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. 15^th         Closes Oct. 24^th

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.