Reed-Macomber loom restoration

This email was sent to a friend of the lady I got the loom from:

Hi Heather

That is a very interesting Reed-Macomber loom your friend has. We don't recall ever seeing the rope & weight system before.  Even R/M Loom # F-5 (presumably 9 ahead of F-14) was of a side wire & top lever design.
 
I have an idea from reviewing your photos of how the system worked, though I'm not sure about the lead on the ropes, where they would go and whether they are for direct weight or counter balance.
 
As for your questions, we don't have any parts available for this loom; I believe this was a one-off design or one of just a handful ever made. Plans &/or instructions (if any exist) are going to be very difficult to locate. 
 
It could be possible to get the loom in working order again, by reverse engineering and tinkering with the existing parts you have.  However I think for us at Macomber to do it, would be cost prohibitive. Shipping the loom to shop round-trip could be $500-1800, depending on your location. And I don't have ability to even ballpark what time & material would run; when all is said and done. 
 
Also to consider from a practical sense is that the design itself maybe a "dog".  I'd have assume if the loom worked to Leroy's expectations, he would have continued with rope & weight system.
 
All that being said the loom has a unique & historical value in itself, being that it is old & rare.  "As-is" or in original working order it could be worth quite a bit to the right person. 
 
These are my initial thoughts from your photos and not intended to discourage restoration, only to identify some hurdles, as I see them. Eddie or I would be happy to discuss the matter in further detail and assist in anyway we can.
 
Take Care
Erick

Macomber Looms
York, ME

I picked up this loom in New Orleans on July 24, 2014. The lady I got the loom from was from KY and her grandmother wove on it.

The loom is a 32 inch, 6 harness folding loom that uses a set of pulleys and metal plates with holes as lamms.

Here are pictures of the loom: