And the unloading begins.
Everything else is off the trailer and staged on or under a 6' table.
Now to unload the heavy piece.
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Sunday, October 23, 2016
At Big Al's loading the looms.
Coming out of the storage unit, then down and around the hall.
Onto the trailer with the largest piece.
One side of the loom w/ pieces packed into open places
The final pieces for that side.
The other side of the loom with the 2nd loom packed into those open places.
One side of the loom w/ pieces packed into open places
The final pieces for that side.
The other side of the loom with the 2nd loom packed into those open places.
The front of the trailer w/ a box of WD parts, then the 2nd loom's bench and WD canisters stacked on top.
Saturday, October 22, 2016
Sunday, October 16, 2016
Discovering the Weaver's Delight Loom
I had been keeping an eye on looms offered on Craigslist for several months. A month into watching I noticed a filthy looking pile of parts being offered for $400. Each time I would see it I would chuckle to myself thinking, 'That's never going to sell.'. One day, when I had nothing in particular to do, I was perusing Craigslist and that loom caught my eye again. I went in for a closer look to see what 'treasure' this person was offering.
It was unlike any loom I had ever seen before. It had the big vertical timbers of a countermarch and counterbalance loom, but it didn't have the overheard structure for the beater, etc. I did a search online of the name listed, 'Weaver's Delight', and I was hooked. A semi-mechanized loom! It changed the shafts, threw the shuttle AND advanced your weaving for you, all without anything more from the weaver than using the beater! And it was an antique, production from 1899 to the early 1950's. Having been a farmer and a rancher I love mechanical things like this and I wanted one of these!
I made the 2 hour trip north to look at the 'treasure' being offered on Craiglist and the pictures hadn't lied - it was a pile of parts, covered in dust, cobwebs and bird feces. I took copious numbers of pictures and headed back home. Later that evening I poured over the pictures I had taken and a manual that I was able to download online. (THANK YOU to whomever made that possible!!!) After more than an hour into my endeavors I was ready to throw up my hands and yell, 'Uncle!'.
That night I wasn't able to sleep due an infection in my salivary glands (radiation damage from cancer treatment years ago) and the second round of antibiotics that were simultaneously killing the infection and my stomach. I decided instead of tossing and turning any more I'd use the time to write the seller an email giving him my take on his offering and hoping he would see the light. I did a quick search of the 'Net to see if there were any other WD for sale and what prices were being asked. It was then that I came upon an ad that was offering....
"Weavers Delight- all accessories FREE
Located in BIG AL’s storage locker, Leadville, CO"
There was also an ad for 4 working WD for $400 each. I copy and pasted the link into the email to the seller hoping he would realize that what I was writing him had validity. Once sent I went back to bed.
That afternoon, after hearing nothing back from the seller (big surprise), I decided to see if the two ads I had seen earlier that morning were still valid. I sent emails and then text messages and waited. The gentleman with all the looms responded almost immediately. He still had 2 looms left and they were fully warped! I could see myself driving 1300+ miles to buy one, but I knew this was an 'adulting' moment and I had to put a couple days buffer space between my impulse and decision. I am so glad I did.
An hour or so later the person offering the loom in Leadville replied. Not only did she have 2 looms, one being a Weaver's Dream, but she was looking for nothing more than to rehome them. I couldn't believe my ears. A WD loom for nothing other than the trip? She meant what she said and reiterated that there was a a second loom in the offer. The other side of that coin? She had been trying to give them away for months and I was the only person who had ever answered her ads.
Call it what you will, God, kismet, the universe - It had just put me in touch with someone who wanted to give me my heart's desire. To all involved, from the bottom of my heart, 'Thank you.'.
It was unlike any loom I had ever seen before. It had the big vertical timbers of a countermarch and counterbalance loom, but it didn't have the overheard structure for the beater, etc. I did a search online of the name listed, 'Weaver's Delight', and I was hooked. A semi-mechanized loom! It changed the shafts, threw the shuttle AND advanced your weaving for you, all without anything more from the weaver than using the beater! And it was an antique, production from 1899 to the early 1950's. Having been a farmer and a rancher I love mechanical things like this and I wanted one of these!
I made the 2 hour trip north to look at the 'treasure' being offered on Craiglist and the pictures hadn't lied - it was a pile of parts, covered in dust, cobwebs and bird feces. I took copious numbers of pictures and headed back home. Later that evening I poured over the pictures I had taken and a manual that I was able to download online. (THANK YOU to whomever made that possible!!!) After more than an hour into my endeavors I was ready to throw up my hands and yell, 'Uncle!'.
That night I wasn't able to sleep due an infection in my salivary glands (radiation damage from cancer treatment years ago) and the second round of antibiotics that were simultaneously killing the infection and my stomach. I decided instead of tossing and turning any more I'd use the time to write the seller an email giving him my take on his offering and hoping he would see the light. I did a quick search of the 'Net to see if there were any other WD for sale and what prices were being asked. It was then that I came upon an ad that was offering....
"Weavers Delight- all accessories FREE
Located in BIG AL’s storage locker, Leadville, CO"
There was also an ad for 4 working WD for $400 each. I copy and pasted the link into the email to the seller hoping he would realize that what I was writing him had validity. Once sent I went back to bed.
That afternoon, after hearing nothing back from the seller (big surprise), I decided to see if the two ads I had seen earlier that morning were still valid. I sent emails and then text messages and waited. The gentleman with all the looms responded almost immediately. He still had 2 looms left and they were fully warped! I could see myself driving 1300+ miles to buy one, but I knew this was an 'adulting' moment and I had to put a couple days buffer space between my impulse and decision. I am so glad I did.
An hour or so later the person offering the loom in Leadville replied. Not only did she have 2 looms, one being a Weaver's Dream, but she was looking for nothing more than to rehome them. I couldn't believe my ears. A WD loom for nothing other than the trip? She meant what she said and reiterated that there was a a second loom in the offer. The other side of that coin? She had been trying to give them away for months and I was the only person who had ever answered her ads.
Call it what you will, God, kismet, the universe - It had just put me in touch with someone who wanted to give me my heart's desire. To all involved, from the bottom of my heart, 'Thank you.'.
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