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Sidewalk Loom Refurbishing
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Looking down at jacks, heddles are out of the harnesses.
Looking down at jacks, heddles are out of the harnesses.
After teak oil other side view. Front beam folded in, back beam out. Notice missing hinged bracket.
After teak oil other side view. Front beam folded in, back beam out. Notice missing hinged bracket.
After teak oil-- front view
After teak oil-- front view
After teak oil--both beams extended and beater is on.
After teak oil--both beams extended and beater is on.
treadles and lamms with texsolv corded removed.
treadles and lamms with texsolv corded removed.
Looking down at jacks and the 4 harnesses (no heddles)
Looking down at jacks and the 4 harnesses (no heddles)
before teak oil, front view. Beater removed.
before teak oil, front view. Beater removed.
before teak oil, side view. Both front and back beams fold in on hinged brackets.
before teak oil, side view. Both front and back beams fold in on hinged brackets.
Before teak oil--back view
Before teak oil--back view
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Odd shaped piece not seen on any commercially available loom I've found
Odd shaped piece not seen on any commercially available loom I've found
treadles and lamps look like Macomber.
treadles and lamps look like Macomber.
photos above © 1hundredprojects
unless otherwise noted
In progress
Progress
65%
March 1, 2025
work in progress

Sidewalk Loom Refurbishing

Project info
Weaving
Tools and equipment
Yarn
Notes

Picked this loom up from Terri Uchida here in Salinas in late January. Her kids found it for her on the sidewalk in Berkeley, but she had never used it and needed to get rid of it.
So far haven’t found any makers marks on in. Some of the parts look like Macomber. Cast iron pawl and ratchet brake, Macomber style treadles, lamms and jacks.

Started cleaning it up. Removed rust on heddles and the flat stock that the heddles hang on. Next up is to clean the rest of the flat stock and also the reed. I also need to order an apron for the front beam. I think a 45” Leclerc will fit. Plan to use texsolv cords and screws for the back beam.

One hinged bracket is missing for bracing the back beam. I think I can make a wooden bracket that slips in and out of the existing holes rather than worry about finding another hinged metal bracket.

Wood will need light sanding and finishing.

03-24-2025

Cleaned up the rest of the flat stock. Then I started on what I have been calling the lams. The flat metal pieces that are connected to the treadles. I didn’t remove all of the rust because I didn’t take any of this apart. I just used steel wool for the surface rust and then oiled the metal. I may come back to this a bit later.

Then I used steel wool on the wood of the castle in preparation for oiling the wood.

03-25-2025

Today we took the loom outside the studio and I finished the smoothing with steel wool, washed off all the steel wool dust, and then used two coats of teak oil to recondition the wood. It looks pretty good!
I also took off the remnants of the apron and removed all the staples. Now I just need to

  • get the heddles back on
  • buy and install the front apron
  • buy and install texsolv cords on the back beam
  • put on my first warp
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In progress
Progress
65%
March 1, 2025
work in progress
  • Project created: March 17, 2025
  • In progress: March 17, 2025
  • Updated: March 25, 2025