Union Loom no. 36

On display is the Union Loom no. 36 manufactured by the Union Loom Works in Boonville, New York. The Union Loom Works was founded by Ben Elsasser (1895 - 1984) and his father, John Elsasser. According to the “Rag Rug Handbook" by Janet Meany and Paula Pfaff, c. 1992, John's father had been a handweaver, and loved weaving. In 1897, John was making and selling small furniture. Union Loom Works came into being when John and Ben incorporated it in 1918. Although John didn't weave much, he cared about the looms weaving was done on. There were 3 basic designs, a hobbyist loom called the Union Home Loom, The Union Special Loom (a 36" weaving width loom, and the most popular, and the version we have on display), and the Union Custom with a weaving width of 45 inches. From the beginning all Union Looms were designed with rug making in mind. The family dissolved the corporation in 1930, a result of the Great Depression. Ben continued the manufacture of the looms as a private business until 1969. Over the years, the price of the 36" ranged from $29.50 to $110.00. Over 40,000 looms were sold.

To operate this machine you need to warp the loom, thread the heddles and reed, and then weave by creating a shed and passing the shuttle through. First, the warp threads are wound onto the warp beam, creating the foundation of the weaving. Then, each warp thread is passed through a heddle, which is a small loop attached to a harness. Next, the warp threads are then passed through the reed, which spaces them evenly. Then, the warp threads are secured to the front beam, ready for weaving and the weaver steps on a treadle to raise or lower the harnesses, creating an opening (aka shed) in the warp threads. Then, the shuttle, carrying the weft yarn, is passed through the shed. Then, the reed is pushed forward to compact the newly woven weft thread against the previous row. Finally, this process of creating the shed, passing the shuttle, and beating in the weft is repeated to build up the woven fabric. Please ask your Tour Guide to demonstrate this process.

Weaving Terms:

Wrap - The threads which extend lengthwise in the loom, passing through the harness and reed

Reed - Or sley, is the row of steel pieces which separate the threads of the warp and with which you pound the filling together

Shuttle - The implement on which the rags are wound, and which is used to carry the filling form one side to the other between the threads of the warp through the Shed

Shed - The opening of spread in the warp through which the shuttle passes, formed by depressing either treadle, which shifts the harness rames

Harnesses - the part of the loom that moves when you step on the treadles, there are harness frames, the front and the back one, the copper wires in the harness frames are called heddles.