Thimbles are there more?

The little bear was closely followed by the Homepride Fred set. Not quite as much of a bargain but just as welcome all the same. From that point on my collection has grown bit by bit over the years and includes thimbles made from bone china, metal, silver and plastic. As with all collections, I have noticed that there is an underlying theme. I tend to go for the cartoon and film character thimbles like Mickey Mouse, the Wizard of OZ, Scooby Doo, Bob the Builder and Topcat rather than the floral or place linked thimbles. That's not to say I don't buy the more traditional designs - I do - but not so often.
My most recent purchase is Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. My most expensive character thimble would be the Teletubbies. At £5.50 that was the most expensive china thimble bought to date. I have to admit that it’s probably the one that I am most disappointed with as Dipsy’s face (the green one) is badly blemished. Still, that’s the danger of an online auction – it’s too easy to get caught up in bidding fever. On the bright side, the little bunny on the back is pretty cute.

Do I have a thimble which I would love to add to the collection? Yes, I’d have to say I would love a Fimble Thimble.

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Thimbles Silver Hallmarks

Did you know that before the 1880’s silver thimbles did not need to be hallmarked? No? Well, although the silver used was the correct grade to be classified as sterling, the amount used per thimble was too small making the duty payable for the hallmark more than the thimble was worth. This changed in 1884 when applying for a hallmark became mandatory. Hallmarks or any other kind of marking on a thimble helps to date it. Even the little dimples can help you tell how old it is. This thimble is hallmarked. They are a bit tricky to read sometimes as they are incredibly small and sometimes are worn, especially when the thimble has been well used like this one. I inherited this one from my mother-in-law, who probably inherited it from her mother. This hallmark gives the makers mark, CH for Charles Horner; the Lion symbol, indicating that it is sterling silver, the mark for Chester Assay office and the date letter. The date letter is for 1897. I mentioned in an ear...

A Passage of Time

Hi all, Time flies doesn't it? Seems like only yesterday when I last posted to this blog. Can't believe it was March 2015! I think I must have been asleep because I have no idea why it has taken so long to post. These thimbles show the passage of time. All of it a lot before mine, I hasten to add. These little ladies show the changes in fashion in the United States from 1900 through to 1947. Originally part of a collection from Avon in the1980s. The four above are from left to right, 1910, 1900, 1928 & 1927. These four are 1923, 1938, 1942 & 1947. The 1920s must have been a great decade for fashion in the US, with 3 examples from that era included in the collection. In fact the 20s were a time of great change and not just for clothes. It was the interim period between two world wars. People thought that with the end of the First World War, conflict was over and there was a new, vibrant, buzz for the future. It was the age of bobbed hair, the Char...

The White Steamer

I quite like vintage cars. I also like vintage sewingmachines . So imagine my surprise when I found out that the White Steamer was made by the same company that made White Sewing Machines. How cool is that? When Thomas White, the founder of the White Sewing Machine Company bought a steam car back in the 1890s, it inspired his son, Rollin White to develop a steam generator which was made up of stacked coils. Water was pumped into the top of the coils with steam being produced in the bottom coils closest to the fire. Not only did his design allow water input to be regulated, it also allowed temperature control. He patented the design describing it as being a quicker, safer and more economical way to generate steam power. Even with the improvements though, the engines still had to warm up enough to start producing steam. That’s probably why the combustion engine became more popular. It was a lot quicker to get going. Eventually, when steam power could no long...

Simply Thimbles

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