Sunday, August 08, 2010

I Have a Glimakra!!!!

Did I need another loom? Not particularly. Did I want to own a Glimakra? You betcha! It helps having friends who are bad influences. I got an email about a loom in the Philadelphia area for a very good price. It was a 40" wide, 8-shaft, counterbalance and countermarch Glimakra with no extra accessories like reeds. Turns out someone else got the loom.

I looked on the Spinners', Weavers' & Knitters' Housecleaning Pages and found a 47" 8 harness, 10 treadle Glimakra for an even better price. This one is counterbalance but came with 6 stainless steel reeds and a few other extras. If I add the countermarch parts I will still come out ahead. This loom was located about 30 minutes north of Philadelphia. My bad influence friend and I went on a road trip a few days later and brought her home.

Here she is before taking her apart. The loom needs a good cleaning. It was filthy. Here is the bad influence helping me load the loom into my SUV. This is everything. I actually had room for another Glimakra with room to spare. I was pretty tired by the time I got home so she had to sleep in my SUV last night (The loom not the bad influence!) Actually she may have to sleep there again tonight. The bad influence and I had a fun time. I picked her up at 7am, it took a little over 3 hours to get there, we spent about 2 hours taking her all apart and loading her up, we ate lunch at Olive Garden, then had a long drive home. We got hung up in some slow traffic. I pulled into the driveway a little after 6pm.

I did manage to wash all the Texsolv heddles and cords last night. The water turned black instantly. They are all nice and clean now. I don't want to bring the other pieces into the house until they have had a good cleaning.

It has all its original parts including the owner's manual but the lady did keep the packing sticks. Grumble, grumble. It was made ~ 1981. It is missing a few pieces here and there. Just minor stuff. I've already been in touch with Joanne Hall about replacement parts. She responded to my email quickly. I've only heard good things about Joanne and her husband Ed. It's refreshing to get good customer service these days. I'm working on a list that will include the countermarch upgrade. I plan on getting her up and running as counterbalance then transition to countermarch.

I think I shall call her Emily!

8 comments:

Laritza said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Laritza said...

It was a lot of fun!
For the record, all I really did was forward an ad, show off my own Glimakra, ride along and help take the Grand Lady apart and loaded. We also came up with a Gimakra 'moving kit' list. There are so many little details to account for but worth it.
I am very happy to know that my friend now has a loom that holds tension, has a grate shed, does not fall apart and on top of everything is beautiful. Weave on!

Life Looms Large said...

Yay!!! Congratulations! I know you'll love it like I love my Toika!! (I didn't really love the cleaning up part of it, but after it was done...bliss!)

Enjoy!
Sue

Pru said...

Hmm, you aren't calling the new loom "Laritza"? Agreed, she is a VERY bad influence. Much of my stash is her responsibility.

weaveblah said...

Hello and congratulations on acquiring your Glimåkra. I, also, recently purchased a second-hand Glimåkra Standard loom and have small parts to replace and Texsolv heddles and cord to clean. I'm writing to enquire what method (hot/cold water, machine, handwash or soak) and detergent you used to wash the Texsolv.
Thank you.

Terri said...

Hi weaveblah,

I washed the Texsolv heddles in warm soapy water. I used Dawn dish washing soap. Since the heddles are polyester the dirt just sits on the surface.I swished them around a little bit and the water became dirty (black) instantly. I rinsed them in warm water.

Have fun with your Glimakra.

weaveblah said...

Thanks Terri, shall do.
I'd also like to add that I agree with you regarding Joanne Hall at Glimåkra USA. She, and her husband, Ed, are so generous with their help.
Regards.

joe said...

I have a pierce spinning wheel missing the flyer fork and bobbin any idea where I can fing one--Thanks Joe
josephhjanes@hotmail.com