I purchased an older Harrisville Loom, that I'm in the process of setting up. In the process of converting this to a six treadle loom, I noticed a broken leather cable and I have no idea what it is supposed to connect to. There is a small wooden rectangular piece at the bottom of the right hand side, in the back of the loom, and the leather cable is currently connected to that piece, but the top of the leather cable has snapped off wherever it is supposed to be attached. I would appreciate any help in knowing how I need to reconnect this piece. Thanks in advance for you help!

Comments

Mon, 07/01/2013 - 15:19

sequel (not verified)

Well maybe it doesn't matter.  The brake on older Harrisville looms is usually a short wooden treadle/lever attached to the inside of the right hand castle assembly.  A cord goes from this brake release "treadle" up to the hooked pawl.  There's a hole in the pawl to tie the two together.  Tie them so you can depress the brake treadle from the side by sticking your tiny little foot inside the loom from the side with the crank.

 

Unless of course, you have a friction brake with a hand release, which is attached at the front of the loom, as some looms did have this set-up.

 

 

 

 

Mon, 07/01/2013 - 17:15

euglossa (not verified)

I recently got an older HD loom with a broken rawhide from the brake as well. 

I used a piece of texsolv to attach the wooden block to the brake.  I'm not sure which piece is the ratchet and which the pawl, the cord should fasten to a hole in the metal lever part of the brake assembly.  That made mine release, but it didn't spring back to catch in the gears.  I loosened the screw that the metal lever pivots on and that let it spring back to catch in the gears, but now I'm working on calibrating the return.  It releases too much warp and I have to wind it back by hand, so it doesn't really save any time.

I suppose at some time I might upgrade to a friction brake and 6 treadle kit, but as a table loom owner, I'm used to getting up and moving around the loom to advance the warp.  I veiw it as an ergonomic break.

If you still have rawhide cords for lifting the harnesses consider replacing those too.  Mine looked in good shape, but once I started weaving on it, I've had two break.  I fixed one with some nylon cord I had on hand and the second with some texsolv.  The texsolv solution was the easiest to adjust and I immediately ordered more texsolv to replace all the cords.

Tue, 07/02/2013 - 01:34

sequel (not verified)

On looms like the Harrisville with ratchet (the notched part) and pawl (the hook shaped part) brakes, You will need to realease the tension on the cloth beam before releasing the the brake for the warp.  You're right, overtightening the screw that the pawl pivots on will inhibit the movement of it.

Fri, 07/05/2013 - 02:32

euglossa (not verified)

It's about 90 degrees up in my studio, but I might just have to go weave enough to try advancing the warp properly.  And, hitting myself on the head, I always release the warp beam before the back when advancing warp on my table loom.  

Thanks from me too.

Ellen also