Cannon Mills Co. - Textile Manufacturing Company Specimen Stock Certificate

Specimen Stock printed by American Bank Note Company. Cannon Mills Company was an American textile manufacturer located in Kannapolis, North Carolina, primarily known for its production of towels and bed linens. Established in 1887 by James William Cannon, the company became the world's leading manufacturer of towels and sheets by 1914. It remained under family ownership until 1982, when it was acquired by David H. Murdock. In 1985, Murdock sold the company to Fieldcrest, resulting in the formation of Fieldcrest-Cannon. The company was later sold to Pillowtex Corporation in 1997, which filed for bankruptcy in July 2003. The remaining Cannon brands were subsequently acquired by the Iconix Brand Group. In 1887, James William Cannon launched the Cannon Manufacturing Company in Kannapolis, North Carolina, with the intention of creating a fundamental textile product rather than yarn or other intermediate goods. The company specialized in producing towels marketed under the brand name "Cannon Towels." A decade later, he expanded operations by opening an additional mill in Concord, North Carolina.