American Thread Co.
Label Pictures
In 1898 the English Sewing Co. purchased Willimantic Linen Co.
[Connecticut] and the Merrick Thread Co. to form a thread trust , American Thread Company
[ATCO]. It was the largest thread manufacturer in the world at that time. In the
mid-1900s, ATCO was lured by southern incentives and moved some of its operations there.
By 1985 all operations were moved to North Carolina..One of its brannames Aunt Lydia is
now owned by Coats & Clark Co. All all brands listed individually.
| Brand |
Company |
Label Information |
Spool Length, Diameter
& |
Spool Shape, Type
of Wood or Substance |
Scrollwork/
Decoration Est. Age |
Fiber |
Size or Count |
Type of Thread |
How Wound |
Comments & History |
| Willimantic |
Willimantic
Linen Co. |
|
|
Wood |
|
Silk |
|
|
|
1871 or
earlier. Eastern Connecticut was a great silk thread producing region.Willimantic is one its historic textile towns. Willimantic is Algonquin for land of the swift running waters |
| |
|
6 cord |
|
Wood |
|
Cotton |
|
|
|
|
| Aunt Lydias |
American
Thread Fall River MA |
Name on
paper label; strong, smooth |
1-3/8"
D x 2" |
Wood, dyed
red |
|
Cotton |
|
Button,
carpet |
Parallel
|
|
| Hercules |
American
Thread |
Name on
paper label; special service; fast color; will boil |
1"
D x 1-3/8" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
40 |
Mercerized |
Parallel |
|
| |
|
For strong
sewing |
1-1/8"
D x 1-3/8" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
36 |
|
|
|
| Intrinsic |
American
Thread Co. , Willimantic CN |
Engraved;
top label Glacé Finish left twist; 4-cord. Bottom: Star logo |
1-3/4"
D x 2-3/4" |
Wood |
|
Cotton
|
12 |
Waxed |
|
|
| Kismet |
American
Thread |
Name on
paper label |
2-1/2"
L |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
00 |
Mercerized |
Crosswise |
|
| Liberty |
American
Thread Co. |
|
1" x 1-1/4"; 1-1/4" x 1-1/2" |
Wood |
|
Poly |
|
|
|
|
| Spun Dee |
American
Thread |
The Anything
Thread |
5"
L |
Wood |
|
Poly |
50 |
Parallel |
|
|
| Spun Dee |
American
Thread Co. |
Paper; top, red & S and D logo with Spun Dee logo design in center; bottom, Spun Dee* the anything thread* 100% polyester - wording circles label, American Thread and Star logo in center
|
1-1/2" D x 1-3/4" |
wood; plastic |
Clear plastic with SD all- over logo covers thread only |
Poly |
50 |
|
|
|
| Star |
American
Thread |
Name on
paper label; sewing cotton |
7/8"D
x 1-1/8" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Mercerized |
Parallel |
|
| Star |
American
Thread |
Name on
paper label; 6 cord |
1-1/8"
D x 1-1/2" |
Maple |
|
Cotton |
50 |
|
|
|
| Star Twist |
American
Thread Company |
Name on
paper label; will boil, 6 cord |
7/8"
D x 1-1/8" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Mercerized |
Parallel |
|
| Star Twist |
American
Thread |
Name on
paper label; will boil |
1"
D x 1-1/8" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Mercerized |
|
|
| Star Mercerized |
American
Thread |
Paper label;
will boil |
1"
D x 1-1/8" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Mercerized |
Parallel |
|
| Star Deluxe |
American
Thread |
Paper label;
will boil |
7/8"D
x 1-1/8" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
30 |
Mercerized |
Parallel |
|
| |
|
Paper label;
will boil |
1-3/\/8"
‘D x 1-7/8" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
60 |
Mercerized |
Parallel |
|
| Star Twist
Deluxe |
American
Thread |
Paper label;
3 cord |
1-1/2"
D x 2" |
Wood, bow
tie |
|
Cotton |
00 |
Mercerized |
Parallel |
|
| |
|
ATCo stamped |
7/8"
D |
Cardboard
bobbin |
|
Cotton |
C |
Buttonhole
twist |
Parallel |
|
Misc Threads: Atlantic, Ashworth
| Brand |
Company |
Label Information |
Spool Length, Diameter & |
Spool Shape, Type of Wood or Substance |
Scrollwork/
Decoration Est. Age |
Fiber |
Size or Count |
Type of Thread |
How Wound |
Comments & History |
| Atlantic |
|
|
|
Wood |
|
Cotton |
|
|
|
1871 or earlier |
| Ashworth |
|
|
|
Wood |
|
Cotton |
|
|
|
1871 or earlier |
Belding – Lily – all brands listed
individually
Label Pictures - Belding Corticelli Richardson
| Brand |
Company |
Label Information |
Spool Length, Diameter & |
Spool Shape, Type of Wood or Substance |
Scrollwork/
Decoration Est. Age |
Fiber |
Size or Count |
Type of Thread |
How Wound |
Comments & History |
| Lily |
Lily Mills Co. [1954] |
Name on paper label; 3 cord, lint free |
7/8" D x 1-1/4" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
50 |
|
Parallel |
|
| Lily |
|
Name on paper label; boilproof |
7/8" D x 1-1/8", 1-1/4" D x
1-3/4" |
Wood |
metal hole reinforcement |
Cotton |
50 |
Mercerized |
|
|
| Belding –Lily |
|
Name on paper label; extra strong |
1-3/8" D x 1-5/8" |
Foam |
|
Cotton |
|
Button, carpet |
Parallel |
|
| Belding-Lily |
|
Name on paper label; colorfast |
1-1/2" D x 1-5/8" |
Foam |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Mecerized |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Belding Bros – Corticelli – Richardson-Heminway
operated as companies in various combinations. For less confusion, all brands are listed
individually.
This is a very puzzling group to sort. Thanks to Shirley McElderry who
provided founding and merger dates. However dates when companies dissolved is not known.
Label Pictures - Belding Corticelli Richardson
1832 North Hampton Silk Co. in Massachusetts founded
1845 Purchased by Belding Heminway and renamed Nonotuck Silk
Co.
1849 Heminway & Sons founded
1857 Belding Bros & Co. founded. Corticelli was selected
as a brandname to compete with desireable Italian Silks.
1863 Belding Heminway Corticelli formed.
1888 Heminway Bartlett founded
1900 Kitten logo adopted by Belding Bros. and appeared in
advertising
1902 Richardson Silk Co. , founding date unknown, appears in
advertising
|
1918 HKH Silk Co. is successor to Heminway & Sons. Co.
1922 Belding Heminway officially named Corticelli Silk Co.
1926 Heminway & Sons merged with Belding Bros.
1932 Corticelli joins above group.
1933 Richardson Silk Co. doesn appear in ads. Possibly may
have merged or reorganized under another name.
1997 -- Shareholders of Belding Heminway Company, Inc. approved the sale of its Thread Division and a change of the company's name to Carlyle Industries, Inc. The purchasers, subsidiaries of Hicking Pentecost PLC, a British thread maker with significant operations in the United States, also acquired the Belding Heminway name in the transaction. |
| Brand |
Company |
Label Information |
Spool Length, Diameter
& |
Spool Shape, Type
of Wood or Substance |
Scrollwork/
Decoration Est. Age |
Fiber |
Size or Count |
Type of Thread |
How Wound |
Comments & History |
| Belding’s
Spool Silk |
Belding
Bros. 201 W. Monroe St. Chicago IL |
Name stamped
on spool |
|
Wood |
|
Silk |
A |
|
Parallel |
Est. 1873 |
| Belding |
Belding
Bros. |
Name stamped
on spool; Belwaxed; fast to boiling |
1-3/8"
D x 1-3/4" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Mercerized |
|
|
| Belding |
Belding
Bros. |
Named engraved
on spool; hand sewing |
1-1/8"
D x 7/8" |
Wood bobbin |
|
Silk |
A |
|
|
|
| Belding |
Belding
Heminway |
Name engraved
on spool; |
1"
D x 1-1/4" |
Wood |
|
Silk |
A |
pure silk |
|
|
| Belding
Corticelli |
Belding
Heminway |
Name engraved
on spool; Bel-waxed |
1"
D x 1-1/8" |
Maple |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Mercerized |
|
|
| Belding |
Belding
Corticelli |
Name engraved
on spool; fast to boiling |
7/8"
D x 1-1/8" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Mercerized |
|
|
| Belding |
Belding
Corticelli |
Name engraved
on spool; Bel-waxed, fast to boiling |
1"
D x 1-1/4" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Mercerized |
|
|
| Belding |
Belding
Corticelli |
Name engraved
on spool; Bel-waxed; fast to boiling |
1-3/8"
D x 1-3/4" |
Maple with
sealer coating |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Mercerized |
|
|
| Belding |
Belding
Corticelli |
Name engraved
on spool; Bel-waxed |
1"
D x 1-1/8" |
Wood |
|
Polybond
|
|
|
|
|
| Belding |
Belding
Corticelli |
Name stamped
on spool; extra strong |
1-5/8"
D x 1-7/16" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
|
Carpet,
button |
Parallel |
|
| Belding |
Belding
Corticelli |
Name engraved
on spool; pure silk |
1"
D x 1-1/8", 1" D x 1-1/4" |
Wood |
|
Silk |
A |
|
|
|
| Belding |
Belding,
Corticelli Richardson B&A |
Name engraved |
1 "
D x 5/8" |
Wood, bobbin |
|
Silk |
|
Buttonhole
twist |
|
|
| Belding Corticelli |
Belding
Corticelli |
Name engraved; fast to boiling |
1-3/8" D x 2 |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
A [50] |
Mercerized |
|
|
| Belding,
Corticelli Richardson |
Belding,
Corticelli Richardson B&A |
Name engraved
on spool; fast to boiling |
1"
D x 1-1/4", 7/8" D x 1-1/8" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
A |
Mercerized |
|
|
| Belding,
Corticelli Richardson |
Belding,
Corticelli Richardson B&A |
Name engraved
on spool; Sew with silk; all silks, woolens & rayons |
1"
D x 1-1/4" |
Wood |
|
Silk |
A |
|
|
|
| Belding,
Corticelli Richardson |
Belding,
Corticelli Richardson |
Name engraved
on spool; pure dye silk |
7/8"
D x 1-1/8" |
Wood bobbin |
|
Silk |
A |
|
|
|
| Corticelli |
Corticelli |
Name on
paper label |
1-3/8"
D x 2-1/8" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
00-X |
Mercerized |
Parallel |
|
| Corticelli |
Corticelli |
Name engraved
on spool; |
7/8"
D x 1-1/4" |
Wood |
|
Silk |
A |
|
|
|
| Corticelli |
Corticelli |
Name engraved
on spool; use Corticelli. |
1"
D x 3/8" bobbin |
Wood |
Pointing
fingers emblem |
Silk |
EE |
Buttonhole
twist, embroidery |
|
|
| Corticelli |
Corticelli |
Name engraved
on spool in blue & red; established 1838; Manufactured at Florence,
Mass. |
1"
D x 1-1/4" |
Wood |
Kitten
& pointing fingers emblem |
Silk |
A |
Machine
twist, best twist |
|
|
| Corticelli |
Corticelli |
Name engraved
on spool; |
5/8"
D x ¾" |
Wood |
|
Silk |
|
Darning |
|
|
| Richardson
Silk |
Richardson
Silk Co. |
Name engraved
on spool |
1"
D x 1-1/4" |
Wood |
|
Silk |
A |
|
Parallel |
|
| Richardson
Sewing Cotton |
Richardson
Silk Co. |
Name engraved
on spool; fast to boiling |
1"
D x 1-1/4" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Mercerized |
|
|
| Richardson
Silk |
Richardson
Silk Co. |
Name engraved
on spool; Sew with Silk; all silks, woolens and rayons |
1"
D x 1-1/4 |
Wood |
|
Silk |
A |
|
|
|
| Heminway |
|
Name stamped
on |
1"
D x 1-1/4" |
Wood |
|
Rayon |
|
Darning |
Crosswise |
|
| |
|
Name engraved
on spool; fast color |
7/8"
D x 1-1/4" |
Wood |
|
Nylon |
A |
|
|
|
| Paragon
|
Heminway
and Bartlett |
Engraved
in blue |
|
Wood |
|
Silk |
A |
|
|
|
| Paragon
|
no Heminway
listed |
Engraved
both ends: Warranted 50 yards |
|
Wood |
|
Silk |
A |
Pure dye |
|
|
| Pilgrim |
Belding Hemingway |
Name engraved on spool |
Standard |
Wood |
|
Silk |
A, 50 |
Pure dye |
|
|
Misc Threads:
Barbours, Barstow, Berkshire & Becket , Bird
of Paradise, Brooks, Cartier Bresson, Carlisle, Chadwick’s, Clapperton,
Climax Spool Cotton, Clover, Conso Donna
| Brand |
Company |
Label Information |
Spool Length, Diameter
& |
Spool Shape, Type
of Wood or Substance |
Scrollwork/
Decoration Est. Age |
Fiber |
Size or Count |
Type of Thread |
How Wound |
Comments & History |
| Barbour’s
Linen Thread |
Barbours
Lisburn, Ireland |
Name on
paper label; 3 cord [red boxes] |
1-1/4"
D x 2" |
Wood |
|
Linen |
30 |
|
Parallel |
Est. 1784 |
| |
|
2 cord
[blue boxes] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Carpet
Hanks [green, red and blue boxes] |
|
|
|
|
25-84 |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
1-3/4"
D x 2" |
Wood |
Bow tie |
|
|
|
|
|
| Barstow
6 Cord |
G.E. B
Alex King 54 Leonard St. NYC
sole agents |
Paper label
end of spool; see photo |
|
Wood |
|
Silk |
|
Hand, machine |
Parallel |
1895 or
earlier |
| Berkshire
Best Silk |
Berkshire
& Becket Silk Co |
Engraved
in red; Bountiful and Best Made; Made in USA |
1 D x 1-1/4
|
Wood |
|
Silk |
A |
Pure dye |
|
|
| Bird of
Paradise |
|
Name engraved
on spool; 3 cord, fast color guaranteed |
1"
D x 1-1/4" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Mercerized |
|
|
| Brainerd
& Armstrong |
Brainerd
& Armstrong Co. |
Name on
paper label; aviation & crocheting |
1-3/4"
D x 2-1/2 |
Wood |
Maple |
Silk |
|
Pure dye |
|
Mfg. knitting & crochet silks |
| |
|
Engraved
red and blue either end; Best in the World, Full Size and Length |
1D x 1-1/4
|
Wood |
|
Silk |
|
|
|
|
| Brooks |
Jonas Brook & Bros 19&21 Thomas St. NY
|
Name on
paper label; 3 cord |
7/8"
D x 1-1/8" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Waxed |
Parallel |
1871 earlier |
| |
|
Name printed
on rim |
7/8"
D x 2-5/8" |
Cardboard
cylinder |
|
Cotton |
basting |
Mercerized |
Crosswise |
|
| Brook's Prize Medal |
Jonas Brook & Bros 19&21 Thomas St. NY
|
Top label red & blue: Spool Cotton blue bottom: glace finish red bottom: soft finish |
|
Wood |
|
Cotton |
6 cord |
|
|
|
| Carlisle
|
|
|
|
Wood |
|
Cotton |
|
|
|
1871 or
earlier |
| Cartier
Bresson |
Cartier
Bresson |
France
Couleur Solide
C… B logo |
1-3/8"
D |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Variegated |
Parallel |
Made in
France |
| Chadwick’s |
UK |
Name on
paper label; 6 cord |
|
Wood, bow
tie |
|
Cotton |
6 |
|
Parallel |
|
| Clapperton |
|
|
|
Wood |
|
Cotton |
|
|
|
1871 or
earlier |
| Climax
Spool Cotton |
G. Hall
Jr. Co. So. Willington CT |
Name engraved
on spool; |
1-58"
D x 2-5/8" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
|
|
|
|
| Clover |
Clover
Corp. |
Name on
paper label; 3 cord |
7/8"
Dx 1" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Waxed |
Parallel |
|
| Conso |
Conso Products Co. NY
|
Top rim:
Conso VF110; Bottom: no lettering |
2"
D x 2-1/2" |
Wood cylinder |
|
Cotton
|
Comparable
to 50 |
|
Crosswound |
|
| Conso |
Consolidated Trimming Corp., NYC
|
Bestso Twist |
Dressmaker size |
Wood |
|
Cotton
|
00/3 |
mercerized
|
Parallel |
|
| Conso Donna |
Conso |
Name on
paper label; 3 cord |
1-5/8"
D x 2 |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
|
Carpet |
Parallel |
|
| |
|
Name on
paper label; washfast |
1"D
x 1-3/8" |
Wood |
|
Cotton,
mercerized |
|
Heavy duty |
Parallel |
|
| Irelin Brand Linen |
Conso Products |
Paper label: made of finest imported linen heavily waxed #85000 |
|
Wood |
|
Linen |
3 cord |
Carpet thread |
|
|
Coats – J&.P Coats – Clarks – Coats &
Clarks – John Clark Junr.
Label Pictures - Coats & Clark
These threads have their origin in England and Scotland. The Clarks were weavers
and to combat the shortage of silk hand-sewing thread during the Napoleonic Wars, Patrick
Clark twisted together serveral cotton yarns which proved superior to silk thread. In 1812
the Clarks the first cotton thread factory. A few years later the Coats family established
a thread mill under the name J&P Coats. ring hand-sewing thread. By 1840s both
families had relatives in America and by 1860s they established plants there.
In 1866 George Clark invented the first-ever thread that could be used in sewing
machines. He named it ONT for Our New Thread. George A. Clark & Bro. in New York were the sole agents in America for Clark's ONT thread. Coats and Clark were consolidated in 1896
but retained separate identities. Two years later the Spool Cotton Company became the sole
selling agent. In 1953 J&P Coats and the Clark Thread Co. merged to become Coats &
Clark Inc. Information on thread label shows that Clark Thread Co. was successor to John
Clark’s Mile-End brand. Some of the brand threads they own today are Talon and Anchor
as well as their own Coats, J&P Coats and Dual Duty Plus. Coats & Clark is now a
craft company of Coats North America which is a division of Coats Viyella headquartered in
Great Britain.
| Brand |
Company |
Label Information |
Spool Length, Diameter
& |
Spool Shape, Type
of Wood or Substance |
Scrollwork/
Decoration Est. Age |
Fiber |
Size or Count |
Type of Thread |
How Wound |
Comments & History |
| Blossom |
Coats |
paper label, extra strong |
29.5 cm D x 39.5
|
Wood |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Mercerized |
|
|
| Clark’s
Mile-End |
John Clark
Junr. & Co. Clark Thread Co. successor |
Name on
paper label; 6 cord thread; spool cotton |
1"
D x 1-3/8"
|
Wood,
bow tie |
|
Cotton |
8 to 100 |
|
Parallel |
|
| |
|
|
1-1/4"
D x 1-5/8" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
50 |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
1"
D x 1-1/4" |
Polished
maple |
|
Cotton |
70 |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
7/8"
D x 1-1’8" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
50, 60 |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
1-1/4"
D x 1-1/2" |
Wood, dyed
black |
|
Cotton |
8 |
|
|
|
| Premier
Twist |
John J.
Clark |
Name on
paper label |
7/8"
D x 1-1/4" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Silk finish |
Parallel |
|
| Clark’s
ONT |
Clark Thread
Co. |
Name on
paper label; best 6 cord |
1-3/8"
D x 1-1/2" |
Wood, green
dyed |
|
Cotton |
|
|
|
|
| Clark’s
ONT |
Clark Thread
Co. |
Name on
paper label; 6 cord |
1-1/8"
D x 1-7/16" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
40, 50,
60 |
|
|
|
| Clark’s
ONT |
Clark Thread
Co. |
Name on
paper label; best 6 cord spool cotton |
1"
D x 1-1/4; |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
40, 50,
60, 70, 100 |
Mercerized |
|
|
| |
|
|
1-1/8"
D x 1-3/8"; |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
8 |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
1-3/8"
D x 1-1/2" |
Wood, green
dyed |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Clark’s
ONT |
Clark Thread
Co. |
Name on
paper label; marking cotton |
¾ "
D x 1" |
Wood, bow
tie |
scrollwork
at one end |
Cotton |
|
|
|
|
| Clark’s
ONT |
Clark Thread
Co. |
Name on
paper label; extra strong |
1-1/4"
D x 1-5/8"; |
Polished
maple |
|
Cotton |
|
Carpet,
button |
|
|
| |
|
|
1-1/4"
D x 1-3/4" |
Plastic,
early |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Clark’s
ONT |
Clark Thread
Co. |
Name on
paper label; boilfast |
1-3/8"
D x 1-3/4" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Mercerized |
|
|
| Clark’s
ONT |
Clark Thread
Co. |
Name on
paper label; sewing; boilfast |
7/8"
D x 1-1/8" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Mercerized |
|
|
| Clark’s
ONT |
Clark Thread
Co. |
Top rim:
O.N.T.; Bottom rim: boilfast 5030 |
2"
D x 2-1/2" |
Wood cylinder |
|
Cotton |
00 |
|
Crosswound |
|
| Clark’s
FOX |
Clark Thread
Co. |
Name on
paper label; 3 cord, left twist |
1-1/2"
D x 2" |
Polished
maple |
|
Cotton |
00 |
Mercerized |
|
|
| Coats |
Coats |
Name on
paper label |
7/8"
D x 1-1/8" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
40 |
|
|
|
| Coats Super
Sheen |
Coats |
Name on
paper label; boilfast |
1-1/8"
D x 1-3/8, |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Mercerized |
|
|
| |
|
|
1-3/8"
D x 1-3/4" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Mercerized |
|
|
| Coats Super
Sheen |
Coats |
Name on
paper label; with silicone; boilfast |
1-1/8"
x 1-1/8" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Mercerized |
|
|
| Coats Gold
Chain |
Coats |
Name on
paper label |
7/8"
D x 1-1/8" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Mecerized |
|
|
| Coats &
Clark |
Coats &
Clark |
Name on
paper label; sewing thread |
1"
D x 1-1/4" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Mercerized,
silk finish |
|
|
| Coats &
Clark |
Coats &
Clark |
Name on
paper label; taslan textured; wash and wear |
1"
D x 1-3/16" |
Wood |
|
Nylon |
|
|
|
|
| Coats &
Clark ONT |
Coats &
Clark |
Name on
paper label; sewing thread |
|
Wood, small
bow tie |
|
Cotton |
|
Mercerized |
|
|
| Coats &
Clark ONT |
Coats &
Clark |
Name on
paper label; extra strong |
1-3/8"
D x 1-7/8" |
Wood, green
dyed |
|
Cotton |
|
Carpet,
button |
|
|
| Coats &
Clark ONT |
Coats &
Clark |
Name on
paper label; extra strong |
1-1/4"
D x 1-3/8" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
|
Mercerized,
heavy duty |
|
|
| Coats &
Clark ONT |
Coats &
Clark |
Name on
paper label; silk twist |
1"
D x 5/8" |
Plastic
bobbin |
|
Pure silk |
D |
|
|
|
| Clark’s
ONT |
Coats &
Clark NYC NY |
Name on
paper label; boilfast |
7/8"
D x 1-1/8"; |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Mercerized |
|
|
| |
|
|
1-1/4"
D x 1-3/4" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Mercerized |
|
|
| |
|
|
1-1/8"
D x 1-3/8" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Mercerized |
|
|
| Clark’s
ONT |
Coats &
Clark |
Name on
paper label; sheer fabric |
¾"
D x 1" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
60 |
Mercerized |
|
|
| Clark’s
ONT |
Coats &
Clark |
Name on
paper label; boilfast, extra strong |
1-1/8"
D x 1-3/8" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
|
Heavy duty
|
|
|
| Dacron |
J&P
Coats |
Paper label; use warm iron |
1"D x 1-1/8" |
Wood |
|
Poly |
A |
|
|
|
| J&P
Coats |
J&P
Coats |
Name on
paper label; best spool cotton |
7/8"
D x 1" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
100 |
|
|
|
| J&P
Coats |
J&P
Coats |
Name on
paper label; best 6 cord |
7/8"
D x 1-1/8"; |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
30, 40 |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
¾"
D x 1" |
|
|
Cotton |
70 |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
1-1/4"
D x 1-3/8" |
Maple |
|
Cotton |
70 |
|
|
|
| J&P
Coats |
J&P
Coats |
Name on
paper label; boilfast; best spool cotton |
7/8"
x 1" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
70 |
Heavy duty |
|
|
| J&P
Coats |
J&P
Coats |
Name stamped
on spool; boilfast |
5/8"
D x 1"; |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
|
Mercerized |
|
|
| |
|
|
1-1/8"
D x 1-1/2"; |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
|
Heavy duty |
|
|
| |
|
|
1-1/2"
D x 1-3/4"; |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
|
Heavy duty |
|
|
| |
|
|
1"
D x 1-3/8" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
|
Heavy duty |
|
|
| J&P
Coats |
J&P
Coats |
Name stamped
on label; extra strong |
1"
D x 1-1/8" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
|
Heavy duty |
|
|
| J&P
Coats |
J&P
Coats |
Name stamped
on spool spool; top & bottom same - boilfast |
7/8" D x 1-1/4" |
Wood |
|
Silk |
A |
Pure dye |
|
|
| J&P
Coats BEAR |
J&P
Coats UK |
Name on
paper label; BEAR and bear logo on both sides; Made in Great Britain;
best 6 cord |
1.1"
D x 1.8" |
Wood |
Spool color
matches or harmonizes with thread color |
Cotton |
50, 60 |
Mercerized,
long-staple cotton |
Bear in
Europe denotes extra strong thread. |
|
Cutter Mfg. Co. –Champion --Gudebrod
Bros Silk Co. – all brands listed separately
Label Pictures
| Brand |
Company |
Label Information |
Spool Length, Diameter
& |
Spool Shape, Type
of Wood or Substance |
Scrollwork/
Decoration Est. Age |
Fiber |
Size or Count |
Type of Thread |
How Wound |
Comments & History |
| Champion |
Gudebrod
Bros Silk Co. [1954] |
|
|
Cardboard
hollow cylinder |
|
Silk |
00 |
|
Parallel |
Est. 1870 |
| Champion
Silk |
Cutter
Silk Mfg. Co. Gudebrodd Bros. Successor |
Name engraved
on label |
1"
D x 1-1/4"; |
Wood |
|
Silk |
00, A |
|
|
Est. 1870 |
| Champion
Silk |
Gudebrod
Bros |
Name on
paper label; Neverknot; for hand sewing |
1-1/4"
D x 5/8" |
Wood bobbin |
|
Silk |
A |
|
|
|
| Champion
Silk |
Gudebrod
Bros |
Name on
paper label; bottom engraved with blue shield "This Shield Is
Your Protection" |
1-1/4"
D x 2" |
Wood |
|
Silk |
)) |
pure dye |
|
|
| Gudebrod |
Gudebrod
Bros |
Engraved
in green; top This Shield is Your Protection; bottom: TEX |
|
Wood |
|
Cotton
|
50 |
|
|
|
| Monarch |
Gudebrod
Bros |
|
|
Cardboard
hollow cylinder |
|
Cotton |
|
Mercerized |
|
|
| Monarch
|
Gudebrod
Bros |
Engraved
blue label; top: This Shield is Your Protection; bottom: Guaranteed
by Gudebrod Bros. |
|
Wood |
|
Cotton |
|
Mercerized |
|
|
| Monarch
|
|
|
1-1/2"
D x 2" |
Wood |
|
Silk |
00 |
Machine
twist |
|
|
| Monarch
|
Gudebrod Bros |
Top engraved & painted with red band; lion face logo; 100 yds; bottom engraved Gudebrod Bros.; vat dyed, twist |
standard |
Wood |
|
Sea Island Cotton |
50 |
Mercerized |
|
|
| Cutter’s
Sewing Silk |
John D.
Cutter Co. |
Name carved
on spool end; machine twist |
¾"
D x 1-1/8" |
Wood |
|
Silk |
|
Hand,
machine |
Parallel |
Est. 1870
|
Misc Threads: Dandy
| Brand |
Company |
Label Information |
Spool Length, Diameter
& |
Spool Shape, Type
of Wood or Substance |
Scrollwork/
Decoration Est. Age |
Fiber |
Size or Count |
Type of Thread |
How Wound |
Comments & History |
| Dandy |
|
Name on
paper label |
|
Wood |
|
Cotton |
100 |
|
|
|
Dexter/Collingbourne/Virginia Snow:
Label and Catalog Pictures in Photo Gallery
All brands listed separately
Grandma Dexter is a familiar name to sewers, needleworkers and quilters with its sewing products inclduing bias tape.
Thanks to Shirley McElderry who provided this chronology:
1798 - Dexter Yarn Co. established in Pawtucket RI; mill built in 1813; by 1820 producing knitting
cotton, later cotton threads and yarns.
1907 - Western Thread Co. founded in Elgin IL, a yarn and thread dyer for general mills.
1912 - A. B. Collingbourne joined company. Artzilk artificial embroider and crochet thread
introduced.
1915 - Western Thread published Encyclopedia of Art Needlwork by Virginia Snow.
1918 - Name changed to Collingbourne Mills. Began manufacturing cotton thread. Logo was ABC in a diamond for Americ'as Best Cottons and A.B. Collingbourne.
1924 - Collingbourne Mills purchased Berkshire & Becket [1885]of Becket MA, silk product
manufacturers. This line plus stamped embroidery patterns offered.
1926 - Modern needlework plant built and operated as Virginia Snow Studios. Collingbourne reputed to be largest independent manufacturer of spool, embroidery and chrochet threads in USA.
1927 - Collingbourne purchase Dexter Yarn Co.
1937 - Collingbourne sold to rudy Petzeit and name changed to Dexter Thread Mills.
1938 - Dexter Mills went bankrupt and into receiversip.
1946 - Dexter acquired by Fink and Fried, resellersr of nylon parachute thread; Lustra Nylon thread and Dexter's remaining sewing lines now offered.
1949 - With introduction of catalog to sell thread and needlwork supplies, a more consumer oriented name was needed. Looking at a world map, one of the owner's eyes happen to fall on Leeward Islands, thus business was called Leewards.
1969 - General Mills purchased Leeward as part of its leisure-time division.
1985 - Unprofitable catalog division closed in 1984. Company sold to Munford Inc of Atlanta.
1987 August - Dillard Munford, the founder and chief executive officer of Munford, Inc., suggested to Munford, Inc.'s board of directors that it sell Munford, Inc. At that time, Munford, Inc., a public company, operated Lee Ward's Creative Crafts, which had evolved to an arts and crafts chain; and two other specialty retailer stores: Majik Market, a chain of convenience stores; World Bazaar, a chain of stores specializing in imported goods. Munford, Inc. also owned a majority interest in United Refrigerator Services, Inc. (URS). Munford board retained fiancial advisors, Shearson Lehman Brothers (Shearson). Shearson researched and then opined that a sale of all of Munford's common stock would afford Munford, Inc. the most desirable means of maximizing shareholder value while preserving its financial viability.
1988 May 2 - Munford, Inc. sold its Lee Ward's stores to Prudential Bache because it had failed to secure a single purchaser for Lee Ward's stock. sprinbrook emporium . For additional information see: http://www.law.emory.edu/11circuit/oct96/94-9046.opa.htm
| Brand |
Company |
Label Information |
Spool Length, Diameter
& |
Spool Shape, Type
of Wood or Substance |
Scrollwork/
Decoration Est. Age |
Fiber |
Size or Count |
Type of Thread |
How Wound |
Comments & History |
| Byssine |
Collingbourne Mills |
Engraved |
¾" D x 1" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
50 |
|
|
|
| Collingbourne Gold Medal |
Collingbourne/ Dexter Mills Elgin IL |
Stamped, Collingbourne's superior silk thread |
Standard |
Wood |
|
Pure Silk |
A, B |
Hand & Sewing |
|
|
| Collingbourne Gold Medal |
Collingbourne/ Dexter Mills Elgin IL |
Stamped, Collingbourne's buttonhole twist |
Small |
Wood |
|
Silk twist |
D |
Buttonhole |
|
|
| Collingbourne Gold Medal |
Collingbourne/ Dexter Mills Elgin IL |
Stamped; pure dye machine twist,standard quality |
Large |
Wood |
|
Silk |
A, B, O |
General purpose |
|
|
| Collingbourne |
Collingbourne/ Dexter Mills Elgin IL |
Stamped; linen finish |
Large |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
|
Carpet & button |
|
|
| Collingbourne |
Collingbourne/ Dexter Mills Elgin IL |
Stamped |
Standard |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
|
Silk finish |
|
|
| Dexter |
Collingbourne/ Dexter Mills Elgin IL |
Stamped; spool cotton |
Standard |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Mercerized |
|
|
| Dexter |
Collingbourne/ Dexter Mills Elgin IL |
Stamped; genuine 6 cord |
Standard |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
8-100 |
High grade |
|
|
| Dexter |
Collingbourne/ Dexter Mills Elgin IL |
Stamped; twist cord |
Large |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
40-60 |
Glacé finish |
|
|
| Dexter |
Collingbourne/ Dexter Mills Elgin IL |
Stamped; turkey red and indigo blue marking cotton |
Small, balled |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
6-24 |
embroidery |
|
|
Misc Threads: Dragon, Dyno,
Erin’s Pride, Excelsior, Forest, Fruit of the Loom, Geneva, Glasgo, Glasgow
| Brand |
Company |
Label Information |
Spool Length, Diameter
& |
Spool Shape, Type
of Wood or Substance |
Scrollwork/
Decoration Est. Age |
Fiber |
Size or Count |
Type of Thread |
How Wound |
Comments & History |
| Dragon |
|
Name on
paper label; same label both ends; 3 cord |
7/8"
D x 1-1/8" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
40 |
|
|
|
| Dyno |
|
Orange
paper label; Made in Italy; 3-cord washable |
7/8 D x
1-1/8 |
Wood |
|
Cotton
|
50 |
Mercerized |
|
|
| Erin’s
Pride |
Lindsay
Thompson Ltd., Linen thread Mills, Belfast Ireland |
Name on
paper label |
1-3/4"
D x 2" |
Wood dyed
orange |
|
Linen |
70 |
|
Parallel |
|
| Excelsior |
|
|
|
Wood |
|
Linen |
25 - 90 |
|
|
1871 or
earlier |
| Forest |
|
|
|
Wood |
|
Cotton |
|
|
|
1871 or
earlier |
| Fruit of
the Loom |
Fruit of
the Loom |
Name on
paper label; fast color |
7/8"
D x 1-1/8" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Mercerized |
Parallel |
|
| Geneva |
|
Paper label; |
1-1/2" x 2" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
16F |
Glace finish |
|
|
| Glasgo |
Glasgo
Thread Co. Worcester MA |
Name on
paper label; |
1-5/8"
D x 1-58 |
Wood |
red dyed,
bow tie |
|
|
|
|
|
| Glasgow |
|
|
|
Wood |
|
Cotton |
|
|
|
1871 or
earlier |
Great Lakes Thread Co. – all brands listed separately
| Brand |
Company |
Label Information |
Spool Length, Diameter & |
Spool Shape, Type of Wood or Substance |
Scrollwork/
Decoration Est. Age |
Fiber |
Size or Count |
Type of Thread |
How Wound |
Comments & History |
| Great Lakes Thread |
Great Lakes Thread, Detroit MI |
|
|
Cardboard hollow cylinder |
|
Cotton |
00 |
Mercerized |
Parallel |
Est. 1910 |
| Emerson |
Great Lakes Thread |
Name on paper label; 3 cord |
|
Wood, bow tie |
|
Cotton |
|
Mercerized |
Parallel |
|
Misc Threads: Globe, Gloria, Green & Daniels,
Hadley, Hall & Manning, Hall’s Reya, Handi-End Spool, Harmon,
Hi Test, Holland, Holyoke, Hope, Iruha, Ivory Brand, Johnson & Johnson,
Keystone, King's, Marshall, Melrose, Merrick's, Meyer, National
Label Pictures
| Brand |
Company |
Label Information |
Spool Length, Diameter
& |
Spool Shape, Type
of Wood or Substance |
Scrollwork/
Decoration Est. Age |
Fiber |
Size or Count |
Type of Thread |
How Wound |
Comments & History |
| Globe |
Globe Silkworks
New Haven, Ct |
Name on
paper label |
1-3/8"
D x 2" |
Wood |
|
Silk |
A |
Pure dye
|
|
1871 or
earlier |
| Gloria |
The Thread Mills Monticello, IN |
Name stamped one end; brandname other end |
1" D x 1-1/4" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
50 |
|
|
|
| Green &
Daniels |
|
3 and 6
cord |
|
|
Wood |
|
Cotton |
|
|
1871 or
earlier |
| Hadley |
|
|
|
Wood |
|
Cotton |
|
|
|
1871 or
earlier |
| Hall &
Manning |
|
|
|
Wood |
|
Cotton |
|
|
|
1871 or
earlier |
| Hall’s
Reya |
|
Name on
paper label; boilfast |
½"
D x 1" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Mercerized |
Parallel |
|
| Harmon |
Paramount
Thread Co. NYC NY |
Name on
paper label; 3 cord |
1-3/8"
D x 2 |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
00 |
Mercerized |
Parallel |
|
| Hi Test |
I. Fleischer
& Sons Cincinnati OH |
Name on
paper label; 3 cord |
1-3/8"
D x 2 |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
00 |
Mercerized |
Parallel |
|
| Holland |
Holland
Mfg. Co. |
Name on
paper label; engraved bottom " Property of the Block Co. |
1-1/8" |
Wood |
|
Silk |
A |
Pure dye |
|
|
| Holyoke |
|
|
|
Wood |
|
Cotton |
|
|
|
1871 or
earlier |
| Hope |
|
|
|
Wood |
|
Cotton |
|
|
|
1871 or
earlier |
| Iruha |
Made in
Occupied Japan |
Paper label;
top red; bottom white; best Cotton |
5/8 D x
1 |
Wood |
Dyed black
|
Cotton
|
50 |
Mercerized |
|
|
| Ivory Brand |
|
Name on
paper label; sewing for machine & hand Stamped on spool; |
7/8"
D x 1" |
Foam, sewing
kit |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Mercerized |
Parallel |
|
| |
|
sewing
for machine & hand |
1"
D x 1-1/4" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
50 |
|
|
|
| Johnson
& Johnson |
Johnson
& Johnson New Brunswick NJ |
|
1"
D |
Wood |
|
Nylon |
1 |
Braided
nylon |
Parallel
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Wood |
|
Cotton |
|
|
|
1871 or
earlier |
| Keswick |
|
engraved; Made in USA; 100 yds. |
standard |
Wood |
|
Silk |
A |
Pure dye |
|
|
| Keystone |
|
Name engraved
on spool; 4 cord |
1-3/4"
D x 2-3/8" |
Wood |
bow tie |
Sea Island
cotton |
20 |
Combed |
|
|
| King's |
|
3 and 6
cord |
|
Wood |
|
Cotton |
|
|
|
1871 or
earlier |
| Marshall |
Marshall
& Co. |
|
|
Spool,
skein and balls |
|
Linen |
12 - 60 |
|
|
1871 or
earlier |
| Melrose |
|
Name engraved
on label; 3 cord |
1"
D x 1-1/4" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
A |
|
|
|
| Merrick's |
|
|
|
Wood |
|
Cotton |
|
|
|
1871 or
earlier |
| Meyer |
John C.
Meyer Thread Co. Lowell MA |
Name engraved
on label; |
1-1/2 D
x 1-1/2" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
|
Carpet
Thread |
|
1876 |
| |
|
name on
paper label; |
1-1/2"
D x 2" |
Wood |
|
Silk substitute |
|
pure dye |
Gretna
superfine twist |
[rayon] |
| National |
|
|
|
Wood |
|
Cotton |
|
|
|
1871 or
earlier |
National
(not known if same brand) |
Canada The National Ltd., Le Fil National |
Name on red & white paper; Fr/English Bottom: maple leaf in circle is trademark/ marque deposée |
1-1/4" x 1-1/4 |
Wood |
Bottom end has beveled rim |
Cotton |
3 cord |
Mercerized Mercerisé |
|
|
Necchi/Elna – all brands listed separately
| Brand |
Company |
Label Information |
Spool Length, Diameter & |
Spool Shape, Type of Wood or Substance |
Scrollwork/
Decoration Est. Age |
Fiber |
Size or Count |
Type of Thread |
How Wound |
Comments & History |
| Necchi |
Necchi/Elna Italy |
Name on paper label; fast colors |
1-1/8" D x 1-5/8" |
Wood |
beveled rims |
Sewing & embroidery thread |
50 |
|
|
|
| Sewing Circle |
Necchi/Elna |
Made in Switzerland |
1-1/4" D |
Wood |
|
|
50 |
Variegated |
Parallel |
|
Misc Threads:Nelco, NON X.L, Onata, Orchard, Orrs & Macnaught, Paisley, Palisade, Paragon, Penimaid
Label Pictures
| Brand |
Company |
Label Information |
Spool Length, Diameter & |
Spool Shape, Type of Wood or Substance |
Scrollwork/
Decoration Est. Age |
Fiber |
Size or Count |
Type of Thread |
How Wound |
Comments & History |
| Nelco |
|
Name on paper label; fast colors |
1-1/8" D x 1-5/8" |
Wood, bow tie |
beleveled rims |
Special emb. thread |
50 |
Variegated |
|
|
| NON X.L |
|
Paper label gold & black, 3 cord |
1-1/4" x 2" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
O |
Mercerized |
|
|
| Onata |
|
Paper label, burgundy & grey twist |
1-1/4"x 1-1/2" |
Wood |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Orchard |
|
Name on paper label; highest quality |
|
Wood |
|
Cotton |
50, 60 |
Mercerized |
Parallel |
|
| Orrs & Macnaught |
|
|
|
Wood |
|
Cotton |
|
|
|
1871 or earlier |
| Paisley |
|
|
|
Wood |
|
Silk |
|
|
|
1871 or earlier |
| Palisade |
Palisade Flax Mills |
|
|
Hanks |
|
Linen |
25 - 60 |
|
|
1871 or earlier |
| Paragon |
|
Name engraved on label; machine twist;
warranted |
7/8" D x 1-1/4 |
Wood |
|
Silk |
A |
Pure dye |
|
|
| Penimaid |
J.C. Penny? |
Name engraved on label; spool silk |
7/8" D x 1-1/4" |
Wood |
|
Silk |
A |
|
|
|
Max Pollack – all brands listed separately
| Brand |
Company |
Label Information |
Spool Length, Diameter & |
Spool Shape, Type of Wood or Substance |
Scrollwork/
Decoration Est. Age |
Fiber |
Size or Count |
Type of Thread |
How Wound |
Comments & History |
| EMPECO |
Max Pollack & Co. Inc. Mills Groton CN |
Top: black paper label with gold name; bottom: illegible engraved & stamped |
1-1/4" x 2 |
Wood, polished maple |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Mercerized |
|
|
| Knight Brand |
Max Pollack XYW Mills Groton CN |
Name on paper label; extra quality |
7/8" D x 1-1/4" |
Wood, bow tie |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Parallel |
|
|
| Max Pollack |
Max Pollack |
Name stamped on rim of spool |
1" D x 2-1/2" |
Hollow cardboard cylinder |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Heavy duty |
Crosswise |
|
| |
|
Name stamped on both sides of spool;
Manilla |
1-1/4" D x 1-3/4" |
Wood |
|
Nylon |
50 |
Parallel |
|
|
| MP |
Max Pollack Co. Inc., New York |
Name stamped one end; other, MP and None Better |
1-1/4" D x 2" |
Wood, bow tie |
|
Cotton |
2 cord |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Misc Threads: Putnam, Primrose
| Brand |
Company |
Label Information |
Spool Length, Diameter & |
Spool Shape, Type of Wood or Substance |
Scrollwork/
Decoration Est. Age |
Fiber |
Size or Count |
Type of Thread |
How Wound |
Comments & History |
| Putnam Mills |
Hammond, Hamilton & Co. |
Name on paper label; machine silk, warranted, pure dye, tsatlee [??] |
1-1/4" D x 2" |
Wood |
bow tie |
Silk |
O |
Pure dye |
|
|
| Primrose |
Primrose Trimming Co., 105 W. 49th St. NYC |
Name stamped one end; other end, name on gold & black paper label |
1-3/8 D" x 2 |
Wood |
bow tie |
Cotton |
003 cord |
Mercerized |
|
Mfg. bias tape |
A.H. Rice Co. – all brands listed separately
| Brand |
Company |
Label Information |
Spool Length, Diameter
& |
Spool Shape, Type
of Wood or Substance |
Scrollwork/
Decoration Est. Age |
Fiber |
Size or Count |
Type of Thread |
How Wound |
Comments & History |
| Rice’s
Sewing Silk |
A. H. Rice
Co. Pittsfield MA |
Name engraved
on spool |
1"
D x 1-1/4" L |
Wood |
|
Silk, pure
dye silk |
A |
|
Parallel |
|
| Rice’s
Mercerized Thread |
A.H. Rice
Co. |
Name engraved
on spool; smoothest & strongest; fast color |
1"
D x 1-1/4" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Mercerized |
Parallel |
|
| Handi-End
Spool |
A.H. Rice |
Name engraved
on spool |
1"
D x 1-1/8" |
Wood |
|
Silk |
|
Darning |
Crosswise |
|
| Rices |
A.H. Rice
Co. |
Paper label
on packet; Highest quality; Keep in Cool Place; 250 yds precut into
1 yd lengths |
3"
W x 14-1/2" L |
Heavy manilla
|
Packet
with pullout feature |
Silk |
F |
Pure dye;
waxed for hand sewing |
|
|
Misc Threads:
Rival, Roxy, Subsilk, Samoset
| Brand |
Company |
Label Information |
Spool Length, Diameter
& |
Spool Shape, Type
of Wood or Substance |
Scrollwork/
Decoration Est. Age |
Fiber |
Size or Count |
Type of Thread |
How Wound |
Comments & History |
| Rival |
|
Engraved
label; top: None Better; bottom: Sea Island Sewing Thread |
|
Wood |
|
Cotton |
A |
Mercerized
twist |
|
estab.
1898 |
| Roxy |
|
printed, 3-Cord |
Spindle |
Cardboard cylinder |
|
Cotton |
|
|
|
|
| Subsilk |
Henry Myer
Thread Co., Chicago IL |
Paper label
inside cone spool: |
2"
bottom D, ¾" top D x 5-1/2" |
Thick,
polished waffle-weave textured cone |
|
Cotton |
A |
Mercerized |
Crosswound |
|
| Samoset |
|
|
|
Wood |
|
Cotton |
|
|
|
1871 or
earlier |
Sears, Roebuck & Co. – all brands listed
separately
Label Pictures
| Brand |
Company |
Label Information |
Spool Length, Diameter & |
Spool Shape, Type of Wood or Substance |
Scrollwork/
Decoration Est. Age |
Fiber |
Size or Count |
Type of Thread |
How Wound |
Comments & History |
| Ace |
Sears Roebuck & Co. |
Name on paper label; best 6 cord |
1" D x 1-3/8" |
Polished maple |
|
Cotton |
40 |
|
Parallel |
|
| Fairfax |
Sears |
Name engraved on label; sold only by
Sears, Roebuck & Co. |
1-1/4" D x 1-3/4" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Mercerized |
|
|
| Sears |
Sears |
Name engraved on label; boilproof |
7/8" D x 1-3/8" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Mercerized |
|
|
Misc Threads: Sparta, Stafford, Stiles Waxt Thread, Stuart's Standard
| Brand |
Company |
Label Information |
Spool Length, Diameter & |
Spool Shape, Type of Wood or Substance |
Scrollwork/
Decoration Est. Age |
Fiber |
Size or Count |
Type of Thread |
How Wound |
Comments & History |
| Sparta |
|
Name on paper label; washable |
7/8" D x 1" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Mercerized |
Parallel |
|
| Stafford |
Stafford & Bros. |
|
|
Wood |
|
Cotton |
|
|
|
1871 or earlier |
| Stiles Waxt Thread |
Stiles Sycamore IL |
Name on Paper label; does not knot;
6 cord |
¾" D x 1/8" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
80 |
Waxed |
Parallel |
|
| Stuart's Standard |
|
|
|
Pound |
|
Linen |
25 - 60 |
|
|
1871 or earlier |
Talon Corp – brands listed individually
Label Pictures
| Brand |
Company |
Label Information |
Spool Length, Diameter & |
Spool Shape, Type of Wood or Substance |
Scrollwork/
Decoration Est. Age |
Fiber |
Size or Count |
Type of Thread |
How Wound |
Comments & History |
| Heirloom |
Talon American |
Name on paper label |
1-3/8"D x 1-3/4" |
Plastic, early |
|
Cotton |
|
Quilting |
Parallel |
|
| Talon |
Talon American |
Name on paper label; dressmaker |
1-1/2" D x 2-1/8" |
Black plastic, early |
|
Cottonu> |
40 |
Mercerized |
|
|
| Talon |
Talon Corp. |
Name on paper label; colorfast |
1" Dx 1-1/8" |
Foam |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Mercerized |
Parallel |
|
| |
|
|
1-1/2"D x 1-3/4" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Mercerized |
Parallel |
|
| |
|
|
1"D x 1-1/8" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
|
Heavy duty |
Parallel |
|
| |
|
|
1-1/4"D x 1-3/4" |
Plastic, early |
|
Cotton |
|
Quilting |
Parallel |
|
| |
|
|
1-3/8" D x 1-3/4 |
Foam |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Mercerized |
|
|
| Talon |
Talon Corp |
Name on paper label; dressmaker |
1-1/2" D x 2-1/8" |
Plastic, early |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Mercerized |
|
|
| Talon |
Talon |
Named stamped on spool; Packaged by
Talon |
1" D x 5/8" |
Foam bobbin |
|
Silk |
D |
Buttonhole twist |
|
|
Misc Threads: Trusew Twist, Unknown Open
book logo, W.,Wamesit, Warren Thread Wks, Wood, Woolco, Stanton
& Co., Williston's C.S.I., Wil-Sew, Wyoming, York Street Threads
| Brand |
Company |
Label Information |
Spool Length, Diameter
& |
Spool Shape, Type
of Wood or Substance |
Scrollwork/
Decoration Est. Age |
Fiber |
Size or Count |
Type of Thread |
How Wound |
Comments & History |
| Trusew
Twist |
|
Name engraved
on spool |
1"
D x 1-1/4" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
50 |
Mercerized |
Parallel |
|
| Unknown
Open book logo |
Made in
Great Britain |
Paper label
|
1-1/8"
x 1-1/8" |
Wood |
milled
& beveled at ends |
Cotton |
40 |
Parallel |
|
|
| Unknown
wlton Knowlton |
New York possibly |
Paper label, green & blk machine twist |
1-1/4" D x 1-3/4" |
Wood |
|
Silk |
|
Pure dye |
|
|
| W. "Could
be Warren brand" |
|
Engraved;
red one end; blue other end |
5/8 D x
1 |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
|
Mercerized |
|
|
| Wamesit |
Lowell Thread Mills |
paper label; best quality hard twist |
3- 7/8"D x 6.75" |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
20 |
Silk finish |
|
|
| Warren
Thread Wks |
|
Engraved;
red on one end; blue other end |
5/8 D x
1 |
Wood |
|
Cotton |
|
Mercerized |
|
|
| Woolco |
|
Engraved, machinetwist |
1" D x 1-1/4" |
Wood |
|
|
A |
|
|
|
| Wood, Stanton
& Co. |
Stafford
& Bros. |
Spool silk |
|
|
|
Silk |
|
|
|
1871 or
earlier |
| Williston's
C.S.I. |
Williston
Mills |
Best 6-cord;
hand and machine sewing |
|
|
|
Combed
Sea Island cotton |
|
|
|
1871 or
earlier |
| Wil-Sew |
Segal-Wilson Co. 3418 Reading Rd Cincinnati OH |
Name on gold & black paper labels; WIL-SEW one end; Segal-Wilson other end |
1-2/8" D x 2 |
Wood |
Bow tie |
Cotton |
2 cord |
Mercerized |
|
Resembles Hi Test in appearance and city of origin |
| Wyoming |
|
|
|
Wood |
|
Cotton |
|
|
|
1871 or
earlier |
| York Street Threads |
York Street Threads Ltd., Belfast, N. Ireland |
Paper label: made in Ireland |
|
Wood |
|
18 Linen |
3 cord |
Carpet thread |
|
|
Thread Chart | Spool
Sizes and Shapes | Labels - Misc. | Labels 2 - Misc. | Labels -
Belding Corticelli Richardson | Labels - American
Thread Co., Globe Silkworks, Gudenbrod Bros., Paragon Thread Co., Sears, Talons, Cutter
Silk Mfg. Co. | Labels - Coats & Clark | Ads | Ads Page 2 | Thread Memorabilia | Printed Literature | Cabinets / Furniture | Thread Column First Page | Crochet, Knitting and Tatting on Wood Spools
Contributors: Dana Balsamo, Thelma Bernard, Dorothy Glantz, Shirley McElderry, Anne Papworth, Pat Roth, Ellen Ambron, Judy White, Nira Leitzke, Kimberly Wulfert, Val Magnuson, Marge Thomas, Barbara Ziolkowski, Donna May, Donald Brokate, Robin Meathenia
The arbitrary cut-off date for
this Vintage Fabric column is 1960. To stay within the scope of this timeframe, reference
materials published up to that date are the prime source of information to more accurately
capture actual thoughts of the time.
Joan Kiplinger is an antique doll costumer and vintage
fabric addict who learned to sew on her grandmother's treadle and has been peddling
fabrications ever since.
|
