The pictures show views of this unique Antique Lawrence Massachusetts Pacific Mills Cotton Production Display. The Pacific Mills were a large part of the History of Lawrence, Massachusetts. They began in 1853 and were at one time the largest cotton mill in the world employing over 5,500 people. The display is not dated but it is believed to be from the mid to late 1800s. For the last 20+ years this educational shadow box has been on display at an old family dry cleaning business in New Hampshire, and it has been shown on occasion at schools to teach children about the making of cloth for clothing. This display shows the progression of manufacturing from raw cotton to finished cloth material at the Pacific Mills. All of the cotton, cloth, and textile contents in this wooden shadow box are original and they are sealed behind glass. It most likely has never been opened. Shown is the divided display under glass, the front advertising of the wooden shadow box, and the back or bottom side. The advertising on the front of the display, in gold and black, reads as follows: PACIFIC MILLS LAWRENCE MASSACHUSETTS The display samples begin at the top left and they are in three columns. At the end there are various examples of cloth produced at the Mill. This display is an important part of the textile history and industry, as well as the History of the textile mills in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Each of the sections has a label. These original printed labels are marked as follows: COTTON FROM BALE PICKER LAP CARD SLIVER DRAWING SLIVER SLUBBER ROVING 1st INTERMEDIATE ROVING 2nd INTERMEDIATE ROVING JACK FRAME ROVING WARP YARN, 2 FOLD WARP YARD, SINGLE GRAY CLOTH PLAIN GRAY CLOTH FIGURED PLAIN CLOTH PRINTED FIGURED CLOTH PRINTED PRINTED PLAIN DYED To judge the sizes the entire wooden display measures about 16-1/2'' x 12'' x 1-1/4''. All of the sealed contents are in mint condition as the day they were made. The display has no cracks or chips in the glass. There is some normal wear on the wood from use and displaying over the years. The back, or bottom side has an old water or steam spot from the mill as pictured. It had not affected the display inside at all and could be refinished or covered if desired. |