Fabrics.net Fabric StoreFabrics and Textiles Agents, Wholesale, Manufacturers, MillsFabric Sources and Sewing ProfessionalsSearch through Fabric Sources and Fabrics.netFabric Post BoardFabric and Sewing ArticlesColumnsClassified AdsLooking for Fabric and Textiles - Swatch!Sewing, crafts, clothing, quilts - Projects
Fabric Information and Facts
    Fabric Identification
    Fabric Care
    Natural Fibers
      Wool
      Cotton
      Silk
      Linen
      Hemp, Ramie, and Jute

    Man made or Manufactured Fibers
    Weaves
    Q&A
    Wisdom
Looking for Fabric
Looking for Sources
Projects
Overwhelmed? Site Map
Site Search
Site Info
Advertising
Tools for Sources

fabrics.net

Vintage Fabrics  - IN SEARCH OF WARP ENDS
By Joan Kiplinger
Join Joan's Vintage Fabric Discussion List!


printer friendly version

July/August, 2001:

Vintage Thread Chart & Photo Gallery

Limited to Wooden, Foam, Plastic and Other Type Spools and Thread-Related Items up to 1972

This is an ongoing project; we welcome your contributions to thread spools, manufacturing history and photos.

Picture Galleries:

Thread Chart:
(updated 7/09/05 in red)

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.

 

Advertise with us  |  Add your URL  |  Buy Fabrics  |  Business to Business  |  Fabric Sources  |  Search
Q&A  |  Articles  |  Columns  |  Classifieds  |  Find Fabrics  |  Newsletter  |  Projects  |  Home


Fabrics.netTM
Spokane, WA
Copyright © Fabrics.netTM
Contact Us