THREAD, a compound cord consist ing of two or more single yarns, doubled and twisted. In the trade it is divided into lace, stocking, and sewing thread. Any fibrous substance, such as cotton or flax, when it is to be woven, is first spun into yarn, which is sometimes called thread. Sewing thread, however, always consists of at least two or more yarns twisted together. In the spinning of yarn the process is the same whether it is to be woven into cloth or twisted into thread. Beginning with the spun yarn, the stages in the process of manufactur ing a six-cord cotton thread (a very com mon kind) are: (1) The yarn is doubled and wound on bobbins; (2) the double yarn is then twisted into a two-ply thread; (3) the thread is next rewound on bobbins for the second twist; (4) the thread is twisted a second time on the twisting frame, three two-ply threads being thus formed into a six-cord thread; (5) the thread is rewound on large bob bins, from which it is reeled into hanks for bleaching or dyeing; (6) the bleached or dyed thread is next rewound on bob bins for spooling; (7) spooling—i. e., winding the thread on small bobbins called spools or pirns for use. The spin dles of the spooling machine run at a speed of 7,000 revolutions per minute.
Paisley is, however, the principal seat of the manufacture in Great Britain. The making of thread on an industrial scale was begun in that town in 1722 by Christian Shaw of Bargarran. She had obtained information from Holland about the process of making linen thread, and what she and her friends manufactured was sold at the time under the name of "Balgarran thread." The industry did
not become of great importance so long as flax was the material used. But in the early part of the 19th century, when the spinning machines of Hargreaves, Ark wright, and others came largely into use, the manufacture of cotton thread was be gun in Paisley, and its progress has been on the whole rapid. This has been espe cially the case since 1860 through the constantly increasing use of sewing ma chines for both domestic and factory pur poses. The mills of Messrs. J. & P. Coats, Limited, are spread over 40 acres of ground, and give employment to fully 5,000 persons; and this firm has also es tablished works at Pawtucket, R. I., and at Petrograd. Next in importance are the works of the Messrs. Clark. In the United States thread is made in several States. The Clarks have large thread mills in Newark and Harrison, N. J.
Linen thread is made at Johnstone, near Paisley, Belfast, Nottingham, and other places. Although a much less quantity of it is manufactured, it is per haps used for a greater variety of pur poses than cotton thread. Silk thread, the stronger kinds of which are called twist, is now used to a very large ex tent for sewing dyed articles of dress.
Cotton was first used in the manufac ture of sewing thread at Pawtucket, R. I., by Samuel Salter in 1794.