The Thimble 101

 

A thimble is a cover that fits on the finger to guard it when pushing a needle when quilting or sewing. The word, derived from Old English, literally means "thumb shield".

The thimble has a long recorded history. The oldest extant thimble is Latin, found in the city ruins of Pompeii. It is made of bronze. Still, the Etruscans, who came before the Romans, are known to have made bronze thimbles. Crude thimbles of bone and leather quite possibly also existed because thimbles have been utilized by every known civilization. These thimbles didn't survive.

Throughout history, thimbles have changed in a number of ways. Both the materials used and the means of production have changed. Thimbles have gained new uses and become primarily decorative and collectible rather than merely practical. Pioneer thimbles had to be sturdy because handspun fabric was coarse and needles were rough and crude. It was difficult to push the thread through the cloth so a strong, thick bronze or iron thimble, called a "skep"�, was required to prevent injury.

By the fifteenth century, material became more finely woven and sewing became more refined. Thimbles became thinner. These thimbles were commonly made of brass and imported from Germany, a brass-making center. During this time, innovative methods of manufacturing thimbles were introduced. Thimbles were being made from sheet metal. This new style of thimbles also contained fancy motifs. The cap was separate and attached to the cylinder later. These new thimbles were taller and the top was flatter.

During the 16th and 17th centuries Holland became the new center of thimble manufacturing. However, in the late seventeenth century, John Lofting moved thimble making toEngland where the brass-making industry was already established. He began to manufacture thimbles in a scale unheard of before. Then, he moved his manufacturing plant to Great Marlow, and used water power to and doubled production.

By the early eighteenth century, he was producing around 2 million thimbles each year. But he too succumbed to change and thimble making moved to Birmingham, England by 1800. The composition of brass also upgraded during this period. A completely new formula made it more malleable and suitable for a different manufacturing method called "deep drawing" � that used less metal. This dropped the cost.

We are all aware that sewing is the principal use of the thimble. But did you know that a insignificantly larger thimble, usually two ounces, was used to measure spirits? And did you know that nineteenth century prostitutes used them to tap on their clients windows and Victorian schoolmistresses used them to knock recalcitrant students on the head?

Although they have become largely decorative, collectorscuriosity in modern thimbles has not waned. Thimbles originally created in silver are being reproduced in pewter thanks to new processes, developed in the 1950s that allow more elaborate design. New thimbles are being issued to commemorate everything from football teams to Disney characters. Every tourist destination offers memento thimbles to tourists.

Thimble collecting is an very notable hobby worldwide. Plenty thimbles are wisely priced and readily attainable. Men, women and children collect them. Some collectors are interested in the history of thimbles while others collect them for their decorative value. The unpretentious thimble has become a star. Some admire its common origins and some its new found incarnations. It is still one of the most versatile and down-to-earth tools ever invented, born of necessity.

The Thimble 101
This article explores the evolution of thimbles beginning with the Etruscans and proceeding to modern times. It discusses the changes to thimble materials and manufacturing processes. It describes the origins of thimbles as a manufactured collectible and the state of thimble collecting today.

How To Make Some Serious Bucks From Your Old Thimbles
If you are a thimble collector or if you have inherited a collection from a family member and you are looking to make some money, thimbles are great items to auction off for big bucks. The most popular selling method for thimbles is auctioning them locally or online auctions.

Tips On Collecting Expensive Thimbles For Good Cheer And Income
A very brief history of thimbles, what makes thimble collecting a good beginning hobby, where to find thimbles, what you should know before you begin and how to get this knowledge are tips that may help the new collector who has an interest in thimble collecting.

Researching Data About A Gold Thimble Or Reports About Gold Thimbles? This Is The Website For You
In the mid 1800's, gold thimbles, were used by the upper class of society as jewelry, a fashion accessory to be worn at major social events. They were used by both men and women, although the majority of users of gold thimbles were women.

Why Are Sterling Silver Thimbles In Favor With Collectors?
This article focuses on answering the following questions. What is a thimble? When did thimbles originate? What are their uses? Who collects thimbles? Why are sterling silver thimbles popular with collectors? What makes a sterling silver thimbles collectible? When were the first commemorative sterling silver thimbles issued?

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Making Money Retailing Collector's Thimbles
This article is about selling collectible thimbles. This article will step you through the process of selling thimbles. Some people may not know how to go about selling thimbles on the Internet; this step by step guide will hopefully help you get the most money for your thimbles.

Read About Traditional Coin Appraisal: What Is It Really Valued?
There are many ways to find out the true value of an antique coin but the most popular way is to receive an an antique coin appraisal, either through a collector or an antique dealer.

Are You Looking For Stores Where You Can Visit To Purchase An Antique Silver Coin Locket?
If you are interested in something as unique as an antique silver coin locket, then you may think that it will be difficult for you to be able to find one. However, the opposite is actually true.