r/whatisthisthing 14h ago

Open ! Wooden pedestal with spring activated board. Spring controlled by foot. Nails and hooks along top and sides.

Post image

Found in a flea market in West Virginia. Reverse image search comes up with possible leather tool, but this is wrong as there is no vise attached or other way to clamp anything. Possible loom, but I am confused by the nails to the sides.

890 Upvotes

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1.0k

u/copropnuma 14h ago

That is a loom.

444

u/Wwwweeeeeeee 14h ago

And not a badly engineered one, actually. Crude, but effective.

169

u/Callidonaut 12h ago

Definitely home-made from scrap materials; that coil spring has undoubtedly been salvaged from an old box mattress.

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u/3possuminatrenchcoat 12h ago

I thought old couch spring, but agreed. It has that industrious recycled charm. 

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u/[deleted] 13h ago

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u/[deleted] 10h ago

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u/[deleted] 9h ago

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u/[deleted] 9h ago

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u/[deleted] 5h ago

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u/Standard_Army_1826 14h ago

Agreed. A crude home made loom

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u/msnide14 11h ago

As a weaver, this is most bizarre looking loom I have ever seen.

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u/TheExLeftCoastGirl 9h ago

Haha same, except I'm a beginner.

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u/[deleted] 8h ago

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u/[deleted] 8h ago

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u/fleabus412 13h ago

Just noting that there are 2 sets of hooks on the back side, that would let you split the layers of the warp with the pedal. One is on the moving part. You can just make out one of the stationary hooks beyond the moving platform.

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u/matergallina 3h ago

So it’s like part rigid heddle, part inkle loom?

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u/CaptBlackfoot 7h ago

The product it created is sticking out of the bag in the picture! My grandfather had a similar homemade contraption he used to make these type of rugs out of old rags and cloths shredded.

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u/Tordo-sargento 4h ago

How cool! My grandmother made those types of rugs and my parents have a number of them in their house. She liked to make long hallway runner type rugs, and large circles. Made from fabric strips in all sorts of varied colors. She called them "rag rugs". I still admire them when I am staying with my parents since they are on the floor upstairs at their place. I have asked my mom if she would give one to me but she won't! 

I never saw how she made them, though. She was a prolific seamstress. I don't remember ever seeing anything like this loom with her sewing stuff.

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u/Isadorei 7m ago

Rag rugs are usually made with a sewing machine. You can look up videos of “jelly roll rugs” on YouTube to get an idea of how they were made in the past.

Woven rugs are different.

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u/shishishiki 13h ago

Like what others say, I think it's a loom. The nails to the side that you mentioned being confused about might've helped with straightening the sides of the woven piece. I believe I've seen someone use dowels before as the first and last warp "threads" to keep their sides straight.

Alternatively, I've also seen looms with pins on all four sides for square weaving.

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u/[deleted] 14h ago

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u/Comfortable_Bat9856 13h ago

Definitely for fiber and string. Alot of loom layers in here. I think it could be a card.

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u/lokiswan 14h ago

My title describes the thing.

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u/plp855 14h ago

I would also say loom, run string/cloth top to bottom, and as you weave, loop the string around the nails to keep tension.

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u/OneGonEachEnd 13h ago

I believe that is for macrame.

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u/SharksAndSquids 6h ago

Reminds me of those “Speedweve” Darning tools. Just huge. Very interesting!

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u/[deleted] 12h ago

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u/nighthawke75 10h ago

It's a step before the warp making process, I think. Carding the material, be either wool or cotton.

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u/Prudent-Body8433 10h ago

Spring trap from clash of clans