge of the castle.

Been working on the metal pieces of the other loom. have all the heddle rods sanded and blued. They were really pitted. I am glad you did not have to work on the lamms. The lamms on this loom are heavily rusted and pitted as well. Just home to eat a sandwich. Now back to the barn to work on the parts.

Michael

Tue, 03/08/2011 - 21:19

DebbieB (not verified)

But I do use lease sticks, on the front beam, to hold my cross while sleying the reed and threading heddles and beaming on my warp. I'd love some way to hold the cross in front that wouldn't interfere with the beater. I'll have to see if my husband can rig something. I've already shown him your brake pedal extender dowel, Michael, and demanded something similar. :)

Tue, 03/08/2011 - 22:15

andsewon (not verified)

Michael, I was just looking at the raddle that came with the loom. It might not be homemade afterall. It is wider than the loom, but that's not all that bad. It is long enough that it sits nicely across the cast-iron braces that hold the back beam in place. It has little blocks on the end so that it can't slide too far left or too far right. Once I get everything together upstairs and out of the garage, I'll take some pics. ;o) Connie
Tue, 03/08/2011 - 23:38

Michael White

Then "demanding" (g) What size loom do you have? I will think about a fix.

Michael

Wed, 03/09/2011 - 00:07

andsewon (not verified)

Yeah, she can *try* the sugar and honey approach, but if he's like my DH, it won't work. If I don't demand it, he just thinks I'm not all that serious. LOL I think what runs thru his head is, "Well, she didn't demand it, so I guess it's not all that important if I do it or not." ROTFL Wouldn't trade him for the world, though. ;o)
Wed, 03/09/2011 - 00:42

DebbieB (not verified)

Michael, you made me laugh! Oh, my husband is such a sweetie. He's always interested in improving things - he's an electrical/computer engineer, and "tweaking" things is part of his DNA. :) Also, my version of "demanding" includes batting the eyes and smiling very sweetly. :)

My loom is a 32" 10 harness 14 treadle Ad-A-Harness B5. The inside of my castle uprights is completely taken up with the jack rods - since there are 10 of them. So I'm not sure where I can attach anything extra.

Wed, 03/09/2011 - 12:22

Michael White

Debbie, why do you want the lease sticks permanently attached to the front beam?

Wed, 03/09/2011 - 14:11

DebbieB (not verified)

I want the lease sticks to rest on the front beam while I sley the reed and thread the heddles and tie onto the back apron rod, and then I slide the lease sticks down the warp chain as I beam on - it keeps the warp smooth and tangle-free.

So what I want is something that will support the sticks while I'm working on the front, and then fold away when I no longer need the sticks supported.

Right now what I do is put another pair of lease sticks through the harnesses (across both front and back beams) and rest my working lease sticks with the cross on top of those sticks.

There is a product called "angel wings" from Purrington

http://www.purringtonlooms.com/accessories.htm (scroll down)

that does this - but it's costly, and I'm hoping my DH (who is smart, but not very handy with woodworking) can manage something similar for me.