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A Thimble: Explained
A thimble is a cover that fits on the finger to shield it when pushing a needle when quilting or sewing. The word, comes from Middle English, literally means "thumb shield".
The thimble has a long recorded history. The oldest existent thimble is Latin, found in the destroyed city of Pompeii. It is made of bronze. Still, the Etruscans, who came before the Romans, are known to have made other thimbles. Primitive thimbles of bone and leather quite possibly also existed because thimbles have been employed by every known civilization. These thimbles didn't survive.
Throughout history, thimbles have changed in many of ways. Both the materials used and the means of production have changed. Thimbles have gained new uses and become primarily decorative and collectible rather than merely practical. Pioneer 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 material 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 sewing became more refined. Thimbles became thin walled. These thimbles were usually made of brass and imported from Germany, a brass-making center. At this time, unique methods of making thimbles were introduced. Thimbles were first made from sheet metal. This new style of thimbles also contained fancy 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 centuries Holland became the new center of thimble manufacturing. However, in the late seventeenth century, John Lofting moved thimble manufacturing toEngland where the brass-making industry was now established. He began to produce thimbles in a scale unheard of before. Then, he moved his facility to Great Marlow, and used water power to and doubled production.
By the early eighteenth century, he was producing about two million thimbles each year. But he too succumbed to change and thimble manufacturing moved to Birmingham, England by 1800. The composition of brass also upgraded 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 brought down the cost.
We are all aware that sewing is the fundamental use of the thimble. But did you know that a insignificantly 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 generally 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 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 remarkably well-known hobby worldwide. Most thimbles are inexpensively 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 value. 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 sound tools ever invented, born of necessity.
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