be generated by means of a braking device 29 or a specific drive in which a motor is connected to the warp let off via a selflocking gear the warp thread tensioning device additionally contains for each warp thread 4 an individual warp thread tensioner 8 which is arranged between two guide elements 30 and in the example shown individually pretensions by means of a pretensioning spring 32 the warp thread 4 which runs through an eye 34 in the shedding device 12 the warp threads 4 are pretensioned into a first shedding position f 1 between a deflecting roller 36 and a cloth holder 22 which may also be designed as an expander a first lifting device 38 serves for the individual control of the warp threads 4 said lifting device having drivers 40 which can be moved out of a switching position f 2 into the second shedding position f 3 by means of a lifting beam 42 with the aid of control means 46 controllable by actuators 44 the warp threads 4 can be brought selectively into engagement with the drivers 40 when the warp threads have been moved out of the first shedding position f 1 into the switching position f 2 by means of a common second lifting device 48 as is evident in detail in fig1 to 8 the control means 46 contain control drop wires 50 which are pretensioned by means of a pretensioning spring 52 against a lifting beam 54 on.