Bundles of thread from Wm Barbour & Sons, Lisburn, N. Ireland

A kind visitor recently donated this rare bundle of linen thread from the world-famous Barbour Threads, Hilden, Lisburn.  The museum holds all sorts of Barbour-related material in his collections, but staff had never seen this bundle before – have you?  If so, let us know!

The bundle is likely from the early 1920s, post-partition, although the image from the factory dates from before the creation of Northern Ireland.  Barbour’s had a reputation for high-quality threads, and the various medals the company won – from Australia to the USA – are printed on the outside of the wrapper. Do you have a bundle like this at home?