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The Thimble: From A To Z
A thimble is a cover that fits on the finger to shield it when pushing a needle during darning or sewing. The word, derived from Old English, literally means "thumb shield".
The thimble has a lengthy recorded history. The oldest existent thimble is Italian, found in the destroyed city of Pompeii. It is made of bronze. However, the Etruscans, who pre-date the Romans, are known to have made bronze thimbles. Rough thimbles of leather and bone without doubt also existed because thimbles have been employed by every known civilization. These thimbles didn't survive.
Through the years, thimbles have evolved in a number of ways. Both the the means of production and the materials used have changed. Thimbles have gained new uses and become fundamentally decorative and collectible rather than merely practical. Pioneer thimbles had to be sturdy because handmade fabric was coarse and needles were rough and imperfect. It was difficult to push the thread through the material so a strong, thick bronze or iron thimble, called a "skep", was required to prevent injury.
By the fifteenth century, fabric became more finely woven and needlework became more refined. Thimbles became thinner. These thimbles were generally made of metal and imported from Germany, a brass-making center. At this time, innovative methods of making thimbles were introduced. Thimbles were first made from sheet metal. The new thimbles also contained decorative motifs. The cap was separate and attached to the cylinder later. These 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 seventeenth century, John Lofting moved thimble manufacturing to Islington, England where the brass-working industry was already established. He began to manufacture thimbles in a scale unprecedented 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 about two million thimbles annually. But he too succumbed to progress and thimble making moved to Birmingham, England by 18 hundred. The fabrication of brass also upgraded during this period. A completely new formula made it more malleable and suitable for a different manufacturing procedure called "deep drawing" that used less metal. This brought down the cost.
We are all aware that sewing is the fundamental use of the thimble. But did you know that a slightly 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 largely decorative, collectorscuriosity 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 memento thimbles to tourists.
Thimble collecting is an remarkably well-known hobby worldwide. Many thimbles are fairly 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 significance. The unpretentious 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 down-to-earth tools ever invented, born of necessity.
The Thimble: From A To Z
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.
What Are Thimble's Uses?
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?
Here's How To Collect Expensive Thimbles For Enjoyment And Profit
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.
Antique Thimbles - Purchasing Antique Thimbles Or What To Look For
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.
Making A Profit Marketing 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.
Antique Thimbles 401
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.
How To Rate Lord Of The Rings Action Figures
Have you ever wanted to know how to value Lord of the Rings action figures? In order to do so you have to know what you have and what you need. If you are collecting for financial purposes my advice to you would be to really know the market.
The Beginners Guidebook To Acquiring Old 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.
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No matter how many new ranges of Nortitake China that come out there always seems to be a call for the discontinued lines.
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