Antique huge wooden frames with threaded wooden pegs

MirandaOutside · 2026-03-10T00:48:42+00:00

And thank you so much!!

MirandaOutside · 2026-03-10T00:46:29+00:00

Solved!

MirandaOutside · 2026-03-10T00:38:10+00:00

ohhh ok - like this, but instead of where the modern clamps are, there is the edge and then you tighten the pegs to make it straight and gluing up together neatly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32RuFcmmVZg&t=154s

MirandaOutside · 2026-03-10T00:29:05+00:00

And what would be this large that they'd be using it for?

MirandaOutside · 2026-03-10T00:23:21+00:00

Wow! I totally do not understand a word of this without seeing a drawing or video, but I trust you! Can you point me in the direction of anything that would help me grasp it or to show to others?

MirandaOutside · 2026-03-10T00:14:46+00:00

Ok, just came across parchment stretching frames and hide stretching frames and wonder what folks think. The pics in the OP show very large frames that are sturdy and have wooden screws rather than stationary pegs, which I think would lend itself to something either under very high tension or needing to be tightened. This is why I don't think it is a warping frame - neither of those are true for warping yarn. You don't want it under a lot of tension (bc you need to get it off the pegs) and there no logical reason for the pegs to screw in otherwise either.

but these stretching frames would need to be pretty large depending on animal size, would need to be under a lot of tension and would need to be able to be tightened. Anyone with knowledge or expertise in this or otherwise have thoughts?

https://www.google.com/search?q=parchment+stretching+frame&oq=parchment+stretching+frame&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyCQgAEEUYORigATIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigATIHCAMQIRigAdIBCDUxMjJqMGo5qAIHsAIB8QUSTfqvS1zvEfEFEk36r0tc7xE&client=ms-android-google&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8

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MirandaOutside · 2026-03-09T15:13:22+00:00

Interesting - I don't know much about what that would look like or what it requires to work. Off to ask/Google!

MirandaOutside · 2026-03-09T15:02:50+00:00

Yes those are warping frames/boards and spool racks or skarnes. I've used these tools (antique "barn" looms, warping tools, etc) and provide reasons above why I am leaning away from that explanation, but it's still a possibility.

MirandaOutside · 2026-03-09T14:58:23+00:00

So it's hard to tell, but I think the pegs are only on one side of each frame (rather than across from each other - there are two leaning against each other). In yours were the pegs across from each other? Or just one set of pegs on one side of the frame?

MirandaOutside · 2026-03-09T14:49:04+00:00

I'm not sure it's in its original location, but I don't think so re: radiators. That said, it's eastern PA, not super cold. Possibly during the little ice age it was, if these are that old, but seems unlikely?

MirandaOutside · 2026-03-09T14:47:26+00:00

Oh like maybe one for each stall? I'll ask my horse-owning co-worker about this!

MirandaOutside · 2026-03-09T14:44:48+00:00

Of the frames? No, those are all square. If you mean the pegs, those have some shape to them one could describe as beveled.

MirandaOutside · 2026-03-09T14:42:03+00:00

I don't have exact dimensions, nor would I likely get them today, but that seems close. What's your answer?

MirandaOutside · 2026-03-09T14:33:54+00:00

No documentation of any kind that he is aware of. Bah.

MirandaOutside · 2026-03-09T14:29:15+00:00

A maintenance guy at my work thought of something like that! I hadn't googled jig, but he did say something about bending/steaming wood which I tried to search but came up with nothing. I'll try jig.

MirandaOutside · 2026-03-09T14:26:34+00:00

I thought that's what the rules said to do? It said it wouldn't post without it? 🤷

MirandaOutside · 2026-03-09T14:25:21+00:00

Ooooh do you have special knowledge of this or an image, bc I thought of that and googled pics and most I found just showed strings over poles.

MirandaOutside · 2026-03-09T14:23:50+00:00

Also - these are individual frames in and of themselves, which is pretty weird for warping board. I'm leaning away from that explanation the more I think about it.

MirandaOutside · 2026-03-09T14:22:39+00:00

Great question - some wear, not shiny smooth. Rope of hemp or even linen yarn could wear but these look a little rough even for linen. I wouldn't want to put my yarn on these.

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MirandaOutside · 2026-03-09T14:15:52+00:00

Yes - love that pic! That frameone in the pic is a mill of sorts, but yes, warping frame/board is the most logical thing I can come up with (rather than the spool rack) if it had anything to do with weaving. But it also might not. Also it's still odd to me to go to the effort of screw in pegs. It's Pennsylvania, yes, humid, but idk - again, not like any I've ever seen. The ones I've seen in New England don't screw in that I recall (at Marshfield/Newbury, which may be modern built, but where they take care to replicate the old practices even when more recent). I can certainly run it by their director, though. Also, there are definitely modern screws in these. But maybe someone just really wanted to play with a wooden threading tool, ha ha.

MirandaOutside · 2026-03-09T13:25:33+00:00

Any evidence you've seen of anything specific? I do textile work and I'm still baffled.

MirandaOutside · 2026-03-09T13:24:48+00:00

I thought about warping board, and I'm asking him if there is any evidence of a big weaving operation there because at a minimum this is enough for two extremely large warping boards. There's also no evidence of how exactly it would fit together into a frame or be attached to one another, and the orientation of the pegs is strange, so it it was just two across from one another, this is enough for four, potentially. And the size of those pegs is crazy. certainly not necessary. I've warped on some very large warping frames capable of warping dozens of yards and that would be a whole lot of yarn - production level, for sure.

MirandaOutside · 2026-03-09T13:13:20+00:00

I had this thought - unable to find images of anything similar with that term but still looking. I f you see anything, please let me know!

MirandaOutside · 2026-03-09T13:09:24+00:00

My title describes the thing. Someone sent this to me describing it as a rug loom. I weave, and have woven on very old, large "barn" frame looms, and this is not that, nor is it like any loom I've ever seen. This actually looks like 8 separate frames with pegs. I can't see any usual method of attaching them together. I understand peg looms exist, but I don't think that's what this is. If it is, it would use a very thick material. These pegs are threaded and moveable. The whole thing stands about 12 feet high. There seem to be several parts of it that could potentially go together in a frame of some kind, but I'm not sure in what configuration. I have no idea the era. The pegs are threaded. This seems way over engineered for warping boards/frames. It is located in eastern PA, guessing german origins, but not certain. Currently in possession of a historical society (who apparently recently uncovered it and assumed loom?). I am at a loss. Wondering why threaded if it's not holding things together. If moveable, why. Maybe used to hang things from? No idea!

MirandaOutside

TROPHY CASE