I may be able to have a very old and very big loom . Cast iron frame and about 6 foot wide 4 foot deep and 4 foot high .
I will check out the name on it and the date , i think it was very late 1800's . Another machine , same size etc is with it not sure what it is , lots of wooden bobbins on it . A bobbin filler ? lol .
If i can't get them , and then move them , i will make a loom .
I made one about 35 years ago but have no memory of what type it was (pre car smash and head injury) , apart from it was a floor standing unit that made fabric about 50" wide and i could make tweed fabric and all sorts of other stuff that memory of has also gone .
What i want to do is be able to weave material to use for clothes in general , shirts , trousers , coats etc and heavy duty stuff tarpaulin , carpet etc .
Materials used will be flax , hemp , wool and cotton .
So the question is , what type of loom would be best to go for if i end up making one ?
It will be in a shed of it's own , so will be floor standing and as wide as need be .
It will be hand operated if i make one although the one i may be able to get was operated by line shafting and belt powered by water wheel . It can be used by hand if need be though , so i am told . It looks similar to the ones used to make Harris Tweed , only bigger .
Any ideas which way to go if the freebie falls through ?