Cambridge loom

I thought I would try something different to blog about. I am going to talk about my looms. A different one each week. This week is the Cambridge loom. It is a four harness, six treadle loom counter balance loom. It had a sectional beam at one time but someone cut off all the pegs. This is one big loom!

Here is a little history of the loom taken from Janet Meany's Weavers Friend website.  

http://www.weaversfriend.com/page1/page4/page4.html

 

"Another model was the Cambridge loom with four shafts and six treadles. It wove up to 45" wide and was recommended for teaching weaving in schools and colleges. After Reed's death, Paul Linker continued to build the looms until his death in the 1970s. The looms are no longer being manufactured."

When I first received this loom it was pretty dirty. It had been rescued from a barn. A friend helped me get it home and then I took it all apart to get it in the house. The first thing I did was clean all the bolt holes of mud daubber's nexts. I had to use a screw driver! Then an old tooth brush and vaccuum cleaner finished the job. After damp wiping it all down I oiled the wood. I replaced all the heddles with new ones and put in a new reed. I also replaced all the tie up cords and eye screws on the treadles. She was ready to weave!

I really like old looms. They are good and sturdy! I often wonder who the other weavers who wove on them before me. Wouldn't it be wonderful if old looms could talk?

Linda