1800s

Freedom Quilt

Reflecting the enduring emotion of many Americans during the mid to late 19th century, this unique handmade quilt features a diamond style patchwork layout composed of red, white, and blue cotton fabric squares. While time has run its fair share of miles around this particular quilt, the details and final condition it was discovered in make it truly a remarkable piece of Americana.
Check out some of our recent posts on Instagram and Facebook @threadcountvintageco for a closer look and how this antique quilt will be repurposed throughout it's time here at our shop.

1950s

Brent Thermal Lined Hoodie

Originally knit in white cotton threads, the idea to dye this beautiful sweatshirt came after unsuccessful attempts to remove tough spots on the sleeves. This 1950s Brent Hoodie manufactured by Montgomery Ward features a full garment thermal interior lining, raglan style sleeves, large frontside kangaroo hand pocket, and pointed hood construction. And after a good jet black dye bath, the results of my time dying were even more satisfying to see.
Shop our upcoming website drops for more sweats!

1930s

Salt and Pepper Work Shirt

This absolutely stunning work shirt dates back to the 1930s, and features a range of amazing details including a grey salt and pepper colored fabric, chin strap tab collar, catseye buttons, and full garment repairs. While the origins of salt and pepper fabric are a bit of a mystery, it has historical contexts dating all the way back to the Middle Ages— being used for intricate tapestries and seen as a symbol of sophistication amongst elites.
The subtle blend of dark threads against light creates such a color that matches almost any outfit and can be worn interchangeably. The intense amount of repairs and reconstruction all throughout makes for a wearable-again piece of American workwear history.

1950s

Gabardine 'Ricky" Jacket

This beautiful ‘Weather Perfect’ gabardine ricky jacket by Bantamac features a grey base color and an interesting collar/lapel weave featuring a yellow geometric patterned undertone. The brand of choice for the zipper used was Crown, sporting a spring activated pull. Bantamac was a Canadian sportswear brand famously known for their quality gabardine outerwear in the 1940s - 1960s.

1960s

U.S. Air Force Tee

Chanute Air Force Base was established by the U.S. government in the early summer of 1917. Leasing roughly 650 acres of land in agricultural Illinois to begin training operations for young WWI pilots. During the 1940s, Chanute Air Force Base would become one of our country’s leading state-of-the-art military facilities, strengthening thousands of ground troops and boosting air defense training techniques for the second world war.
Eventually, the base would see its final days in 1993 when it’s glory would be striped— and the site be deemed a hazard to the surrounding environment from decades of experimental testing and equipment waste.

United States Navy

G-1 Flight Jacket

Originating as the Navy's M-422A model in the 1930s and later revised into the G-1 model, this jacket is as iconic of militaria as you can get. The G-1 flight jacket features an all brown goatskin or cowhide leather shell, satin nylon liner, and a mouton sheep or synthetic fiber collar. It also featured notable details such as underarm gussets for ensured movement in the cockpit, a cropped waist fitting design with knitted cuffs, and heavy brass zipper closure. With numerous button-through pockets, the wearer was guaranteed adequate storage for belongings.
While all contracted versions of the G-1 Flight Jacket has perforated 'USN' or 'USCG' inside the wind flap, this particular jacket does not feature it, nor any sort of contract inscriptions or labels. This leads to believe this was a civilian model, made from the same manufacturers of the contracted models during the wartime. Special nonetheless.

1940s

TYPE B-1 TROUSERS

Originating in the 1930s from the A-3 and A-5 model flight trousers, the later B-1 model would be standard issue for any ground crew members and flight mechanics working in harsh, cold temperatures that didn’t involve flying. Sometimes, flight and ground crew service members would trade clothing to better fit their taste in style and lead to mismatched sets.
These trousers feature a thick brown sheepskin leather shell, shearling lining throughout the whole garment, Talon branded zippers on the fly and ankle zips, and elastic suspenders with a silver ‘ARMY AIR FORCES’ print near the waist.

1940s

WWII United States Summer Flight Suit

During the second World War, the United States commissioned two variations of this suit; one being made of twill as seen here and the other being blended of cotton and wool fibers. The course of its span in action ranges on from April of 1943, when it replaced the previously worn Type A-4 Flight Suit. This improvement was made for a more standardized suit, with implementations into the U.S. Air Force and Navy even well after the war.
For the age of this garment, it’s still very wearable today as the cotton fibers still hold their flexibility and toughness.

Early Firefighting

Vintage Leatherworks

This special two color black and white leather fireman's service coat features a unique backside stencil of 'MOTL' in a white ink, elongated torso, and corduroy material collar construction. This garment also features a frontside steel clasp closure and single seam down the middle of the back. Little is known about the origin of the jacket.

1950s

Crown Point Bulldogs Sweatshirt

The first Crown Point High School, sometimes called South Ward, was built in 1911 on South Court street for an estimated 600 students. It was the center of all student activities around the town in its earlier days. While retaining its honorability and likeness, it wouldn't be until 1939 that a new project be proposed to expand the size of the school in a familiar location. Deciding on what we know now as Wheeler Middle School just across the street, the second Crown Point High School building was used in its entirety from the early 40s until 2003 when the final installment of the high was built on South Main Street.
From the famous afterhood style sweatshirts to flock printed crewnecks and letterman sweaters, Crown Point made their fair share of spirited sportswear long ago, but nowadays that merchandise seems to be lost.

1950s

News Guild Chain Stitch Tee

The News Guild, founded in 1933, pledged its purpose to pursue only honest journalism and news industry business practices. The growing labor union tirelessly fought for improving wages and workplace conditions. Establishing themselves as a lasting fixture in the American media scene, The News Guild now represents over 25,000 working class newspaper journalists today.
The chainstitching and two tone rayon blend make this t-shirt one of my favorites I’ve been able to get my hands on.

1960s

Chicago Vocational High School Double Face Hoodie

Blended of Navy Blue cotton fibers on the outer and light grey cotton fibers on the interior, this double face hoodie from Chicago Vocational High School is a staple of any collection. With drawstring pulls for the hood, a frontside hand warming pocket, and loud yellow printed lettering across the back. It is the all-around perfect hoodie, product of the boom in academic-based athletics during 1960s America.

1940s

Hobart Brickies Sweater

Local school spirit, this 1940s boat-neck collar letterman sweater is blended of heavy 100% wool fibers and features a large centered chenille 'H' patch for Hobart Indiana High School Brickies Football Team. Matching yellow stripes and the number '44' are sewn into the left sleeve, with a natural sun fade and distressing produced by over half a century of life drape over the garments whole. Labeled and manufactured by Wilson Sporting Goods of Chicago, Illinois, just over forty miles northwest of Hobart.

1940s

Undefeated K.V.C. Letterman Cardigan

A beautiful 1944-1945 Undefeated K.V.C. football champions letterman’s wool cardigan— featuring early varsity chenille patches of a Native American chiefs head on the top of the right sleeve and a star on the left, with a large 'M' and football across the chest area. All woven in the ever-classic maroon wool blend. This sweater was tagged by Dic Neate, Athletic Outfitters of Chicago, Illinois and was discovered just south of the windy city.
This particular letterman was owned by one of the ‘44-‘45 Kankakee Valley Conference Football champions. K.V.C., which was a merger of already existing Northwest Indiana high school football conferences, ran its course from 1933 to 1967.

1950s

Tilden Technical High School

Originating as Lake High School in Chicago’s Cook County in the late 1880s, Tilden Technical High was annexed to the city and became apart of the public school system. By 1901, the board of education decided on a plan for a new building. Sitting between South Union and Wallace Avenue, the new school renamed after Edward Tilden, former president of the Chicago Board of Education.
While serving as an all boys school after around 1919, it wouldn’t be until 1960 that the golden years of Tilden technical High School would come to an eventual end– and be converted in the co-educational neighborhood high school that we see today.

1950s

Phi Sigma Epsilon Sweatshirt

The Phi Sigma Epsilon fraternity was in steamrolling operations for over seventy five years— when it was eventually merged with Phi Sigma Kappa in the summer of 1985. While it’s house symbol and crest may have been changed with the merger, Phi Sig history can continue to live on through the original fraternity’s triangle symbol and crest shown above.
This particular short sleeved sweatshirt features a beautiful natural fade throughout its entirety, with lightened sun kissed shoulders and detailed distressing that courses down to the elastic waistband.

1950s

Freedom Sleeve Single-V

A type of garment construction where the shoulders and arms allow more slack and freedom of movement by the 'S' shaped curve of the stitching. This method of construction creates more room in the underarm area of the sweatshirt while the arm extends all the way up to the collar. Also featuring a single-v frontside collar detail, a pure white cotton, hand-sewn repairs, and interior label garment tag by Brent.
Recommended size: Small | Price: $150 USD
+ See details

1960s

Harvard Veritas Sweatshirt

The Harvard Veritas Shield is widely known today for its function as a common element of the university, sketched of three books containing the word ‘veritas’, meaning verity and truth. Lost for close to 200 years, it wasn’t until 1843 the shielded sketch was discovered buried in Harvard’s college archives to be displayed to the public.
This sweat by Champion Knitwear came in poor condition with heavily wash faded cotton and large tears throughout, but each's placement definingly tell a story of a previous loved life.

1960s

New York Yankees Sweatshirt

This Mickey Mantle Roger Maris Sweatshirt made by Norwich features a silkscreen artwork created by Uni-Wear Inc and features images of both Mickey Mantle & Roger Maris in a batting stance, head shots, and accompanied by their signatures. The Maris/Mantle souvenirs came in sizes 2 to 16. These items were part of the product line sold by Manny's Baseball Land for about $1.90 at the time, which was located across the road from the Yankee Stadium bleachers on River Avenue, Bronx NY.

1980s

Gilley's Bar of Pasadena, Texas

This perfectly worn 1980s Gilley’s Bar of Pasadena, Texas crewneck features the classic logo printed across the chest and also matching on the backside— with a faded maroon Creslan Acrylic blend just to top off how wonderful it is. Although the original Gilley’s is no longer serving the area, the popularity that grew from its shine in the 1980 western ‘Urban Cowboy’, nightly rodeo antics, and occasional celebrity appearances made for a one-of-a-kind place.

1950s

Static Fleck Rayon Shirt

This gorgeous vintage rayon shirt manufactured and tagged by Crosley features an all over atomic, static flecked print with white accents on a dark navy color base, loop collar, transparent button front, and light pink accents on the pockets and collar edges. The rayon wool material blend is one of the softest to touch fabrics when even compared to cotton and linens. This piece also features a Scrub’n Tub Washable Fast Color blend material, with the sewn-in label tag sporting various different colors. Rockabilly at its core, and as new as the day it was sewn in the factory.

1930s

Curtiss Candy Co.

Founded in Chicago back in the year 1916 by a man named Otto Schnering, Curtiss Candy Co. quickly became a popular confectionery name amongst chicagoans. Surpassing over $100k in sales his first year of business, the Curtiss Candy Co. arose due to the introduction of the Butterfinger and Kandy Kake, or also known as the Baby Ruth bar. Schnering would go on to expand his business in the chicago area and eventually the company would be sold to Nabisco, and eventually Nestle towards the late 20th century.
Here is an early wooden and glass slanted display cabinet- featuring two panel glass doors, brass handles, lightened wood inside, and Curtiss 'Hard' Candies branding on the bottom. It is in excellent condition and will now be used to display ThreadCount products and small accessories.

1910s

Antique Leather Bags

Manufactured by Hewson and Hutchinson of York, England. 'Makers of Trunks, Bags, and Fancy Goods'. Not much can be found on this shop's origin but the name is listed in York's 1901 street directory at 4 Lendal.

1930s - 1960s

Wood Hangers

Introduced in the 1930s, wooden hangers were likely to be chosen over its wire predecessor in terms of durable longevity and widening attributes. While costly, the advantage of a thick wooden base compared to wire or cardboard strengthened the shoulder support, increased carry weight, and dramatically improved durability was an easy decision for any sustainable individual. Midwestern factories such as Phoenix Products Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Good Form (General Fireproofing Company) of Youngstown, Ohio were behind the manufacturing of a large amount of these wooden hangers during the 1930s to mid 1940s as each was stamped at the arm base or beneath. Not only does our shop’s collection of wooden hangers present our vintage inventory in a genuine fashion, each one stands alone with advertising stampings unique to every individual business. Some sport a simple company logo centered in the middle of the hanger, and some have slogans and contact information stamped along the arms containing fax and phone number extensions.

1950s

U.S. Mail Carrier Bag

This 1950s heavy duty canvas bag features a large stencil on the bag flap of 'U.S. Mail' in black, reinforced edges for daily wear protection, voluminous carrying capacity, and leather mounted steel shoulder strap loops on the back. While this bag does not have its original shoulder strap, the condition alone is surely enough to keep around the shop. Serving as a crucial accessory to American mail and our daily lives, it now serves as a historical piece and testament to the quality craftsmanship produced during the 1940s - 1970s.

1940s

Local Lumber Aprons

From Edward Hines Lumber Comapny of Chicago, Illinois and Root Lumber Company of Crown Point, Indiana.

1800s

Otis Indiana

The unincorporated settlement of Otis, Indiana began in 1851 and no plot of land was recorded until the 1870s. While it was originally named 'Salem Crossing', Otis underwent different name changes due to fights over which railroad would control the routes through town. Over about a century, the town would see expansion and eventually its demise in the late 1960s. Here is an enamel pin showing the St. Mary's church.

1920s

Northwest Engineering Co.

Northwest had an 82 year history, originating out of Green Bay, Wisconsin on a small plot of land tracing back to an old boat yard purchased by founder Simeon Vaughn in 1873. After converting to self-propelled cranes and manufacturing, the company saw over 20,000 prepared units before their eventual closure in 1990. This metal sign has been through a lot of weathering over time, but it makes for a great wall piece for our shop.

1950s

Palco Canteen

The Palco Canteen was first introduced around 1915 as a newly patented aluminum water canteen for the United States military and the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America. This 1950s version of Palco's ‘2 Quart-er’ canteen features the same famous aluminum molded base but with an army green khaki pouch for durable carrying. The 2 Quart-er Canteen was marketed to hold a new larger size capacity, pure aluminum composition, and adjustable strap. The uniforms of many Scouts and servicemen alike sported the canteen, and the availability to clean drinking water was essential during times of war and survival.

1970s

Have A Happy Day

The bumper sticker for your clothes— see these 1970s pin-back buttons with the phrases, 'HAVE A NICE DAY' and 'Have A HAPPY DAY', printed across them. Used as casual conversation starters, the walk-by laugh, or even statements of political ties, the popularity of pins throughout the 1950s to 1990s was immense. The vast ways in which individuals expressed their ideologies sometimes resided in a one-by-one inch steel pin.

1940s - 1970s

Vintage Pocket Matchbooks

From various local and historical sites around the United States or Northwest Indiana.

1950s

Western Michigan College of Education Ring

Crest and ring cast of 925 sterling silver.

1960s

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Vinyl

The 8th studio album by English rock band, The Beatles, released on May 26th of 1967.

1940s - 1970s

Advertising Measuring Sticks

From companies based in Indiana and Illinois.
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