Why do people collect thimble?
Being small, easy to look after, nice to display, and often reasonably priced, thimbles are an easy ‘starter’ collectable, especially for children to hunt out. The ‘Nose’ machine which made those familiar regular indentations was invented in the mid 18th century.
What is a thimble collector called?
People who collect thimbles are known as digitabulists.
What does a thimble symbolize?
Puritans that colonized in early America did not believe in adornment. A common practice among these early Americans was for a man to present a thimble to his fiancée which was symbolic of his wish to marry her.
Do thimbles sell?
Thimbles are widely available. You can find them on eBay, at antique shows, garage sales, and about anywhere else you can imagine.
What activity is a thimble associated with?
thimble, small, bell-shaped implement designed to protect the end of the finger when sewing.
What finger do you wear a thimble on?
middle finger
You wear a traditional thimble (usually on your index or middle finger) to protect your finger from the eye-end of the needle. If you use your index or middle finger to push the eye-end of a needle enough times your finger will get hurt; that’s where a thimble like this comes in handy.
How can you tell if a thimble is silver?
No formal assay process exists in America so that silver thimbles usually have a size mark, a maker’s mark and ‘stg’ or ‘sterling’ to indicate the fineness of the silver. Some earlier thimbles had a patent date but this did not necessarily correspond to the date of manufacture. Some only have a size number.
Who invented the thimble?
The first widely manufactured thimble was forged around 1695 in England by a Dutchman, a metal-worker by the name of Lofting. He is known to have fashioned thimbles in iron, steel and brass, with indentations on their surface to prevent the needle from slipping.
When did Charles Horner make Jewellery?
1860s
Horner’s business was founded in the 1860s and was based at 23 Northgate, Halifax. It produced silver jewellery and ornaments. Among its better-known jewellery lines were enamelled Art Nouveau pendants and necklaces, twisted silver wire and glass paste ‘knot’ brooches, and silver hatpins.
What is a leather coin thimble used for?
This finger molding, soft leather thimble with a dimpled metal coin disk inserted at the fingertip offers much-needed protection from those sharp needle points. It’s easy to use, versatile and enables stronger push through on hard fabrics.
What do the numbers on thimbles mean?
Sometimes 925 and 935 marks may be found on more recently made thimbles. ’12/13′ signifies 12 or 13 loth (75% or 81.3% pure silver) occasionally found on early German (pre 1884) and Austrian thimbles. Some modern thimbles are simply stamped ‘Sterling Germany’ without any makers mark.