I intended to knock out a quick post about all of my antique and vintage sewing trinkets. Who was I kidding? -- this is going to take several posts. Hope you will stay with me!!
I'm going to start with my Coats and Clark's thread stuff as it is the most sizable in quantity. If you are interested in the history of the company, there is all kind of info out there on the web. I'll spare you a really long history lesson.
What got me intrigued with Clark's O.N.T. collectibles was this thread cabinet. One day while scrounging in the out buildings of my family's farm I noticed it. It probably had been there my entire life - my Dad said it came from a local mercantile company that was throwing it away years and years ago. The top was broken in seven pieces where my Dad's vise had been mounted. This was one of Bob's first furniture restoration projects some 40 years ago. We've never replaced the broken "George A. Clark" glass on the fifth drawer, however.
On the bottom of the top drawer is stamped C. Tollner (the cabinet maker ?), the date of Jul. 30 1887, and Pulaski, NY. Anyway, I think it says Pulaski -- the only thing I can discover is that in 1877, the Clark Co. established a special box factory in Pawtucket, RI and turned out 1000s of cabinets to distribute to general stores that sold their thread. I haven't been able to reconcile the Pulaski, NY location.
In 1970, when I found my thread cabinet, I wrote to Coats and Clark, Inc.; and they sent me the following brochure from their archives. It has the 1887 date on it and looks just like my walnut cabinet.
Several years later I found this small sewing box with the Clark's O.N.T. advertising on it.
It has the same name on it as our cabinet with the patent date of June 1st, 1880.
I have four of these small sewing boxes with different graphics on the inside top cover -- the cowboy is my favorite!
Over the years I have accumulated a number of trade cards used in advertising Clark's O.N.T. Thread in the 1870s-1880s.
They knew how to market their thread -- showing darling images of children!
Below is a little book of nursery rhymes.
This card has elastic on each side which you can twist -- when you release the twist, it twirls around and it looks like the girl is jumping rope.
Below a little Christmas gift of a calendar - 1878
A large folding trade card - "Our unanimous verdict is that O.N.T. beats all others." 
O.N.T. stands for 'our new thread' developed after the sewing machine was patented in America in 1846.
Not all of the trade cards have children pictured. I have several that depict scenes around the world such as 'The Tower of London'.
My next post will have some of my other Clark's O.N.T. items.
I know --- this collecting thing has to stop!
I'm joining the following:
Smiling Sally for Blue Monday
Boogie Board Cottage for Masterpiece Monday
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Inspire Me Monday
Confessions of a Plate Addict for The Scoop Tuesday
Knick of Time Interiors for Knick of Time Vintage Tuesday
Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday
Savvy Southern Style for WOW Us Wednesdays
From My Front Porch to Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursday
Have a Daily Cup for Share Your Cup Thursday
French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Pieced Pastimes for Saturday Sparks
I'm joining the following:
Smiling Sally for Blue Monday
Boogie Board Cottage for Masterpiece Monday
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Inspire Me Monday
Confessions of a Plate Addict for The Scoop Tuesday
Knick of Time Interiors for Knick of Time Vintage Tuesday
Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday
Savvy Southern Style for WOW Us Wednesdays
From My Front Porch to Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursday
Have a Daily Cup for Share Your Cup Thursday
French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Pieced Pastimes for Saturday Sparks
14 comments:
Morning Sally,
Oh, you really have some treasures there! I have some old (very old) spools but that's all.
Isn’t it fun finding blues?
Happy Blue Monday!
Hi, Sally...I love that cabinet so much. It is beautiful...and I love all the other ONT items. A great collection.
Regarding our trip to Santa Fe...I guess I just wasn't in the mood to buy more jewelry for myself. I did, however, buy 9 silver and turquoise crosses for our grandgirls for Christmas. Must buy 9 sterling chains now..think I'll ck them out on Ebay. The crosses are so pretty and actually bought them all from a reputable shop in Red River.
O.K......I DID buy myself a pair of silver and turq earrings there. :)
Love those prints or cards. I really like prints with vintage graphics on them especially children and dogs and cats.
I have seen trade cards with "O.N.T." on them and wondered what it stood for. Love this collection.
Hi Sally! The thread cabinet is beautiful and those cards! My goodness, I love these things. Again, you have the most wonderful things. Don't you love Barbies? I felt almost like a girl again as I sewed and dressed Barbie! :) I don't want to grow up! :)
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
This is an amazing collection. I love vintage sewing items. And, your thread cabinet is to die for. I'll be watching for the next installment. Thanks for sharing.
How wonderful! I love that box! I grabbed the calendar image to use in one of my boxes, thank you!
Good morning and Hello too. Visiting from bj's blog and so happy she wrote about your visit with her. I've been reading your posts back in time. Treasures. Love your sewing/thread collectibles. Visual treats.
Joy
Oh, I love everything and the images are amazing! Thanks for sharing! Sweet hugs, Diane
Hi, again...just by to say I still love that cabinet. hahhaa
Sally, I have so been looking forward to this post!! I love Anything Coats and Clark. I have a few small items, one is a decorative plate, but nothing like your treasures. That cabinet is a beauty and would cost a bundle at an antique store. I would NEVER replace that broken glass. It's priceless. The nursery rhyme is just too cute and I do adore those babies! Thanks for sharing with SYC. You know I will be featuring this next week!
hugs,
Jann
Just the find of the cabinet is worth 10 posts! : ) I'd be over the moon.
What fun to see this collection. I look forward to the sequels. I collect sewing items too. I think your cabinet is one fabulous piece!
Hi Sally,
I happened to stumble on your blog while doing a little historical research on my local community. I happen to live in the village of Pulaski, NY - I was searching for anything "Tollner Box Factory" when I found this blog thread. I see that you were unable to reconcile the "Pulaski, NY" reference stamped on the drawers underside and I'd love to shed a little light!!
The Tollner Box Factory was founded in 1864 by Charles Tollner Sr. in Pulaski. The original factory was converted/built out from an 1808 gristmill. The box factory burned in January of 1886, was quickly rebuilt, and Charles Sr. died at age 73 in 1897. Business continued under the watch of his son, Charles Jr. who died in 1902 at age 53. The second factory burned later in the year of 1902 and its new group of owners rebuilt the factory again. The factory continued to operate until 1934.
I have a photograph where the description reads "The company started making smoking pipes and then went into producing cigar boxes, home and store furniture, thread cabinets, ribbon cabinets, pencil boxes, counter trays, and gramophone cabinets for Columbia record players." It's unclear to me how much (if any) of their products were branded "Tollner" versus being private labeled by some other OEM - such as the various 'Clark's O.N.T.' cabinets/boxes.
I'm not sure what led to the ultimate demise of the business but I do know that the factory site is completely unrecognizable today. A bar, car shop and large public parking occupy the space now. Pulaski is primarily known for its fishing, as the Salmon River runs right through the village (and my backyard!!). The river powered many mills over the years and some ruins still exist. The key economics of the village today include fishing tourism, Felix Scholar - manufacturing specialty papers, and The Fulton Companies (Fulton Boiler Works) - manufacturing industrial/commercial steam boilers, water heaters and thermal fluid heaters.
Hopefully that's more than anybody wanted to know!!
:-D
Thank you for your post,
Jeffrey
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