Abstract: A friction brake band is provided for embracing a loom warp beam head with the ends of the band in spaced relation. One of the band ends includes a roller journaled for rotation about an axis extending transversely of the band end and an elongated anchor cable has one end attached to the other band end, its midportion passed about the roller and its other end stationarily anchored. A flexible tensioner strap is disposed over the brake band and has one end thereof anchored to the aforementioned one end of the band. The other end of the tension strap extends from the side of the head or drum remote from the cable and in a direction generally paralleling the anchored end of the cable and has a variable weight structure operably connected thereto.