An Explanation Of A Thimble

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

The thimble has a an extended recorded history. The oldest extant thimble is Latin, found in the ruins of Pompeii. It is bronze. Even so, the Etruscans, who came before the Romans, are known to have made bronze thimbles. Crude thimbles of leather and bone without doubt also existed because thimbles have been utilized by every known civilization. These thimbles did not survive the centuries.

Through the years, 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 fundamentally 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 fabric so a strong, thick bronze or iron thimble, called a "skep", was required to prevent injury.

By the 15th century, cloth became more finely woven and sewing became more refined. Thimbles became thinner. These thimbles were commonly made of copper alloy and imported from Germany, a brass-making center. During this time, unique methods of producing thimbles were introduced. Thimbles were made from sheet metal. These new thimbles also contained fancy motifs. The cap was separate and attached to the cylinder later. The new thimbles were taller and the top was flatter.

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

By the early 18th century, he was producing 2 million thimbles per year. But he too succumbed to change and thimble making moved to Birmingham, England by 1800. The fabrication of brass also upgraded during this period. A different formula made it more malleable and suitable for a different manufacturing method 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 ever so little 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 by and large 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 elaborate design. New thimbles are being issued to commemorate everything from football teams to Disney characters. Every tourist destination offers memorial thimbles to tourists.

Thimble collecting is an extremely popular hobby worldwide. A great number of thimbles are inexpensively priced and readily 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 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 sound tools ever invented, born of necessity.

What Is: A Thimble?
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?

How To Make Money Marketing Collector 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.

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.

Antique Sewing Thimbles - Purchasing Antique Thimbles Or Buyer Beware, Scams Abound
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.

Some Information About Coin Ranking: How To Decide The Value Of Your Coins
Coin grading is very important because it will help you determine the condition of your coins and their probably value. When it comes to coin collecting, people who know how to spot rare coins that are still in very good condition always have an edge.

Understand About Antique Coin Evaluation: 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.

Beatrix Potter Figurines - Worth Their Weight In Gold
Beatrix Potter whose actual first name was Helen, was an English author and illustrator who was best known for her children's books featuring anthropomorphic characters such as in the children's classic - The Tale of Peter Rabbit.

Are You Looking For Places Where You Could 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.

Related Articles

Resources