Thread
3 of the 7 encyclopedias on this shelf carry an entry for Thread. Both are reproduced below, so you can see where they agree and where they differ.
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
a compound cord consisting 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 or twisted into be woven into cloth thread. Beginning with the spun yarn, the stages in the process of manufacturing a six-cord cotton thread (a very common 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 bobbins, from which it is reeled into hanks for bleaching or dyeing; (6) the bleached or dyed thread is next rewound on bobbins for spooling; (7) spooling-i. e., pire. In 305, it was overrun by Alaric, winding the thread on small bobbins called spools or pirns for use. The spindles 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 spin spinning machines of Hargreaves, Arkwright, and others came largely into use, the manufacture of cotton thread was begun in Paisley, and its progress has been on the whole rapid. This has been especially the case since 1860 through the constantly increasing use of sewing machines for both domestic and factory purposes. 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 established 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 perhaps used for a greater variety of purposes than cotton thread. Silk thread, the stronger kinds of which are called twist, is now used to a very large extent for sewing dyed articles of dress. Cotton was first used in the manufacture of sewing thread at Pawtucket, R. I., by Samuel Salter in 1794.
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
thred, a strong, firm yarn used for sewing. The manufacturers distinguish between yarn and thread, holding that thread is composed of two or more strands twisted together. Natural fibers, as of flax, hemp, agave, and palm leaves, have been used in sewing from antiquity. The Iroquois squaw obtained threads for her moccasins by dividing the sinews of a deer finely. The Chippewa Indian obtained material to bind the seams of his birch-bark canoe by splitting up the long roots of the spruce. The making of ordinary sewing thread is as old as the art of spinning. It is made of various materials, cotton, silk, and flax being the more important. Of these, cotton ranks first. The fibres are hollow, flat, and wavy. They do not slip. The long fiber of Sea Island cotton is best. The present cotton thread industry originated at Paisley, Scotland. The occasion is of interest. Paisley had been noted for its textile manufactures for many years. At the time of the Napoleonic wars the finest fabrics in the world were being made here. When the French captured Hamburg the supplies of silk were cut off from Great Britain , and the Paisley mills were obliged to close for lack of material. The Clark Brothers at that time were manufacturers of silk heddle twine for the weavers, and the elder member of the firm, Peter Clark, succeeded in making a substitute for silk thread from cotton. This was the origin of spool cotton. Paisley is still the center of the thread industry. Clark's thread is sold all over the world. In the manufacture of thread, the cotton is carded and combed and spun into the form of yarn, which is sized to add strength and consistency. This yarn is doubled and twisted; three doubled yarns are now twisted together for six-cord thread; for three-cord thread, three of the original yarns are twisted together. The thread is then bleached and wound ready for marketing. When first placed on the market, thread was sold in small skeins or hanks tied up carefully to prevent tangling. Linen thread may still be had in hanks. The harnessmaker's linen thread is sold usually in balls. The threadmaker soon learned, however, to wind his thread on wooden spools. Spool making is an important industry in Maine. New England makes 1,600,000,000 spools, worth $2,000,000, yearly. The manufacture of cotton thread in America began in 1797. American mills now make many million dollars' worth of thread yearly. The American Thread Company, with a capital of $11,000,000, controls the industry. Ireland is headquarters for linen thread. Linen thread is stronger than cotton. Silk is used for sewing upon silken fabrics. The soft silken thread used for embroidery is known as floss. The size of a thread is designated by a number. Number eight is a very coarse thread. Three hundred is an exceedingly fine thread. See Needle ; Sewing Machine ; Lace ; Spinning ; Embroidery ; Spool 2026 Editor's Note: This page uses language about race that was commonplace when the book was published and is offensive by today's standards. The text has been left exactly as it was printed, rather than cut or softened, so that the historical record — including how ordinary such language once was — is preserved. (Ed: BR 2026-07-22)
American Watchmaker and Jeweler (1892)
LARGEST HOLE CLEAR THROUGH IN MM. SIZE OF LARGEST HOLE IN MM. Moseley, No. 1 .240 1.28 25 deg. Eng. 48 38 47 Moseley, 1 x 2 .3135 1.34 20 deg. Eng. 40 50 65 Moseley, No. 2 .3135 1.58 20 deg. Con. Eng. 40 50 65 Moseley, No. 3 .400 1.82 20 deg. Con. Eng. 36 65 75 Whitcomb, No. 1 .197 5 15/16 20 deg. Eng. 50 30 35 Whitcomb, No. 1 1/2 .256 61/2 1 3/16 20 deg. Eng. 40 40 50 Whitcomb, No. 2 or W. W .315 8 1 3/8 20 deg. Eng.40 50 60 Hopkins, No. 1 .2285 1 1/16 25 deg. Eng. 48 28 42 Hopkins, No. 3 .2635 1 1/16 25 deg. Eng. 40 37 50 Hopkins, 3 x 4 .3255 1 15/32 25 deg. Eng. 40 52 66 Kearney & Swartchild .300 1 9/16 25 deg. Eng. 44 48 57 Elgin or Triumph .275 1 5/16 25 deg. Eng. 50 45 52 Rivett .300 1 11/32 20 deg. Eng. 40 47 57 Geneva .1965 6 1 7/32 20 deg. Met. 14 34 45 Stark, No. 1 .1875 or 3/16 Eng. 48 23 30 Stark, No. 2 About .2205 Eng. 48 28 42 Stark, No. 3 About .245 Eng. 48 28 45 Stark, E .300 1 9/32 20 deg. Eng. 40 50 57 For holding work by the web of the wheel, place the wheel under the screw cap on the face attachment 8 and screw the cap down firmly on it, with the staff or pinion projecting outward through the center hole. This done proceed the same as when using No. 6. For mainspring barrels and like work, use attachment 11, and place a bit of broken mainspring between the work and the ends of the three binding screws, and tighten the screws down on that instead of directly on the work.