King Philip Mills

A cancelled $500 First Mortgage Bond for the King Philip Mills, Fall River, Massachusetts. From 1900. Issued by the BMC Durfee Safe Deposit and Trust Company. It was due March 1, 1930. That same year the company was acquired by Berkshire Fine Spinning Associates (a company that forms part of the origin of Berkshire-Hathaway).

Ball-o-thread

An antique ball of thread from the American Thread Company, Fall River, Massachusetts. The Kerr Mills became part of ATCO in 1899, and the Fall River plant closed in 1953. The entire complex was destroyed by a massive fire in January 1987. I remember seeing the flames just starting in the first mill on my way to school that morning, but missed the fire because I had to get to school. I picked up this entire original box of old crochet thread on ebay a few months back. Cool piece of local textile history.

Lowell Shuttle

An antique wooden loom shuttle; Lowell Shuttle Company, Lowell, Massachusetts, Model 484.
I have been trying to find out more information on this company for a while, but have had no luck. This one is in very good shape, it seems.

1917 Official American Textile Directory.

One of my most prized possessions. I picked this up about nine years ago. It has lots of useful information about the textile industry, at about the peak of the industry in New England. Includes lists of mills by state and city. Lots of facts and figures and wonderful old ads.

Barnaby Zephyrs

"Do not choose your wash fabrics for 1910 until you have seen... Barnaby's fabric of quality." Sample of fine Scotch Gingham. The Barnaby Manufacturing Company was established in Fall River in 1892 on Quequechan Street. Later, until the late 1970s the site was used by Frito-Lay. In the 1980s it became the Quality Outlets which included factory outlet stores for Levi's, Dockers and a very good book store I used to go to often to get cheap books. Most recently it was occupied by Mill Stores and Cardi Furniture. The factory was demolished in 2010 for a shopping center that has not yet been built.