A Thimble: An Introduction
A thimble is a cover that fits over the finger to protect it when pushing a needle when darning or sewing. The word, comes from Middle English, literally means "thumb shield".
The thimble has a lengthy past. The oldest existent thimble is Latin, found in the ruins of Pompeii. It is bronze. Yet, the Etruscans, who pre-date the Romans, are known to have made other metal thimbles. Crude thimbles of leather and bone most likely also existed because thimbles have been employed by every known civilization. These thimbles did not survive the centuries.
Throughout history, thimbles have evolved 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. Ancient thimbles had to be sturdy because handmade 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, material became more finely woven and needlework became more refined. Thimbles became thinner and lighter. These thimbles were commonly made of metal and imported from Germany, a brass-making center. At this time, original methods of producing thimbles were introduced. Thimbles were made from sheet metal. This new style of thimbles also contained decorative 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 centuries Holland became the new center of thimble manufacturing. However, in the late 17th century, John Lofting moved thimble production toEngland where the brass-working industry was by now established. He began to assemble thimbles in a scale unprecedented before. Next, he moved his facility 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 progress and thimble producing moved to Birmingham, England by 1800. The fabrication of brass also modernized 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 lowered the cost.
We are all aware that sewing is the primary use of the thimble. But did you know that a somewhat larger thimble, usually two ounces, was used to measure spirits? And did you know that 19th 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 primarily 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. Most thimbles are fairly 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 significance. The humble thimble has become a star. Some admire its beggarly origins and some its new found incarnations. It is still one of the most versatile and sound tools ever invented, born of necessity.
Antique 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.
Searching For Information About A Gold Thimble Or Reports About Gold Thimbles? This Is The Site 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.
What Is Antique Thimbles
This article is about the journey to collect antique thimbles. It is a collector's dream to find the most of their items and to make it unique to his or her needs. It tells of an author's love for thimbles and how these little items complete her life.
Searching For Buried Treasure Is A Pastime That Lots Of Citizens Are Enjoying
Out of the many things that people find when they are out looking for buried treasure; we see that coin collecting ends up being one of the main centres of attraction.
How To Make Some Hard Cash From Your Collectible 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.
Making Money Collecting Sewing Thimbles
Here is an introduction to collecting sewing thimbles with some of the latest ways people have been improving the hobby to make it work for them. The article goes on to suggest different ideas and approaches, some via the Internet, to make money collecting sewing thimbles.
Understand What Are The Different Themes Of Individuals Who Collect Coin
Coin collecting has been around for centuries, initially as amassing wealth and then finally as putting together different kinds of coins for the sake of their value as collectors' items.
Read About Coin Grading: How To Determine The Worthiness 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.
Who Was Helen Beatrix Potter?
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.
Star Wars Memorabilia
When I was a child just about all my toys were either Star Wars figures or Star Wars space models. In fact just about every toy I had as a child was something to do with Star Wars.
Laminated World Map - Staying Updated With World Events And Continuously Changing Political Boundaries
World maps are maps that give a geographical representation of the whole world on a single piece of paper. There are various kinds of world maps and they are mostly used by students, teachers and other general people interested in knowing the geography of the world.
