? Digital Heddles: Jacquard loom and card decks ?

Nick Gessler wrote: Indeed it is, but it is a little incorrect to speak of a "Jacquard loom" since the automatic shedding mechanism known as the "Jacquard machine" may be mounted on any loom. and is distinct from it. As a handweaver of 27 years standing, I just *had* to throw that in :-). As far as finding a working (or even non-working) Jacquard machine and cards, your best bet is probably England, where the semi-automatic weaving tradition is still alive in places like Bethnal Green. Peter Collingwood or his son <peter(a)plysplit.demon.co.uk> may be able to point you in the right direction overseas, and here in the US, Bill Koepp <bgkoe(a)ncinternet.net> may be of help. Unfortunately, many of these older weaving devices are long, long gone and even the presently operating mills don't even remember them. I remember talking with a man who graduated from the textile department of NC State back in the sixties, where the students amused themselves by throwing old mechanisms like the Jacquard out third story windows! Kirk Scott ks(a)coastalnet.com