Dewhurst & Son’s produced the Sylko range of machine twist cotton, the most popular range of cottons used in the UK. The iconic Sylko label is instantly recognisable as a symbol of quality and the wonderful colours and evocative names given to the threads mean that there are many vintage and haberdashery enthusiasts who now collect the original cotton reels.
There were around 600 colours produced, originally on wooden bobbins (up to the 1960’s) and then on plastic ones (in the 70’s and 80’s). We only own a fraction of these but thought it would be worthwhile to illustrate these in a gallery for other collectors. This gallery concentrates on the bobbins produced up to the early 80’s as we don’t collect the very last types.
You can also scroll down for a fully sortable list of Sylko colors and a downloadable PDF list.
Sylko label designs changed over time, please see our other page for information on dating different Sylko label types.
Thread Numbers & Colours
(click on the image)
An unused white wooden reel.
White - Plastic Reel
White - Plastic Reel (500 Yards)
White - Plastic Reel
White - Plastic Reel
White - Plastic Reel (Strong Thread)
Black - Wooden Reel
Black - Plastic Reel
Black - Plastic Reel
Black - Plastic Reel
Black - A large 500 Yard Plastic Reel
D.1 Very Light Blue (Wooden reel)
D.2 Sky Blue (Wooden Reel)
D.2 Sky Blue (Wooden Reel)
D.2 Sky Blue (Wooden Reel)
D.2 Sky Blue (Plastic Reel)
D2 Sky Blue (Plastic Reel)
D.3 Light Blue (Wooden Reel)
D.3 Light Blue (Wooden Reel)
D.4 Mid Blue (Wooden Reel)
D.5 Forget-Me-Not (Early Wooden Reel)
D.5 Forget-Me-Not (Wooden Reel)
D.6 Bright Blue (Wooden Reel)
D.6 Bright Blue (Wooden Reel)
D.6 Bright Blue (Plastic Reel)
D.7 Napoleon (Wooden Reel)
D.7 Napoleon (Wooden Reel)
D8 Royal Blue (Plastic Reel)
D.9 Sapphire (Wooden Reel)
D10 Light Navy (Plastic Reel)
D.11 Mid Navy (Wooden Reel)
D11 Mid Navy (Plastic Reel)
D12 Navy - A large 500 yard plastic reel.
D12 Navy (Plastic Reel)
D12 Navy - A large 500 yard plastic reel.
D133 Dark Navy (Wooden Reel)
D.14 Black (a wooden reel before the number was dropped for black)
D.14 Black (a wooden reel before the number was dropped for black)
D16 Light Cream (Wooden Reel)
D.17
Presenting the “full” Sylko list
Here is the full list of Sylko colors (full but not complete – this is a work in progress). We have physically seen all of the listed colours unless there is a (?) against the name in which case these are unconfirmed. Similarly the Y indicates a confirmed wood or plastic wheel.
Updated 20/2/19
| No | Colour name | Wood | Plastic |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | Y | Y | |
| Black | Y | Y | |
| D1 | Very Light Blue | Y | Y |
| D2 | Sky Blue | y | Y |
| D3 | Light Blue | Y | Y |
| D4 | Mid Blue | Y | Y |
| D5 | Forget-Me-Not | Y | Y |
| D6 | Bright Blue | Y | Y |
| D7 | Napoleon | Y | Y |
| D8 | Royal Blue | Y | Y |
| D9 | Sapphire | Y | Y |
| D10 | Light Navy | Y | Y |
| D11 | Mid Navy | Y | Y |
| D12 | Navy | Y | Y |
| D13 | Dark Navy | Y | Y |
| D14 | Black | Y | |
| D15 | White | Y | |
| D16 | Light Cream | Y | Y |
| D17 | Straw | Y | Y |
| D18 | Dark Green Slate(?) | ||
| D19 | Mid Yellow | Y | Y |
| D20 | Yellow | Y | Y |
| D21 | Gold | Y | Y |
| D22 | Lilac | Y | Y |
| D23 | Light Mauve | Y | Y |
| D24 | Mauve | Y | Y |
| D25 | Violet | Y | Y |
| D26 | Linen | Y | Y |
| D27 | Linen Drab | Y | Y |
| D28 | Bedford Drab | Y | Y |
| D29 | Peacock | Y | Y |
| D30 | Emerald | Y | |
| D31 | Dark Emerald | Y | |
| D32 | Verdigris | Y | Y |
| D33 | Myrtle | Y | Y |
| D34 | Dark Myrtle | Y | Y |
| D35 | Grass Green | Y | Y |
| D36 | Light Pink | Y | Y |
| D37 | Pink | Y | Y |
| D38 | Dark Pink (?) | ||
| D39 | Rose | Y | |
| D40 | Geranium | Y | Y |
| D41 | Cerise | Y | Y |
| D42 | Heliotrope | Y | Y |
| D43 | Light Scarlet | Y | Y |
| D44 | Scarlet | Y | Y |
| D45 | Turkey Red Shade/Turkey Red | Y/- | -/Y |
| D46 | Ruby | Y | Y |
| D47 | Light Cardinal | Y | Y |
| D48 | Crimson | Y | |
| D49 | Marone | Y | |
| D50 | Eau-De-Nil | Y | Y |
| D51 | Light Olive | Y | Y |
| D52 | Mid Olive | Y | Y |
| D53 | Dark Olive | Y | Y |
| D54 | Moss Green | Y | Y |
| D55 | |||
| D56 | Green | Y | Y |
| D57 | Cambridge Blue | Y | Y |
| D58 | Turquoise/Majolica Blue | Y/Y | -/Y |
| D59 | Gobelin | Y | Y |
| D60 | Salmon Pink | Y | Y |
| D61 | Coral | Y | Y |
| D62 | Light Fuchsia | Y | |
| D63 | Silver Grey | Y | Y |
| D64 | Light Cornflower | Y | Y |
| D65 | Cornflower | Y | Y |
| D66 | Electric | Y | |
| D67 | |||
| D68 | Light Blue Green | Y | Y |
| D69 | Reseda | Y | Y |
| D70 | Light Gold Brown | Y | Y |
| D71 | Light Grey | Y | |
| D72 | Grey | Y | Y |
| D73 | Light Slate | Y | Y |
| D74 | Slate | Y | Y |
| D75 | Dark Slate | Y | |
| D76 | Light Blue Slate | Y | Y |
| D77 | Mid Blue Slate | Y | Y |
| D78 | Blue Slate | Y | |
| D79 | Dark Blue Slate | Y | Y |
| D80 | |||
| D81 | Stone Drab | Y | Y |
| D82 | Light Fawn Drab | Y | |
| D83 | Fawn Drab (?) | ||
| D84 | Olive Drab | Y | |
| D85 | Light Seal Brown | Y | Y |
| D86 | Seal Brown | Y | Y |
| D87 | Mid Seal Brown | Y | Y |
| D88 | Dark Seal Brown | Y | Y |
| D89 | |||
| D90 | Light Fawn | Y | |
| D91 | Fawn | Y | Y |
| D92 | Mid Brown | Y | Y |
| D93 | Rich Brown | Y | Y |
| D94 | Chocolate | Y | Y |
| D95 | Light Dove | Y | Y |
| D96 | Dove | Y | Y |
| D97 | Mid Bedford Drab | Y | Y |
| D98 | Hair Brown | Y | |
| D99 | |||
| D100 | |||
| D101 | Sage | Y | Y |
| D102 | Dark Violet | Y | |
| D103 | Light Old Gold | Y | Y |
| D104 | Light Terra Cotta | Y | |
| D105 | |||
| D106 | |||
| D107 | Light Emerald | Y | Y |
| D108 | |||
| D109 | Very Dark Slate | Y | |
| D110 | Sevres Blue | Y | |
| D111 | Bright Navy | Y | Y |
| D112 | Very Dark Brown | Y | Y |
| D113 | Tangerine | Y | Y |
| D114 | |||
| D115 | Dark Golden Brown | Y | Y |
| D116 | Champagne | Y | Y |
| D117 | Light Reseda | Y | Y |
| D118 | Silver Slate | Y | Y |
| D119 | Amethyst | Y | |
| D120 | Red Blue | Y | Y |
| D121 | Pale Pink | Y | Y |
| D122 | Ivy Green | Y | Y |
| D123 | Mid Green/Spruce | Y/- | Y/Y |
| D124 | Dark Green | Y | Y |
| D125 | Dark Ruby | Y | Y |
| D126 | Viola | Y | |
| D127 | Blue Violet | Y | Y |
| D128 | Mulberry (?)/Mid Green(?) | Y | |
| D129 | Wine | Y | Y |
| D130 | Burgundy | Y | |
| D131 | Light Crimson | Y | |
| D132 | Mid Crimson | Y | |
| D133 | Rich Crimson | Y | Y |
| D134 | Dark Helio | Y | |
| D135 | Petunia | Y | |
| D136 | Claret | Y | |
| D137 | Dark Reseda | Y | |
| D138 | Red Violet(?) | ||
| D139 | Light Clematis | Y | Y |
| D140 | Lotus Blue | Y | Y |
| D141 | Saxe Blue | Y | Y |
| D142 | Dark Sapphire | Y | Y |
| D143 | Wedgwood | Y | |
| D144 | Marine Blue | Y | Y |
| D145 | EX Dark Navy | Y | Y |
| D146 | Cream | Y | Y |
| D147 | Light Cardinal(?) | ||
| D148 | Light Kingfisher (?) | ||
| D149 | |||
| D150 | |||
| D151 | |||
| D152 | |||
| D153 | |||
| D154 | |||
| D155 | |||
| D156 | Very Dark Beaver | Y | |
| D157 | |||
| D158 | |||
| D159 | |||
| D160 | Red Fawn | Y | Y |
| D161 | Ex Dark Brown | Y | Y |
| D162 | Cinnamon | Y | Y |
| D163 | Very Dark Turquoise | Y | Y |
| D164 | Ex Dark Myrtle | Y | |
| D165 | Ivory | Y | Y |
| D166 | Dark Mole | Y | Y |
| D167 | Very Dark Blue Slate | Y | |
| D168 | Dark Elephant | Y | Y |
| D169 | Kingfisher | Y | Y |
| D170 | Copper Beech | Y | |
| D171 | Romany Brown | Y | Y |
| D172 | |||
| D173 | |||
| D174 | Rich Purple(?) | Y | |
| D175 | Pale Rose | Y | Y |
| D176 | Clover | Y | Y |
| D177 | Light Cactus Blue | Y | |
| D178 | Cactus Blue | Y | Y |
| D179 | Light Burgundy | Y | |
| D180 | Mid Burgundy | Y | |
| D181 | Very Dark Navy | Y | Y |
| D182 | Dark Royal Blue | Y | Y |
| D183 | Dark Olive Drab | Y | Y |
| D184 | Very Dark Peacock | Y | |
| D185 | Light Marone | Y | |
| D186 | Green Slate | Y | |
| D187 | Dark Green Slate | y | |
| D188 | Elephant | Y | Y |
| D189 | Light Antelope | Y | Y |
| D190 | Antelope | Y | Y |
| D191 | Peach Bloom | Y | |
| D192 | Dark Saxe Blue | Y | Y |
| D193 | Mid Sage | Y | Y |
| D194 | Dark Moss Green | Y | Y |
| D195 | Mid Fawn | Y | |
| D196 | Light Cinnamon | Y | Y |
| D197 | Red Cinnamon | Y | Y |
| D198 | Red Brown | Y | Y |
| D199 | Pale Salmon | Y | Y |
| D200 | |||
| D201 | |||
| D202 | Khaki | Y | Y |
| D203 | Light Gobelin/Pacific Blue | Y/Y | |
| D204 | Mid Gobelin | Y | Y |
| D205 | Light Pomegranate | Y | Y |
| D206 | Pomegranate | Y | Y |
| D207 | Dark Terra Cotta | Y | |
| D208 | Dark Lilac | Y | Y |
| D209 | Mid Petunia | Y | |
| D210 | Light Beaver | ||
| D211 | Y | ||
| D212 | Dark Beaver | Y | |
| D213 | Light Mole | Y | |
| D214 | Mid Mole | Y | |
| D215 | Mole | Y | Y |
| D216 | Emerald Green | Y | Y |
| D217 | Ni**er/Deep Brown | Y/Y | -/Y |
| D218 | Dark Bottle Green | Y | |
| D219 | Dark Steel Blue | Y | |
| D220 | Army Khaki | Y | |
| D221 | Light Parma | Y | |
| D222 | Parma | Y | |
| D223 | Light Rose Du Barri | Y | |
| D224 | Rose Du Barri | Y | |
| D225 | Light Green Blue | Y | Y |
| D226 | Green Blue(?) | ||
| D227 | Light Mignonette | Y | |
| D228 | |||
| D229 | Dark Claret | Y | Y |
| D230 | |||
| D231 | Nankeen | Y | Y |
| D232 | Jade Green | Y | Y |
| D233 | Bright Violet | Y | Y |
| D234 | Red Salmon | Y | |
| D235 | Flamingo | Y | Y |
| D236 | Rust Red | Y | Y |
| D237 | Light Petunia | Y | Y |
| D238 | Dark Jade | Y | Y |
| D239 | Chinese Green | Y | Y |
| D240 | Peacock Green | Y | Y |
| D241 | Silver Drab (?) | ||
| D242 | Grey Slate | Y | |
| D243 | Bright Saxe | Y | Y |
| D244 | Dark Gobelin | Y | Y |
| D245 | Dark Petunia | Y | Y |
| D246 | Dark Salmon | Y | Y |
| D247 | Lemon | Y | Y |
| D248 | |||
| D249 | Bright Peacock | Y | |
| D250 | Dark Hair Brown/Burnt Oak(?) | Y/- | -/Y |
| D251 | Darkest Slate | y | Y |
| D252 | Light Beech Brown/Beech | Y/- | Y/Y |
| D253 | Beech Brown | Y | Y |
| D254 | Terra Cotta | Y | |
| D255 | Blue Green | Y | Y |
| D256 | Fuchsia | Y | Y |
| D257 | Almond Green | Y | Y |
| D258 | Golden Cinnamon | Y | Y |
| D259 | Salmon Red | Y | Y |
| D260 | Flame | Y | Y |
| D261 | Camellia | Y | Y |
| D262 | |||
| D263 | Light Copper | Y | |
| D264 | Dutch Blue | Y | Y |
| D265 | Corn | Y | Y |
| D266 | Caramel | Y | Y |
| D267 | Nutmeg | Y | Y |
| D268 | Light Copper Beech | Y | Y |
| D269 | Chartreuse | Y | Y |
| D270 | Crocus Blue | Y | Y |
| D271 | Rosewood | Y | |
| D272 | Filbert | Y | Y |
| D273 | Shrimp | Y | |
| D274 | Sandalwood | Y | Y |
| D275 | Pimpernel(?) | ||
| D276 | Bronze | Y | |
| D277 | Rose Beige | Y | |
| D278 | Sand | Y | Y |
| D279 | Sugar Cane | Y | Y |
| D280 | Harvest | Y | |
| D281 | Atmosphere(?) | ||
| D282 | Tinsel Silver | Y | Y |
| D283 | Flesh | Y | Y |
| D284 | Biscuit | Y | Y |
| D285 | Tea Rose | Y | |
| D286 | Peach | Y | Y |
| D287 | Dark Shrimp | Y | Y |
| D288 | Dark Dove | Y | Y |
| D289 | Lido Blue | Y | |
| D290 | Dark Lido Blue | Y | |
| D291 | Mayonnaise | Y | Y |
| D292 | Orchid | Y | |
| D293 | Wisteria(?) | ||
| D294 | Cocoa Brown | Y | Y |
| D295 | Cocoa | Y | |
| D296 | Old Gold | Y | Y |
| D297 | Lime Green | Y | Y |
| D298 | Light Cocoa | Y | Y |
| D299 | Light Lilac | Y | Y |
| D300 | Japonica | Y | Y |
| D301 | Cyclamen | Y | Y |
| D302 | Biskra | Y | |
| D303 | Plum | Y | |
| D304 | Steel | Y | Y |
| D305 | Erin Green | Y | Y |
| D306 | Gladiole Red | Y | Y |
| D307 | Wild Rose(?) | ||
| D308 | Light Apple Green | Y | Y |
| D309 | Light Lime Green | Y | Y |
| D310 | Dark Eau-De-Nil | Y | Y |
| D311 | Sunrise | Y | Y |
| D312 | Light Pimpernel | Y | Y |
| D313 | Y | ||
| D314 | Spring Green | Y | Y |
| D315 | Melba | Y | Y |
| D316 | Cork | Y | Y |
| D317 | Brunette | Y | |
| D318 | Dark Peal Grey/Oyster | Y/- | -/Y |
| D319 | Pearl Grey | Y | |
| D320 | Light Orchid | Y | |
| D321 | Mid Orchid/Orchid | Y/- | Y/Y |
| D322 | Coral Pink | Y | Y |
| D323 | Dark Lovebird | Y | y |
| D324 | Hunters Green | y | Y |
| D325 | Carmine | Y | Y |
| D326 | Lupin | Y | |
| D327 | Parma Violet | Y | Y |
| D328 | Mustard | Y | Y |
| D329 | Mid Emerald | Y | |
| D330 | Satin Skin | Y | |
| D331 | Ice Blue | Y | |
| D332 | Saffron | Y | Y |
| D333 | Shadow Beige | Y | Y |
| D334 | Burnt Ash | Y | |
| D335 | Sable Squirrel | Y | Y |
| D336 | |||
| D337 | Morocco Red | Y | Y |
| D338 | Pastel Green | Y | |
| D339 | Mustard Gold | Y | Y |
| D340 | Frog Green | Y | Y |
| D341 | Muscatel | Y | |
| D342 | Kangaroo | y | Y |
| D343 | Sea Mist | Y | |
| D344 | Duck Egg Blue | Y | Y |
| D345 | Leaf Mould | Y | Y |
| D346 | Peach Rose | Y | Y |
| D347 | Marina Green | Y | Y |
| D348 | Mahogany | Y | |
| D349 | Jubilee | Y | Y |
| D350 | |||
| D351 | Stone White | Y | Y |
| D352 | Rifle Green | Y | |
| D353 | Capri | Y | Y |
| D354 | |||
| D355 | Vintage | Y | |
| D356 | Honey Gold | Y | Y |
| D357 | Sea Blue | Y | Y |
| D358 | Azure | Y | Y |
| D359 | Mist Blue | Y | Y |
| D360 | Steel Blue | Y | |
| D361 | Indigo | Y | |
| D362 | Gun Metal | Y | Y |
| D363 | Powder Pink(?)/Light Copper Wood | ||
| D364 | Shell Pink | Y | |
| D365 | Military Scarlet (?) | ||
| D366 | Oriental Poppy | Y | Y |
| D367 | Silver Sand | Y | Y |
| D368 | |||
| D369 | Dark Beige | Y | Y |
| D370 | Buff | Y | Y |
| D371 | |||
| D372 | Beige Pink | Y | Y |
| D373 | Tan Bark | Y | |
| D374 | Acacia | Y | |
| D375 | Dark Lime Green | Y | Y |
| D376 | Dark Leaf Green | Y | Y |
| D377 | Henna | Y | Y |
| D378 | |||
| D379 | |||
| D380 | Whortleberry | Y | |
| D381 | |||
| D382 | |||
| D383 | |||
| D384 | |||
| D385 | St. James Rose | Y | |
| D386 | Buckingham Lilac | Y | |
| D387 | Dark Juniper | Y | Y |
| D388 | Petrol Blue(?) | ||
| D389 | Dark Petrol Blue | Y | Y |
| D390 | Dahlia | Y | |
| D391 | Banana | Y | Y |
| D392 | Firenze Blue | Y | |
| D393 | Hyacinth | Y | |
| D394 | Parrot Grey | Y | Y |
| D395 | Bracken | Y | Y |
| D396 | Chrysant Red | Y | |
| D397 | |||
| D398 | Cygnet | Y | |
| D399 | Silver Pine | Y | Y |
| D400 | |||
| D401 | Air Force Blue | Y | |
| D402 | Admiralty Blue | Y | |
| D403 | W.V.S. Green | Y | |
| D404 | W.V.S. Ruby | Y | |
| D405 | W.L.A. Green | Y | |
| D406 | SP. Wistaria | Y | |
| D407 | Service Khaki | Y | Y |
| D408 | Solent | Y | |
| D409 | Frost Green | Y | y |
| D410 | Smoke Grey | Y | Y |
| D411 | Dark Smoke Grey | Y | Y |
| D412 | Graphite | Y | Y |
| D413 | Lagoon Blue | Y | Y |
| D414 | Jasmine Yellow | Y | Y |
| D415 | Fiesta Pink | Y | Y |
| D416 | Frivolous Pink | Y | Y |
| D417 | Gay Kingfisher | Y | Y |
| D418 | Light Kingfisher | Y | Y |
| D419 | |||
| D420 | Wild Orchis | Y | |
| D421 | Radiant Blue | Y | Y |
| D422 | Turquoise (see also D58) | Y | Y |
| D423 | Mink | Y | Y |
| D424 | Scarlet Glow | Y | Y |
| D425 | Freesia Pink | Y | Y |
| D426 | Monaco Blue | Y | Y |
| D427 | Blue Haze | Y | Y |
| D428 | Citron | Y | Y |
| D429 | Jadestone/Winter Sea | Y/- | -/Y |
| D430 | |||
| D431 | |||
| D432 | |||
| D433 | Lemon Frost | Y | |
| D434 | Orange Lily | Y | Y |
| D435 | Iced Orange | Y | Y |
| D436 | Lime Tint | Y | Y |
| D437 | Aquatone | Y | Y |
| D438 | Blue Jade | Y | y |
| D439 | Bitter Lime | Y | Y |
| D440 | Pink Lilac | Y | Y |
| D441 | Grey Dusk | Y | |
| D442 | Venetian Red | Y | Y |
| D443 | Honey Beige | Y | |
| D444 | Harebell Tint | Y | Y |
| D445 | Royal Gleam | Y | |
| D446 | Cool Turquoise | Y | Y |
| D447 | Parrot Blue | Y | Y |
| D448 | Mallard Green | Y | |
| D449 | Festive Orange | Y | Y |
| D450 | Gay Green | Y | Y |
| D451 | Jewel Green | Y | Y |
| D452 | Magenta | Y | Y |
| D453 | Deep Amethyst | Y | Y |
| D454 | Oriental Jade | Y | |
| D455 | Autumn Rust | Y | Y |
| D456 | Green Plume | Y | Y |
| D457 | Pink Jeunesse | Y | Y |
| D458 | Astral Gold | Y | |
| D459 | Blue Crest | Y | |
| D460 | Orange Azalea | Y | Y |
| D461 | Coffee | Y | |
| D462 | Blue Pearl | Y | |
| D463 | Jade Glow | Y | |
| D464 | Coral Flair | Y | |
| D465 | Sandstone | Y | |
| D466 | Gay Yellow | Y | |
| D467 | Gaiety Blue | Y | |
| D468 | Silver Frost(?) | y | |
| D469 | Wineberry | Y | |
| D470 | Camel | Y | |
| D471 | Indian Curry | Y | |
| D472 | Spectrum Blue | Y | |
| D473 | Soft Jade(?) | ||
| D474 | Crisp Jade(?) | ||
| D475 | Silver Ghost or Cloud(?) | Y | |
| D476 | Mandarina | Y | |
| D477 | Wild Rose | Y | |
| D478 | Deep Sea Green(?) | ||
| D479 | Surf Blue | Y | |
| D480 | Cedar Green (?) | ||
| D481 | Classic Gold | Y | |
| D482 | Coral Mist | Y | |
| D483 | Wedgwood Blue | Y | |
| D484 | Persian Rose | Y | |
| D485 | Crystal Rose (?) | ||
| D486 | Wild Lilac | Y | |
| D487 | Ember Rust(?) | Y | |
| D488 | Royal Purple | Y | |
| D489 | Blue Glory | Y | |
| D490 | Pink Heather | Y | |
| D491 | Lilac Spray | Y | |
| D492 | Bronze Moss(?) | ||
| D493 | Crystal Violet(?) | ||
| D494 | |||
| D495 | Bunting Blue (?) | ||
| D496 | |||
| D497 | Denim Blue | Y |
Hi I am a collector of Sylko. D18 = Pale Yellow ( I have this reel) D99 is honey coloured and no name on label, D108 is called RED, D128 = Mulberry, 138=red violet, 174=rich purple, 203= light gobelin, 211=beaver, 275= pimpernel, 281 atmosphere, 293 no name but similar to orchid, 307 = wild rose, 313 no name but a shocking pink colour, 350 no name but a peachy pink, 363 no name but pale pink, 365 =military scarlet, 379 no name but dark blue, 382 no name but green, 473 =soft jade, 474= crisp jade, 485 =chrystal rose, 487= ember rust,
I have 3 boxes with lids of white 60 machine cotton thread- 200 yards – Three Shells brand. The spools are black with gold & red circles on the top. Two of the boxes are full with 12 spools. They were in the Canadian attic of an English family who moved here in 1883. Have you any idea of their age? Are they collected?
Thank you for your help.
thank you so much for this post, I am just using a bit of thread from a reel of “Ex Dk Myrtle”, a small wartime one I suspect, given its height, part of a family stash. They are a delight aren’t they?
Hi,
I’m an avid collector of various types of memorabillia but was surprised to see your web site regarding Dewhursts Sylko bobbins. I don’t collect but I have 37 full wood/plastic (mainly wood) bobbins – all as shown in your list and 11 empty wood, one of which is D211 – Beaver (makes sense when you see light & dark Beaver either side).
I have for many years used a 1926 Singer early electric sewing machine but the weight and its limitations has resigned it to storage. Having bought a new all singing and dancing machine, I thought I’d look up the various threads that I have to see whether they would be appropriate for my new machine and suddenly found a completly new area of sewing. Thanks for the insight to another fascinating area of collecting – not for me but fascinating all the same. Best Wishes in your hobby (enterprise), Aaron Brunger
I have a collection of 12 sewing machines dating from 1886 to 1960’s including a Featherweight 222, All work well. I started collecting various items of ephemara. Now collect unused / unperforated wooden Dewhurst ‘Sylko’ bobbins. Also collect ear ly bobbins with plenty of thread and intact labels. Probably have around 50. I generaly seem to be able to buy around two to three per week. Mostly found in ‘Englands querkiest town’. Its all quite fascinating.
I have just discovered this site, thankyou! It has brought back so many memories
Many years ago I worked for Singer Sewing Machines and we obviously sold many reels of Sylko – in 50 thickness which worked beautifully in our machines. Reading the numbers today I was pleasantly surprised how many numbers and colours I could remember from over 50 years ago!