L2015.1042.021 D-F Gears; overall
  • L2015.1042.021 D-F Gears; overall
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Tool (for textiles) (Gears)

  • Category:

    Tools

  • Creator (Role):

    C. Neumeyer (Maker)

  • Place of Origin:

    Pennsylvania, Mid-Atlantic, United States, North America

  • Date:

    1840-1930

  • Materials:

    Wool; Hemp; Reed; Pine; Wood

  • Museum Object Number:

    2015.0028.030


  • Complete Details



Object Number

2015.0028.030

Object Name

Tool (for textiles) (Gears)

Category

Tools

Credit Line/Donor

Museum purchase with funds provided by Mrs. Jeanne L. Asplundh

Creator (Role)

C. Neumeyer (Maker)

Place of Origin

Pennsylvania, Mid-Atlantic, United States, North America

Origin Notes

Likely Berks, Bucks, or Montgomery County, PA.

Date

1840-1930

Mark or Signature or Inscription or Label

1. Inscription; Endpiece, both ends of reed; "C. Neumeyer"
2. Mark; Endpiece of reed; "IIi"

Materials

Wool; Hemp; Reed; Pine; Wood

Dimensions (inches)

5 (H) , 53.25 (L) , 9 (W)

Dimensions (centimeters)

12.7 (H) , 135.255 (L) , 22.86 (W)

Object Description

Web - 12/15/2016

Warping up a loom, or preparing it to weave a new fabric, involved working several hundred threads through each individual dent in the heddles and reed. Instead of dismantling the entire warp after finishing a project, weavers saved time by detaching the reed, heddles, and a portion of warp fabric from the loom. They kept this assemblage, called “gears,” until they wove that cloth again. This way, when the weaver wanted to revisit a pattern, they simply had to put the gears back on the loom, tie each new thread to the end of one of one of the old ones, and pull it though to the proper place.

This particular set of gears holds the warp for a colorful orange, cream and green carpet. The reed is made in the German fashion, with black reeds dividing the dents, or slots, in the reed into groups of fifty. It is marked "C. Neumeyer." The heddles are heavily varnished.

Bibliography and Bibliographic Notes

[Book] Pritchard, M. E. 1954 A Short Dictionary of Weaving: Including Some Spinning, Dyeing and Textile Terms and a Beginner's Guide to Weaving and Dyeing. 196.

[Book] Worst, Edward F. 1974 Weaving with Foot-power Looms. 275.

[Book] White, George. 1846 A Practical Treatise on Weaving by Hand and Power Looms: Intended as a Textbook for Manufacturers by Hand and Power Looms and Power Loom Engineers. 362.