Uh. oh... enablers.... help me out here...

sewsilly · #1 02/17/11, 03:31 PM

So, I've found a four harness floor loom...

Very old lady, wants it out of her living room... (LOL)
good buy and I have first right of refusal, in front of two museums.
It's a beautiful working antique...

gulp...

I'm presently out of work and money's tight.
I can do it by squeezing elsewhere.
I have no weaving experience to speak of.

As a state park employee (who is laid off) I've been volunteering, cleaning and putting a barn frame loom back together, warping it. Have done my research and have been to two 'warpings' at other historic sites on the barn looms.

The hold up right now is that the lady doesn't want anyone coming over when she's alone (I respect this) and her friend is having trouble with her schedule.

Just in case, I've been to the bank and moved the middle seats out of the van...

What ya'll think? Nuts? Go for it?

Help!

dawn

menagerie momma · #2 02/17/11, 03:40 PM

I'm not much help, but I can sympathize! I would go get it - but I am not the wisest person money-wise, which is why DH holds the money!

Jessie

**gone-a-milkin** · #3 02/17/11, 04:28 PM

You already removed the seats from the van.

You went to the BANK.

Of course you are nuts.
That is beside the point, really.

Have fun and we can hardly wait to see her.

weever · #4 02/17/11, 04:54 PM

More details needed. Is there a warp on it? Better yet with half a rug woven? This would show that it's functional.

Is it so old that it doesn't have a brand name? Is it homemade?

Sectional beam or plain? My preference is sectional, but your mileage may vary.

Counterbalance, jack or countermarche? Overhead beater, like the old barn looms?

Price? (You can whisper if you want, or pm me, or even ignore me.)

Marchwind · #5 02/18/11, 12:08 AM

Weever asks good questions. It may not be functional and then what? But you DO have some weaving experience, you've rebuilt (put together) and warped looms that's something. But find out more if you can.

But if all is well, I sure would do it.

Shazza · #6 02/18/11, 06:03 AM

Yay go for it Girl!!!

Ana Bluebird · #7 02/18/11, 07:30 AM

It's almost like you were intended to have it. Think about how you have saved something wonderful from total destruction. That is awesome. I don't know how you could not get it even if you had to wait to get it fixed up. How old do you recon it is??

Our Little Farm · #8 02/18/11, 07:34 AM

Oppurtunities like this do not come up often. I would do it. You might be able to make some money from what you make on it!

If you can do it financially without hurting then go for it!

Maura · #9 02/18/11, 01:03 PM

It wouldn't be destroyed, museums want it. I would contact the museums and ask if they would be interested in having you demonstrate the loom during special times (for a small fee), or simply renting the loom during specific times.

sewsilly · #10 02/18/11, 06:54 PM

Ok, first let me say, that the loom is in my van.

I took it apart myself, in order that I may get it back together.
Not worried about that part at all.

Yes, it has been working, was not warped when I got it, but I have seen photos and the women (the older lady who owned it and the one who was helping her sell it), I'd stake my life on their honesty. They're both advanced specialty nurses. We chatted for a couple of hours. The one selling it is clearing things out of her house. She has a very handicapped daughter and the small house was very crowded with the addition of a new hospital bed. The last thing woven on the loom was a pinkish colored couple of yards of fabric made of handspun, which she demured on, but it was lovely. It was nicely balanced and very acceptable to me (if I am able to get that sort of thing from it).

My instant observations. It wasn't very tight... as in I could take it apart with just my fingers. Everything seemed in good order, though a few heddles looked bent.
It is handmade, plain beam, jack type, I believe.
I have photos that I'll post at first convenience, as I'd love to hear comments.
The price was $300. I know which museums were in line next and I don't think that I'll lose money if I change my mind and contact them. (I don't think that I'll change my mind)

It has about a 46 inch 'footprint' and a 36 inch reed. I did not see any marks/trademarks, brand names, though I did not look underneath stuff.
There is a set of initials carved on one of the shuttles.
Bag of stuff came with.
When the lady set it up in her house, she changed some of the hardware, but gave me all of the original hardware.
I taped and numbered everything and made a diagram.

There were two or three things that I have never seen and have no clue what they are. They were not attached but came with.

Sorta like the one that I'm working on at the state park... I have a photo of that barn loom one that I need to post, as I found a 'piece' of something in the 'slave cabin' attic that I believe goes with the loom, but I have no clue what this thing is. I also found the warping board in the attic, but that's a story for a whole other thread! ; )

Now... As I was not expecting this to come down the pike just this moment, I have no clue where I'll put it. I've been needing to relocate my sewing room (which is at the unused house nextdoor) to the larger living room (again, in the 'other' house). If I do that, I can easily put the loom in there. BUT, I kinda want it in THIS house somewhere while I learn a bit about it and play with it (ie while it's 'new')...

Poor DH... at first he said "oh, my... where would we put it, do we need such a thing?"
I will point out also that HE had woven, as a 5th grader he had a whole semester of weaving in a very 'art' friendly school, where kids chose one thing to focus on per semester.

And the next morning, he rolled over and said " so, when you get the loom...."

LOL He's lived with me and loved me a long time.
When he wants me to stop dragging home such things, he'll have to put me in a much,much smaller vehicle.

I will also note that once upon a time, he took the boys fishing, at the lake some hours drive away and came home, having bought two lake lots, while in a fit of auction fever, while sitting in the boat! sigh...

99 9/10s of our married life, our 'rule' has been that if it's over $500, we discuss it.
I'll point out that we discussed the loom, at well under that price. (albeit at a time that I am out of regular work). I substitute teach and have been able to cover the cell phone bills (because we have cell phones at my insistence) . Purchase of the loom will not take money away from necessities.

Maura, I"m already signed on to demonstrate at the state park when they have living history days. This is not the park that I worked at, but at the next nearest one (civil war era). I'll be in period costume and will demo the full spectrum, from cotton in the boll to woven fabric. (Weaving will be done with purchased yarns, NOT the hand spun as demonstrated!) I am a nationally certified heritage interpreter, so this works for me and the park. When I become gainfully employed at 'my' park again(revolutionary period), this head ranger can 'request' me for the day, and it will be worked into my work schedule, I'll just be at a different location during the demo time. Therefore the weaving will eventually, hopefully, be gainful.

When I've actually got them warped, I'll write all this up on my blog... I hate to read bits and pieces and 'wait and see's... I'm photo journaling all along!

Life is never dull here...

dawn

DW · #11 02/18/11, 07:49 PM

I'm jealous!

Marchwind · #12 02/18/11, 08:03 PM

WoHoo! Can't wait to see the pictures

**gone-a-milkin** · #13 02/18/11, 08:14 PM

Yay!

Your DH sounds like a good one too.

weever · #14 02/18/11, 10:08 PM

Congrats! Keep us posted!

sewsilly · #15 02/19/11, 07:52 AM

I'm often stunned! Last night when the husband got home (he works in a different state through the week and is usually home on the weekends only), we were eating dinner and he smiled and said "so, is there a loom in the van?"

I pointed out that I'd be needing to clear out a place for it and he said "Nah... we're setting it up tonight in the middle of the living room floor!"

And then, he proceeded to do just that.
For a 'bulldog', he actually listened and let me 'lead'.
We figured out a detail (where a front and a back leg had been interchanged, as I'd taken it down in sections, so it had been a little wonky and this is why).
But, my husband, very intuitively, popped everything back into place. Replaced all the new hardware with the original old hardware and grinned the whole time.

It's beautiful...standing there in the middle of my living room!

more later!

dawn

weever · #16 02/19/11, 09:34 AM

Awesome! He's a keeper.

Marchwind · #17 02/19/11, 10:33 AM

Oh Dawn what a wonderful story. Enjoy playing with your new loom.

7thswan · #18 02/19/11, 04:00 PM

Can't wait for the Pictures, sounds Fun!