This backstand was a cheapie bough on eBay from the US for about $12.00 USD. It needs to be mounted on a base, in this case a piece of flat hardwood, but it puts industrial thread within the range of folks who use semi industrial sewing machines.
This version will take 4 different cones, handy if you need to keep a range of colours available.
(http://www.movsd.com/photos/backstand/bsbase.jpg)
The thread guide is on a telescopic arm that can be raised high enough to pass the thread down to a sewing machine.
(http://www.movsd.com/photos/backstand/thread_guide.jpg)
This is how I use it with one of my old Elnas.
(http://www.movsd.com/photos/backstand/backview.jpg)
I'd like something like that, but with maybe a clamp at the base for clamping to the edge of a table so I can move it about and not worry about it being knocked off. I suppose the cones add a bit of weight though?
This one on my industrial table is nice and neat. Something like this with a clamp on it would be ideal (nice Morecambe & Wise velour curtains in the background too!):
(http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu5/vanderloo/thread-stand2.jpg)
You can open the curtain during the day time and have good light?
Luckily it's an south east-facing window and in the morning I get great light until well into the afternoon.