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| Eddie helps downsize my 56" |
After much thought and consideration, I had Eddie come to my studio to help me "downsize"my 56" 16 H Macomber. As some of you saw I tried to sell this amazing loom a couple of years ago. She did not sell.
I thought ...
"Why not convert her into the loom that will work for me now?" I no longer use multi-harnesses for complex weaves. I no longer need all 16H. I no longer need a compressed air or computer based system.
So Eddie helped me strip her down to what will serve my needs. She is now an 8 H loom with no computer aided system. She still has the two beams and double brakes and still weaves 56". I am happy -- and I can feel this loom sighing.
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| My beloved 56" feel lighter, less encumbered now. |
She is covered with scars from all the different holes that have been drilled into her over the years. From the first Electronic Singe Pedal with a compressed air tank mounted on the side of her castle, to the Designer's Delight CAD system mounted on her upper castle and to the CAD/CAM Dobby Air System -- she has carried me well through the 70s, 80s, 90s, and now 2000s. Forty two years of weaving faithfully, consistently and diligently. And now she gets a new life - a little gentler, a little less complicated and a little weathered from all the years of hard work.
I suspect this loom and I have many parallels.
Congratulations! Welcome to a simpler, quieter world of weaving. Both you and your loom should be proud of making a living from an age old craft and for furthering the arts with your creativity and sharing spirit. Well done!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the kind words and support Betsy!
DeleteLove your blog! Would you be interested in selling your air assist system? I’ve been looking to add one to my Mac!
ReplyDeleteAhhhhh ...darn. Wish I had seen this before I gave it to my husband to take apart? I tried selling it without luck .... so sorry! I suspected there might be someone out there who wanted it!
DeleteI recently purchased a Macomber 5-B, I believe made in the 50's or 60's.
ReplyDeleteI had a Union Loom 2 harness. I cannot figure out how this loom works. The lady who sold it to me has been weaving for 35 years, but on Union Looms and she sells looms for others, kind of a loom broker. Her husband checked this loom. I have your pdf. It came with the loom. However, I have a sectional, non-computerized loom; so it does not help much. I have contacted Macomber's in Maine. They are very slow to get back with me. The lady who sold me the loom said that the company may close, if they don't have anyone to carry on the business. I sure would appreciate any directions or an idea of some place I can get help with this loom. I am thinking about reselling it and getting a Lorco. I don't want to do that really. This is Macomber is awesome. If I could only figure out how it works, I want to start weaving now. Thanks.
Apologies for my delayed response! I didn’t see this message until today! I suggest you find a local guild or weaving teacher to help you. Good luck!
DeleteWe were just gifted the mechanical pieces for an Air Dobby as well as pieces for a mechanical cloth advancement mechanism. It was removed from a third hand loom and came to us with no idea of what it looked like on the loom or any paper work about how it should be installed. Do you have any up-close pictures of what the installation looked like, or the original documentation that could be copied?
ReplyDeleteHi Liz- If you go thru old blog posts you should be able to see photos of the loom when it was set up as an air Dobby. Let me know if not. You can email me thru my website www.sarahhaskell.com
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