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Sunday, January 16, 2011

More Details on Cylinder Filling Machine

Here is some more info, for those who want to try to build their own. I will give the specs on mine, but it's possible dimensions varied with different "lots" of these.
Here is the machine and the cylinders and bat:


Here is the machine in use:


When in use, the cone on the side of the machine fits down into the top of one of the cylinders, standing in its holder. The overlap is small, maybe 1/4"-1/2".

In my machine, the bottom of the cylinder is about 9 1/2" off the floor. The needed height would be a combination of the length of a cylinder plus the thickness of the wood used in the box for cyliners, minus that 1/4" or 1/2", so the cone will slip down inside the cylinder slightly.

Here is a closer view of the "business" part of the machine:


The fabric strip goes up through eyebolt to the left of the rim of the cone, which is 18" off the floor. Then it goes over the left wheel, between the 2 wheels, and down through the cone.

The 2 wheels are each about 4 1/4" in diameter, by 1 1/8" thick. One has been machined so it has a convex rim, the other has a concave rim. So, the convex one fits into the concave one.

Here is a better view of that:


The convex wheel is on an arm that can be pivoted out of the way for threading:


Next is a closer view of the cylinder itself. It is made of tin and held in place with a tin strip, and a screw at the top. It is 9 1/4" tall, and smashed sort of flat, so the top rim is 5 1/4" x 3 1/4". The bottom rim is round (more or less).



Here is a view from the back of this whole assembly:


The concave-rimmed wheel, shown in the pic above, is on a wooden axle that runs through the uprights and also holds a pulley which is in line with the top wheel:


The top wheel & pulley are both 1 1/8" thick. The top wheel is about 9" in diameter, and the pulley about 2". The drive belt is leather, with a metal staple holding it together.
I think all of these parts & dimensions could be adapted to what you have on hand or can find. The important things are:
  • The cone bottom needs to be at the right height for the top of the cylinder. This will depend on how you are holding your cylinders upright.
  • The wheel at the front needs to be concave, to hold the fabric, and its partner convex, to keep the fabric in place. Both need to move freely. It took a lot of oil to get them moving, for me (not ideal for wood-against-metal, but wax wasn't working).
  • The ring needs to be at a good height off the floor as wells as in relation to the front wheel, so the fabric doesn't have much space in which to get off-course.
The little seat is handy & keeps the whole thing from tipping. It's 6 1/4" across & 12 1/2" back from the axles of the big wheel & the one with the pulley. But it doesn't need to be round!

The main plank is 1 1/4" x 2 7/8", and 24" long. The back legs are 20 1/2" long, and angled. A bolt goes through both legs & the plank. The front leg is 21 1/2" long and also angled. It gets wider toward the top & at the top it is forked to take the main plank, which stands on edge. A bolt goes through both sides of the fork, as well as the main plank.

The front upright is 20 1/2", and you can see that the axle for the wheel has been moved. It must have worn loose, or else the band stretched, so they raised it & put a small piece of wood into the slot left behind. There are wear marks in the lower position on the inside, where the big wheel rubbed.

I hope this info helps!

13 comments:

  1. It looks like such a simple machine and yet so specialized. I understand what it is doing but I have no idea what the little cylinders are used for after they are filled with the fabric. But that's okay, I'm on a need to know basis and I don't need to know;-)

    I hope you are having as beautiful a day up there as we are down here.

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  2. Thanks for posting these photos and measurements. My husband is working on building it. I'll send you some photos when he's finished.

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  3. Is there a way to send pictures through the blog or should I do it via email?

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  4. I have just purchased my first Weavers delight loom, and almost completely have it set up and running. It is an "E Series" manufactured in 1965. I must say the resources and pictures on your Blog have been extremely helpful in this venture.

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  5. Hi Melissa,
    There isn't a way for you to post pictures to the blog, but I would love it if you'd email them, and if you give me permission I will post them.
    I can't wait to see what you've done!
    Laura

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  6. Hi Warped,

    Congratulations on your new Weaver's Delight!

    What's it like? Is it pretty similar to the old model or different? How is it working?

    I am so glad the blog has been useful. I was trying to create the resource I wished I had access to.

    Best wishes,
    Laura

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  7. Laura,

    I will see about taking some pictures for you soon. I have found out that "series E" refers to the manual. The serial # on mine is in the 9000's, and was manufactured in September, 1965. The only real difference I see between mine and yours in the 12 dent reed verses the 10 on yours, and the metal sides on the harness frames.

    Right now, I am still trying to fine tune the fly shuttle adjustments (sometimes it catches a bit) Other than that it runs like a dream.

    I will keep you posted at things progress

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  8. Hi there! I am interested in finding out if anyone has the improved little daisy loom - all metal frame. Do you know how the shuttle works? Is there supposed to be a spring on it to shoot it from right to left?
    If you would please respond on here or barb.scholl@yahoo.com
    Thank you. It was so fun to find your blog and learn more about the "looms".

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  9. Hi Barb,
    I have heard of the Little Daisy, but have never seen one. They sound so cool.
    A great source for info would be the Rugtalk group on Yahoo Groups. If you join, you can ask questions of the members, who are much more experienced than I am with all the fabulous antique rug looms out there.
    Best wishes,
    Laura

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  10. To Melissa and anyone else who wants to reach me by email: you can email me at
    maccary (at) gmail (dot) com
    Replace the words in parentheses with the correct symbols first.
    Thanks!
    Laura

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  11. Cylinder Filling Machine I think this machines another name is "Cylinder Eco-Friendly Filling Machine" it's really useful and informative i have seen this type of filling machine first time thanks for sharing...

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  12. Hi, I just put together my cylinder filling machine that I found with my great-grandmothers "Little Daisy" that had been in storage since 1921. It is in remarkable shape. One thing I found different was an eye bolt about an inch in diameter used to hold the cone in place and also direct the rag feed. This may have been an addition made my great uncle who kept everything working. Just thought you would like to hear about another one of these machines.
    Thanks for your pictures, Leon

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  13. OMG. I am so glad I found this page!!! Plz disregard my question I posted on your other blog entry... I am going to read and re-read this thoroughly now! :D Yay! thank you so very much for this wonderful blog! It's a great resource for my loom! :-]

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