I went to a yard sale this weekend and made a great haul, a small box full of sewing goodies. One of the baggies was full of pre-filled paper bobbins. Does anyone know what these are used for? There were also 12 cones of serger thread and new pkgs of Kenmore embroidery machine needles.

I'm not sure and I wouldn't want to try them in my machine. I'd probably put them in a glass bowl as a novelty and never use them. For one thing, they're obviously old and the thread may have dry rotted. PM Billy, he's the resident vintage machine expert and he should know. Lostin51 is his online name I think.

I agree, these look like they have a case of dry rot. But they would look terrific in a crystal vase.

my longarm bobbins look like that

They look like Class 15 bobbins. You said the lot had things for a Kenmore and the vase majority of Kenmores used class 15 bobbins.

Billy

Didn't they used to use bobbins like that in commercial sewing machines in sewing factories?

Some pre-wound bobbins come with a paper side and when you put them in a machine you take off one of the sides. If you have never used them try them on a project. I love PW and hardly use regular one.
They have a finer thread so more on the bobbin so more sewing less bobbin winding. I have started at a 3 day retreat with a PW b and have use it the hole weekend. and made 6 tops

Looks like prewound bobbins. If the thread doesn't break easily then it's fine. I would use it as applique or for small hand sewing projects. It's a big seller to have bobbins of assorted colors: http://www.superiorthreads.com/shop/...onut/products/

They are cute with all the different colors, I plan to put them in an antique canning jar and make a lamp. I've done several of these lamps using collectibles.

I use the pre-wounds all the time. They fit in my Pfaff. Once you use them, it's really hard to go back. If this thread still seems strong, just take the paper off both sides and use it for your bobbin.

I actually bought thread once that was wound on a plastic bobbin/spool about that size. It was a small spool of button twist thread (used for hand sewing mostly). I suspect that those probably really weren't used inside a bobbin casing but just a smaller spool used at one time.

Sue, could we see a picture of one of your lamps?

or if it is good thread and i suspect it is, just rewind it on your regular bobbins.

I have some of those and they are class 15 bobbins. If the paper hasn't fallen apart they are OK to use or you can rewind onto plastic bobbins.

Here is a pic of a jar of buttons I put a lamp kit on, it's my bathroom night light.

it's hard to tell exactly from the pic, but they look like the PW bobbins to me. What does it say on the paper bobbin? All i can read is made in the USA.

I use PW bobbins and like them very much, as some have said, they have *a lot* of thread on them and they last much longer than the bobbins i wind on my machine. I usually pull off one of the cardboard sides and it fits in my viking D1 very nicely. If you are nervous about doing that, just test to see that the thread is in good condition and then re-wind it on your own bobbins, or keep it for use in hand applique. You can also put it on your top spool holder and it should work fine.

I've done this with several jars of buttons that were my DGM's. They make great side table lamps!!!

On one side it says,"Star Bobbin Style L / American Thread Co". The other side has "US patent no. and 500 or 100".
Thank you for your advice Lisa, I never even thought about just rewinding onto my medal bobbins. But after I checked most of them break easily. I may just use them for a decorative lamp base.

Yes, if the thread has "dry rot" (which is what I call it, it may not be the exact technical name by any means), then decorative jars, lamps, and shadow boxes are the way to go. I've seen them mixed very creatively with snippets of lace, and other vintage sewing tools and they are very nice. Even just a vintage jar full is nice!