Expert: Irene Schwall - 6/6/2010

Question
I was recently given a old 7 drawer Clarks/Anchor Spool chest with glass drawers. The glass is clear and the drawers are shallow with a single pull style knob. The lettering is black and runs along the top "Clarks Anchor" and on the Bottom "Embroidery Thread Fast Colors" and on the very bottom is a green in color stamp that states gaskell and chambers burmingham Article No. -Hard to read but think it states 48C3. Any information is appreciated!! thx!

Answer
Hello Michelle,
Are you able to take a photo of your spool cabinet for me please?
General info:
Spool cabinets were counter top displays and storage for sewing thread. They commonly had shallow drawers that were divided into narrow compartments. Some had spindles to hold the thread. They were generally made of oak, walnut and on occasion, tin. They were most commonly found in general and dry goods stores. The often had the thread maker's name stenciled or displayed on reverse-painted glass across the drawer fronts. These could be for J & P Coats, Corticelli, Belding Brothers and Merrick.
Clarks history:
In 1867 a Scotsman by the name of George Clark, whose family had long been associated with the thread industry in Paisley, Scotland appeared on the scene. By the 1840's both the Clark's and also the Coats families had come to America.  They both manufactured thread. The cabinets came about as a marketing strategy to provide the retailer with a cabinet to display the spools of thread. The traveling salesman would make frequent stops to check the inventory and restock the cabinets. Most of these display cabinets were given free to the retailer if silk was ordered. Some retailers stocked more than one spool company to attract more customers. These cabinets were made by furniture makers and they are of high quality.
ANCHOR was a Coats & ClarK product.
See: http://www.coatsandclark.com/About+Coats/History/
I hope this helps.
Regards,
Irene