Sunday, March 11, 2012

Object of the Day: J. & P. Coats Presents "The Model of the Old Mill."



We’ve now seen several trade cards advertising J. & P. Coats thread.  Usually, these chromolithograph cards feature images of chubby-cheeked tots and pernicious cats.  This one is a little different. 

This card dates specifically to August of 1885 and not only advertises for Coats, but also an exhibit which was sponsored by Coats in Louisville, Kentucky.

The card shows a structure which has been made from 80,264 spools of Coats thread (as indicated in the drawing).  It reads, “The Old Stone Mill at Newport.”  The following text accompanies the image:

J. & P. Coats’
Exhibit at the Southern Exposition
Louisville, 1885
Opens Aug. 15th         Closes Oct. 24th

The reverse of the card reads:

J. & P. Coats’
Exhibit at Louisville, Ky.

Model of the Old Mill
Newport, R.I.

“There for my lady’s bower
Built I the lofty tower,
Which, to this very hour,
Stands looking seaward.”
(Longfellow’s “Skeleton in Armour”)

80,264 Spools J. & P. Coats’ Thread
158 different Shades of Color, supported by Eight Columns

Navy Blue                   Cardinal Red
Dark Green                 Terracotta
Dark Brown                Heliotrope
Bronze                         Peacock Blue

108,000 Spools of J. & P. Coats’ thread
shown in different forms,
At the Exhibit of
J. & P. Coats

S.E. Section of Exposition Building.  3 to 7, M to O.

Near Fourth Avenue Entrance

Sadly, I was unable to find any photos of this spectacle, but I’ll bet it was pretty grand.



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