A thimble is a cap that fits over the finger to shield it when pushing a needle during quilting or sewing. The word, derived from English, literally means "thumb shield".
The thimble has a an extended history. The oldest existing thimble is Roman, found in the ruins of Pompeii. It is made of bronze. But, the Etruscans, who came before the Romans, are known to have made bronze thimbles. Rough thimbles of bone and leather probably also existed because thimbles have been used by every known culture. These thimbles did not survive.
Through the years, thimbles have changed in a number of ways. Both the the means of production and the materials used 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 fabric 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 sewing became more refined. Thimbles became thinner. These thimbles were in most cases made of copper alloy and imported from Nuremberg, a brass-making center. Simultaneously, creative methods of producing thimbles were introduced. Thimbles were first made from sheet metal. The new thimbles also contained fancy motifs. The cap was separate and attached to the cylinder later. This new style of 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 17th century, John Lofting moved thimble manufacturing to Islington, England where the brass-making industry was already established. He began to turn out 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 18th century, he was producing around 2 million thimbles annually. But he too succumbed to change and thimble making moved to Birmingham, England by 18 hundred. The fashioning of brass also improved during this period. A new formula made it more malleable and suitable for a different manufacturing process called "deep drawing" that used less metal. This lowered the cost.
We are all aware that sewing is the principal use of the thimble. But did you know that a a 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 largely decorative, collectorsintrigue 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 extremely notable hobby worldwide. A great number of thimbles are wisely priced and readily for sale. 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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