Quick story - I just acquired a 1975 Mother Liisa countermarch loom (with blue hardware). Because of a recent move the people selling had a photo of the loom all together without the harnesses and all the smaller pieces (lamms, treadles, heddles, jacks) were all wrapped up in a couple nice neat bundles. I could see all of the frame work which was in excellent condition. It was being sold as a 16-harness and she assured me all 16 harnesses were there.
Imagine my surprise when I only found 4 harnesses! Today when I questioned the woman that sold it she admitted she really didn't know what a harness was (so counted each piece of the harness set up). She had showed me samples of weavings when I went to see the loom, but I found out later they were from her grandmother (a professional weaver in Finland). This loom was a gift to her in 1975, she used it once and found out she didn't like to weave.
Now I need to find a way to add more harnesses or sell it. Even as a 4-harness I got a good deal. I have been told that this particular model would require custom-made parts - which is ok because my husband can easily make all the wooden parts......but I've also been told that this model cannot be upgraded to more than 4 harnesses. It looks like there is plenty of room between the front and back of the castle to hold enough jacks for a total of 12 harnesses. The only other places I can see being restrictive is the space alloted for the rod holding the treadles and the rods for the lamms (which looks like they might hold up to 8 harness set-ups). Does anyone know what my limitations would be? I really want to keep this and use it but I really want more harnesses (my other loom is 8 and I use all of them quite often).
Thanks so much, Jaci