Last updated on August 27th, 2023 at 11:47 am
The Clark Thread Company started in Scotland in the 1750s by James and Patrick Clark, brothers, eventually establishing a large manufacturing and sales presence in the United States in the 1840s. In 1812, they created the first 3-ply cotton thread. Around 1820, they developed the manufacturing ability to wind thread onto small wooden thread spools. In 1896, Clark Thread Company merged with J&P Coats (a British company at the time called J&P Coats Ltd.). By 1890, they had over 50,000 employees worldwide. In 1897, Coats & Clark’s merged with 14 other companies (which then became the English Sewing Cotton Company, Ltd.) In 1961, Coats and Clark merged with Patons and Baldwin, becoming Coats Patons. Coats has a nice overview of their history on their website.
In 2016, Coats created a very nifty website celebrating their 200 year history which is, unfortunately, now offline. Of course, an archived copy can be found at Archive.org – check out the PDF version of the timeline here.
1946
Spool Cotton Company
1950s (date estimated)
Clark’s ONT Mercerized Crochet Best Six Cord
Clark’s Big Ball Mercerized Crochet 3 cord
1953
Clark’s Big Ball Mercerized Crochet
1955
Clark’s ONT Bedspread Cotton Mercerized
J&P Coats “Knit-Cro-Sheen” Metallic Colors (122 – Watermelon)
1959
Coats & Clarks Red Heart Knitting Worsted
1970
J&P Coats Knit-Cro-Sheen (produced from 1935 until 1999), J&P Coats Big Ball Mercerized Crochet, Clarks Big Ball Mercerized Crochet
1971
Clark’s ONT Wondura, this may actually be older than 1971 but am basing the date on the trademark filing. This sample card is definitely no older than 1973.
1976
Red Heart Tweedy (Wintuk)
Red Heart New Shades
1979
Red Heart Cashelle
Red Heart Sock & Sweater Yarn
Coats & Clark Craft & Rug Yarn
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