Half-width shuttle loom

About the sound

The sound of loom in operation was recorded in the Central Museum of Textiles in Łódź (Poland).
It is a complete and fully operational power overpick loom intended for the manufacturing of bareface fabric. It was manufactured in 1889 in Fred Greenwood Mechanical Works in Łódź. Initially, the loom had been equipped with joint line shaft, replaced in the 20th century by electric motor. Half-width loom was intended for the manufacturing of color fabrics for clothes and decorations as well as for the manufacturing of satins (fabrics with the width of up to 140 cm).
The loom had immediately become part of the machinery of Scheibler Factory in Łódź (factory at Milionowa Street). The merger of Scheibler’s and Ludwik Grohman’s factories in 1921 resulted in the creation of the biggest textile plant on the European continent. The loom was in operation in the factory at Milionowa Street until 1983, irrespective of ownership changes that occurred within the said period of 90 years. Subsequently, it was for a dozen years used in a private weaving workshop. At present, it constitutes one of the exhibits of the Central Museum of Textiles.

Sound recordist: Monika Widzicka
Photographer: Piotr Leszczyński
Video recordist: Piotr Leszczyński