At Left: Wide view of right side of loom. Counterbalanced shedding system is visible, and consists of a single roller bar with two shafts. Three treadles were found with the loom. Also visible in the photograph is the warp beam brake with bore staff. At Right: Detailed view of rocker. There are three pegs in the loom base and corresponding holes on the underside of the rocker. Until recently this loom was stored in an outbuilding on the Hylton family farm in Floyd County Virginia. Mr. Hylton's mother wove on the loom, but it came from Hylton side of the family -- possibly as far back as his great-grandfather Burwell Hylton (1801-1883). The loom is now at the home of Maynard's daughter, who is also a weaver.

The builder of this loom is not known, but all four of Burwell Hylton's daughters were known for their weaving skills. Burwell was a furniture maker, so he could have built looms for any, or all, of his daughters. Burwell's grandfather, Elijah Hylton, had been one of the early settlers of southwestern Virginia, in the area that is now Floyd County. A number of Hylton descendants still reside in the area, and numerous weavers are listed among them. It is interesting to note that Melissie Weeks Hylton (wife of Maynard's older brother), and her two sisters, also owned and operated rocker beater looms (see Loom #26). Return to Loom Photograph Index