Field grey thread

[Infanteer]

Picked up several spools of field grey thread years ago in Graz, Austria and now I'm thinking of selling some but figured that I would try to determine what they would have been used for first.... maybe I won't want to part with them after all Can anyone tell from the info on the label what this thread could have been used for? I have no idea what weight of thread was used for what applications.

[WEISNER]

I can't help you infanteer other than to say you won't get rich if you sell them, these spools are available on dealer sites at one time or another. I also have a full roll but mine is marked 30/3 (J) 25 Gramm then the word Farbe on the spool. I also am interested what weights were used to sew insignia etc,

I got mine from Klaus Butschek and used his photo here. my plan is to sew collar tabs that were removed back onto a tunic I have. before anybody gets the lynch mob together this will always be disclosed and when sold any interested party will be made aware so don't get the rope out lol...

Kevin

[BenVK]

Calculating thread weights is a seriously mind boggling subject because there were and still are so many measurement systems e.g. New English, Metric, Tex, Denier. Plus without the packaging you won't know for sure what size you have because that info is often not on the reel itself.

If we take the first example shown, Ne B stands for the New English cotton system. That would be measured in yards and lbs but because this is a German product, they have converted as such:

1 Ne B = 1.6934 meters per 1 gram cotton.

20 is the Ne B of the sewing thread and 6 should the number of strands twisted together (could you confirm Infanteer?)

So, the higher the Ne B number, the finer the thread.

20/6 Ne B would be a medium/heavy weight strong thread (lots of strands) probably used for webbing or similar.

30/3 is a medium weight general purpose type thread.

I'd go for something a bit finer to sew insignia on to be honest but I don't think it matters that much.

Oh and the 25 and 50 gramm units marked on the packaging is the size/weight of the individual reels.

I don't know what "ZW" or "J" stands for but Farbe obviously means colour.

[Infanteer]

Thanks guys

I certainly didn't expect this thread to be particularly valuable but I just don't foresee myself having a use for it so I was thinking that someone would probably be interested in it. A friend who had a business making repro uniforms liked to use it to make loops for awards/medals as it was a little bit thicker then regular thread.

BenVK, that is some very useful information, thank you. It would appear that the thread is composed of three main strands. The warning at the top of the label indicates "Keep it dry, handle it dry" or something similar.

[BenVK]

It would appear that the thread is composed of three main strands.

Thanks for that.
I'm still not sure where they get the 6 in 20/6 then, something to do with 3 strands being twisted individually first or folded or something so therefore counted as 6..

It's really complicated actually and gives me a headache!

[Infanteer]

Thanks for that.
I'm still not sure where they get the 6 in 20/6 then, something to do with 3 strands being twisted individually first or folded or something so therefore counted as 6..

It's really complicated actually and gives me a headache!

I was searching the net and found some other spools of thread that were labelled as 40/9.... surely it doesn't have 9 strands so that second number must have another meaning. Anyways, this gives me at least an idea of what I have.

[WEISNER]

Thank you Ben for your replies, I think the 30/3 looks to be just a bit to big for insignia. after reading your descriptions I would not want any thing heavier like a 20/6 for my needs, however the 40/9 described by infanteer may be about right

my thread marked 30/3 is a three strand thread Ben.

Kev

[vbergman1]

Coats & Clark has a good explantion of thread weights:

http://www.coatsandclark.com/NR/rdon...threadsize.pdf

I believe that most general sewing during the 3rd Reich period was done using 40/4 cotton thread.

The 20/6 is thicker and my guess it that it would be used for sewing on buttons and decorative sewing.