View our Warranty, Return, Cancellation and other store policies. Read More >

All AVL looms are produced at our headquarters in Chico, California, where the company has been based since 1980. To learn more click here.

AVL now uses CNC (Computer Numeric Control) machinery to build all of our looms. There are machines in both the wood shop and metal shop. CNC machinery allows for precision cutting of all parts and is both safer and more precise.

AVL looms are made with a variety of hardwoods. Primarily kiln-dried ash for the frames and poplar on the beaters and some other small parts.

Yes, the Professional Dobby Rug Looms now use steel for the crossmembers on all eight foot (2.43M) looms. Looms ten feet (3M) and wider are now made primarily of steel.

Not at all. With the exception of Industrial and Jacquard looms, AVL looms are normally assembled by the customer. AVL looms are generally shipped in a partially assembled state. All of the so-called "hard stuff" is already done. Dobbies go out whole. So do the Spring Lever Systems, Harness Pulley Supports, and Beams. The Tension Box and Bobbin Winder also go out fully assembled. The looms come with a fully illustrated manual and generally take about a day to assemble. If you would like AVL to come out for an in-home installation, we do have a service option available.

Each AVL loom has its own serial number. The serial numbers are located on a name plate that was generally placed in the center of the upper horizontal crossmember on the Harness Pulley Support. Contact us with the loom serial number and we'll tell you when the loom was produced and its original equipment.

Most AVL serial numbers have five integers, such as 01234. If your loom has a number other than five integers -- either longer or shorter -- then you have a collector's item; most likely built in the late 1970's or early 80's. There were also some very early looms produced without serial numbers. These would have been made in 1976-77.

Before his affiliation with AVL, Jim Ahrens hand-built a small number of looms in the years between 1950-1976. These will generally display a plaque designating it as an Ahrens loom. Some Ahrens looms are very similar to AVL looms. However, most parts are not interchangeable with the corresponding AVL loom. The similar looms include: production dobby loom, countermarch production dobby loom, home loom, folding dobby loom, and a loom made with a pivoting front/rear beam.

We, of course, have no idea as to where used AVLs may have traveled, but as of January 2007, AVL had sold looms in over eighty countries worldwide.

AVL loves letters! We've even compiled a short list of our favorites Read More >

Maybe you'd like to trade yours in for a new one. Or maybe you simply need the space. Whatever the reason, selling your AVL loom is a big decision. How and at what price will you sell your loom? These are the most difficult questions to consider. Selling your loom back to AVL is a great way to simplify and shorten the process. Read More >

You can find all kinds of information in our Online Library.