Holly asked about the sanding block for metal cleanup (I think, not the one for wood). I just found it with Google under Bridge City Tools. Specifically, it is called Sandflex Hand Block and comes in fine, medium and coarse or as a set of all 3. There you go!
Over the weekend I was able to contact one of the previous owners of Mother Mary’s Loom. The loom came with a copy of the Macomber catalog with their name and address on it. A simple directory lookup gave me the phone number to try in North Bend, Washington. Very nice folks; the husband had obviously been quite fond of the loom and had made an effort to find out about it when they bought it.
The loom, built for Mother Mary in 1954, had originally resided at Mt. Angel Seminary near Salem, Oregon. There it had been used to weave priest’s vestments, etc. At some point it was sold to a weaver in Puyallup, Washington. This lady’s husband was the one who made the bench that came with the loom. It’s a very pretty bench with some beautiful figured maple on the top. She apparently developed some health issues that caused her to give up weaving, and she sold the loom to the folks in North Bend around the year 2000. She has since moved to Florida and they lost track of her, so I can’t follow up that lead any further. The folks in North Bend traded it to someone in Olympia (for a harp!) due to lack of space, and the fact that she had become fond of Leclerc looms and that is what she is using now. The fellow in Port Orchard obtained the loom, 2-3 years ago, from the gal in Olympia also through a trade arranged through Craig’s List.
So there we have it. I am owner number 5 since it left the Mt. Angel Seminary.
On another topic, we were very excited to see a tow truck show up next door and take away the dead car and the equally dead John Deere farm machinery (not a tractor; not sure what it was…). They already hauled off the stock feeding stations. They say the concrete blocks are next, and the fence will happen this year. Keeping our fingers crossed!
bye bye John Deere thingy
Twisp of Fate 
Hi Katie — Lovely loom and story to go with it.Fun knowing more about the loom’s former owners.
Can’t wait to see what you’ll warp it up with for a first project.
I was hanging out at the Twisp airport Saturday after a hike at Stehekin — and thought of you. I’ll have to plan a visit with some time to get together. -M-
Katie,
My cousin works at Mt. Angel Seminary’s Library! You may be able to get some info from her about Mother Mary! Her name is Sandi Ritchey and is listed in the Staff directory on the Mt. Angel web site that you linked in your blog. Go to the Library link and look for staff. Tell her you “know” me from the Internet blogs. My name is Sue Jensen.
I am a weaver also, on a recently purchased 24 yr old Macomber CPJ or portable, 8 harness loom. I have cleaned mine up and am restoring some of the missing parts. I really enjoyed reading about your restoration project with Mother Mary’s Loom.
Hey, thanks! I will definitely follow up on this. I also have an 8-harness CP and it is a great little loom. You will enjoy it – and it is great for taking to workshops.