A thimble is a cover that fits over the finger to protect it when pushing a needle when embroidering or sewing. The word, derived from Middle English, literally means "thumb shield".

The thimble has a an extended recorded history. The oldest existent thimble is Italian, found in the ruins of Pompeii. It is bronze. Still, the Etruscans, who came before the Romans, are known to have made other thimbles. Crude thimbles of leather and bone possibly also existed because thimbles have been employed by every known civilization. These thimbles did not survive the centuries.

Throughout history, thimbles have changed in a number of ways. Both the materials used and the means of production 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 fabric so a strong, thick bronze or iron thimble, called a "skep"�, was required to prevent injury.

By the 15th century, material became more finely woven and sewing became more refined. Thimbles became thin walled. These thimbles were commonly made of copper alloy and imported from Germany, a brass-making center. At this time, innovative methods of producing thimbles were introduced. Thimbles were made from sheet metal. This new style of thimbles also contained fancy motifs. The cap was separate and attached to the cylinder later. The 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 17th century, John Lofting moved thimble production toEngland where the brass industry was currently established. He began to assemble thimbles in a scale unknown before. Then, he moved his facility to Great Marlow, and used water power to and doubled production.

By the early 18th century, he was producing two million thimbles each year. But he too succumbed to change and thimble manufacturing moved to Birmingham, England by 1800. The fabrication of brass also modernized 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 lowered the cost.

We are all aware that sewing is the prime 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 for the most part decorative, collectors interest 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 extremely cherished hobby worldwide. Plenty thimbles are honestly priced and readily 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 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 Lonely Thimble: An Introduction
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.

Researching Data About A Gold Thimble Or Articles About Gold Thimbles? This Is The Site For You
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What Is A Thimble?
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?

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Lord Of The Rings Figurines - How To Distinguish Between Collectible Items And Conventional Toys
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