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The Thimble: An Introduction
A thimble is a cap that fits on the finger to shield it when pushing a needle when darning or sewing. The word, comes from Middle English, literally means "thumb shield".
The thimble has a an extended history. The oldest existing thimble is Roman, found in the city ruins of Pompeii. It is made of bronze. Yet, the Etruscans, who pre-date the Romans, are known to have made other metal thimbles. Primitive thimbles of bone and leather more than likely also existed because thimbles have been used by every known culture. These thimbles didn't survive.
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 essentially decorative and collectible rather than merely practical. Early thimbles had to be sturdy because homespun fabric was coarse and needles were rough and unfinished. 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 needlework 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, creative methods of manufacturing thimbles were introduced. Thimbles were first 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 16th and 17th century Holland became the new seat of thimble production. However, in the late seventeenth century, John Lofting moved thimble manufacturing toEngland where the brass-working industry was by now established. He began to produce thimbles in a scale unknown before. Later, he moved his assembly plant to Great Marlow, and used water power to double production.
By the early eighteenth century, he was producing about two million thimbles each year. But he too succumbed to progress and thimble producing moved to Birmingham, England by 1800. The fashioning of brass also changed during this period. A brand new formula made it more malleable and suitable for a different manufacturing process called "deep drawing" that used less metal. This dropped the cost.
We are all aware that sewing is the fundamental 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 waned. 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 keepsake thimbles to tourists.
Thimble collecting is an very well-known hobby worldwide. Most thimbles are reasonably 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 effective tools ever invented, born of necessity.
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