A thimble is a cover that fits over the finger to protect it when pushing a needle when quilting or sewing. The word, comes from Middle English, literally means "thumb shield".
The thimble has a an extended history. The oldest existing thimble is Italian, found in the ruins of Pompeii. It is bronze. Still, the Etruscans, who came before the Romans, are known to have made other metal thimbles. Primitive thimbles of leather and bone more than likely also existed because thimbles have been used by every known civilization. These thimbles did not survive the centuries.
Throughout history, thimbles have changed in many of ways. Both the materials used and the means of production have changed. Thimbles have gained new uses and become fundamentally decorative and collectible rather than merely practical. Early thimbles had to be sturdy because homespun fabric was coarse and needles were rough and imperfect. It was difficult to push the thread through the fabric so a strong, thick bronze or iron thimble, called a "skep", was required to prevent injury.
By the 15th century, material became more finely woven and sewing became more refined. Thimbles became thinner and lighter. These thimbles were usually made of copper alloy and imported from Nuremberg, a brass-making center. Simultaneously, different methods of producing thimbles were introduced. Thimbles were made from sheet metal. This new style of thimbles also contained fancy motifs. The cap was sometimes separate and attached to the cylinder later. The new thimbles were taller and the top was flatter.
During the sixteenth and seventeenth century Holland became the new seat of thimble manufacturing. However, in the late 17th century, John Lofting moved thimble production toEngland where the brass-making industry was by now established. He began to produce thimbles in a scale unknown before. Later, he moved his factory to Great Marlow, and used water power to and doubled production.
By the early 18th century, he was producing 2 million thimbles each year. But he too succumbed to change and thimble producing moved to Birmingham, England by 1800. The fabrication of brass also changed during this period. A new formula made it more malleable and suitable for a different manufacturing procedure called "deep drawing" that used less metal. This lowered the cost.
We are all aware that sewing is the primary 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 predominately decorative, collectors interest in modern thimbles has not decreased. Thimbles originally created in silver are being reproduced in pewter thanks to new processes, developed in the 1950s that allow more detailed design. New series of 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 extremely popular hobby worldwide. Plenty thimbles are inexpensively priced and easily available. Men, women and children collect them. Some collectors are interested in the history of thimbles while others collect them for their decorative importance. The lowly thimble has become a star. Some admire its humble 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.
A Guide To Collecting Antique Thimbles For Fun 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.
What Makes A Thimble Valuable?
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?
Making Some Serious Money 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.
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Read what you need to know about antique sewing thimbles before you buy any collectible thimbles. You get a brief history of thimbles and when and where they they originated. The article clearly explains what materials thimbles are made of and describes designs that are still in use today.
Here's How To Make Cash 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.
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A Beginners Manual To Acquiring Thimbles
An article about the whimsical history of thimbles and some practical ideas on how to collect, preserve and use antique thimbles. This article delves into the world of the thimbles and the characters that have made them unique the collectors that love to collect and share the thimbles interesting history.
