The gimlet and auger I made.
" Young as I
was, I was possessed of an art which was of great use. It was that of weaving
shot-pouch straps, belts and garters. I could make my loom and weave a belt in
less than one day. Having a piece of board about four feet long, an inch
auger, spike gimlet, and a drawing knife, I needed no other tools or materials
for making my loom. It frequently happened that my weaving proved serviceable
to the family, as I often sold a belt for a day's work, or making a hundred
rails. So that although a boy, I could exchange my labour
for that of a full grown person for an equal length of
time".
Doddridge. 18th
century.
Has anyone got any ideas on the sort of loom that Dodridge could have made with just a four foot board? I was thinking some form of inkle loom. A board with pegs in it?
Thank you Jenny, very much appreciated.
Regards, Keith.
People don't realize that most weavers were men, in those days.
ReplyDeleteWonderful! I'm happy to be of service!
ReplyDeleteA board with pegs does make sense - that would explain the inch auger and drawknife. He does seem quite particular about not needing any other tools or materials - which implies if this is case case, he cut the pegs out of the same board with the drawknife?
Another option is something along this pattern - but then we can't explain the inch auger. (I assume in this case the gimlet would have made each single hole and started the slits, then the drawknife used to make the slits themselves, though that seems more awkward than a plain knife used from the face.)
http://www.lindarosenantiques.com/inventory/18th-century-tape-loom
Also, I'm not yet aware of a peg-type loom being found from our period - I'd love to find an example though!
Could have been a peg loom or even a frame or hanging loom (which does not necessarily have pegs). This is a very interesting quote since home woven textiles were much narrower pieces of fabric that commercially woven, because of the size of the loom. I have a blanket of my great-grandmother's that is pieced from two home-woven pieces of wool. http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5258/5418449209_142cd02626_b.jpg This is a reprduction rug-loom. Interestingly the words "blanket" and "rug" were used interchangebly as bedcovers in the 18th c. Any thoughts?
ReplyDeleteIt seems his loom was built to weave just narrow bands. But I have yet to find any mention of a loom made from a board anywhere. The search goes on!
ReplyDeleteKeith.
The auger would be for the big holes like framing joints ect. The gimlet would be used to make locking peg holes, and any other small diameter holes.The drawknife works as a plane. I work green wood and with the addition of an axe and a knife (which are like bread and butter tools) you could very easily do it. I've made lathes to work benches using these very simple hand tools, in period context that's what pretty much every woodworker used to make anything.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your feedback, much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteKeith.