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

The thimble has a an extended history. The oldest existing thimble is Latin, found in the city ruins of Pompeii. It is made of bronze. Nevertheless, the Etruscans, who pre-date the Romans, are known to have made bronze thimbles. Simple thimbles of leather and bone more than likely also existed because thimbles have been used by every known civilization. These thimbles didn't survive.

Throughout history, thimbles have evolved in a number of ways. Both the the means of production and the materials used have changed. Thimbles have gained new uses and become fundamentally decorative and collectible rather than merely practical. Early thimbles had to be sturdy because homespun fabric was coarse and needles were rough and crude. 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, cloth became more finely woven and needlework became more refined. Thimbles became thinner. These thimbles were more often than not made of copper alloy and imported from Nuremberg, a brass-making center. Simultaneously, unique methods of manufacturing thimbles were introduced. Thimbles were being made from sheet metal. These new thimbles also contained decorative 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 sixteenth and seventeenth century Holland became the new seat of thimble manufacturing. However, in the late seventeenth century, John Lofting moved thimble making toEngland where the brass-working industry was already established. He began to make thimbles in a scale unknown before. Later, he moved his assembly plant to Great Marlow, and used water power to and doubled production.

By the early eighteenth century, he was producing around 2 million thimbles per year. But he too succumbed to progress and thimble making moved to Birmingham, England by 18 hundred. The fabrication of brass also changed during this period. A brand new formula made it more malleable and suitable for a different manufacturing method called "deep drawing" � that used less metal. This dropped the cost.

We are all aware that sewing is the principal use of the thimble. But did you know that a inappreciably 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 as a rule decorative, collectorsintrigue 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 detailed design. New series of 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 very established hobby worldwide. Plenty thimbles are reasonably 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 sound tools ever invented, born of necessity.

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