I thought I would throw this out there…I am about 95% finished restoring an older Macomber B-4-- 12 harnesses and 48 inch weaving width.

(I have pictures on my project page of before and after on Ravelry...will try and post here.)

It only had a sectional beam that the wood was beyond repair, so I am ordering a replacement from Macomber. Before I order my other ‘missing pieces’, I thought I might see if any one has any spares they might part with. Hoping to find a more budget friendly option!

The parts I am in need of are:
4- 48 inch heddle bars
a cloth advance bar
a back crank
and lots of regular sized hooks…mine came with 8!
a regular beam and/or hardware

I have toyed with idea of trying to make my own regular hooks--wire rods or texsolv-- but I am not sure about this.

Rusty parts are ok too!

If I end up having to go with new, I will just have to do it as my budget allows.

I will also try cross posting on Ravelry.

Thanks!
Tamara

**I have the old style hooks**

Comments

Mon, 09/02/2013 - 13:55

mrdubyah (not verified)

Hooks are easy to make.  You can buy heavy guage wire or use heavy guage coat hangers and then just make an exact copy of the hooks you already have.  I've done this for several looms when I needed instant gratification and met with pretty good success.  Make sure the main shaft is nice and straight so it will slide through the treddles smoothly and you won't "throw" hooks during weaving. 

Mon, 09/02/2013 - 14:51

larllt

Thanks!  Does the wire hold the bends you make?  I hadn't thought about the body of the hook...good to know.  I kept thinking the top part of the hook was the one in need of the most accuracy-- due to its proximity to other moving parts mainly.  I did think coat hangers looked like a good match!  Is it difficult to cut the heavier wire?

Tue, 09/03/2013 - 23:49

Michael White

 I guess I need to take a better picture, is this the piece your are looking for? Used to tighten the cloth beam? I will check tomorrow I think I have one in the barn.

Michael

Wed, 09/04/2013 - 13:14

larllt

Yes!  Thank you!  Let me know if you have any luck.  I have been busy cutting, bending, and filing coat hangers...

Tamara

Fri, 09/06/2013 - 00:50

Michael White

Well the loom has a cloth beam w/gear but no handle. And I don't remember selling it. I was also looking for the castle top cross boards. The front was still on the loom but the jacks and the back board were gone. Now I remember removing the jacks but i cann't seem to find the other board. I think tomorrow will be a good day to clean out the barn. Maybe I will find the handle and the board.

michael

Fri, 09/06/2013 - 02:54

larllt

Thanks for looking...I'll keep my fingers crossed.  I have managed to make 48 hooks...with 32 more waiting to be finished up!  I ended up using the heavy gauge coat hangers.  I have cut, bent,(and bent again), filed and sanded, stripped the old finish and polished--and not always in the same order!  I learned things along the way, like it is easier to strip the old finish before you bend them! 

Fri, 09/06/2013 - 22:41

mrdubyah (not verified)

Good work...and here I thought only a swamp yankee like me would be cheap enough to spend a couple of days making hooks that can be bought new for a dollar each!  Glad to know I've got company.  As you know by now, the heavy guage coat hanger wire isn't that hard to cut, and it holds the bends well.  I have made both standard hooks and super hooks and have had very good luck with them (as long as they are faithful copies of the originals).  Sounds like you're making great progress in restoring a great old loom. 

Fri, 09/06/2013 - 23:30

larllt

They are coming along...  I have decided they are a little thicker than the  orginal though.  I may try sanding/grinding them a bit, but they work as they are.  After cutting the length, I made the first bend for the top of the hook and made sure it would go through the hole.  Then I would take an orginal hook by the same end and with the new hook I had just made  pull them out evenly from the bend so I would have a consistent length between both bends--if that makes sense.  I would then make the final bottom bend. 

I think the old style is a $1.25!  The new style maybe a dollar though.  I'll be spending my savings at Macomber....  I really have enjoyed working on it. 

Are you on Ravelry at all?  My before and after pictures are on there.  I'll try and get them on here, but I am a little computer challenged.

Sat, 09/07/2013 - 00:16

larllt

I have added the pictures to my project pages.