Because I go through so much embroidery thread every year I keep an eye out for estate sales and lots being sold online. Good quality thread is expensive, especially the specialty threads like holographic Sulky and Kreinik braid that I love. I knew the latter used to be called Balger back in the 70's and 80's (yes, I am that freaking old), so when I saw a lot of 44 pristine-looking vintage spools of #8 Balger thread, a size I use all the time, I decided to buy them.
Purchasing vintage thread online is a gamble, as what you get can be deteriorated, smelly, stained or tangled. I knew from the labelling that this thread had to be thirty years old, minimum, but it looked great -- I saw no foxing on the paper spools, no dust or sun-fading on the threads. Someone bought and took very good care of these beauties.
Here they are. All but one of the spools are unused, and all of them are in mint condition. I would never be able to tell they were thirty years old. The thread is still strong, too. Each spool has 11 yards on it, so they'll last me a long time. Best part? New these would retail for about five bucks a spool. I got them for a dollar each.
I'm going to put them in the box with my holographic threads so I can sit and drool over them.
Okay, I'm going to need a bigger box. :)
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