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

The thimble has a long past. The oldest existent thimble is Roman, found in the ruins of Pompeii. It is bronze. But, the Etruscans, who came before the Romans, are known to have made other thimbles. Simple thimbles of bone and leather likely also existed because thimbles have been employed by every known culture. These thimbles did not survive the centuries.

Through the years, thimbles have changed in many of ways. Both the the means of production and the materials used have changed. Thimbles have gained new uses and become primarily decorative and collectible rather than merely practical. Ancient thimbles had to be sturdy because handmade fabric was coarse and needles were rough and unfinished. 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, fabric became more finely woven and sewing became more refined. Thimbles became thin walled. These thimbles were more often than not made of brass and imported from Nuremberg, a brass-making center. At this time, completely new methods of producing thimbles were introduced. Thimbles were made from sheet metal. The new thimbles also contained fancy motifs. The cap was sometimes separate and attached to the cylinder later. This new style of thimbles were taller and the top was flatter.

During the 16th and 17th century Holland became the new center of thimble production. However, in the late 17th century, John Lofting moved thimble production to Islington, England where the brass industry was now established. He began to make thimbles in a scale unheard of before. Next, he moved his manufacturing plant to Great Marlow, and used water power to double production.

By the early 18th century, he was producing 2 million thimbles annually. But he too succumbed to change and thimble manufacturing moved to Birmingham, England by 18 hundred. The composition of brass also changed during this period. A completely new formula made it more malleable and suitable for a different manufacturing process called "deep drawing" � that used less metal. This lowered the cost.

We are all aware that sewing is the primary use of the thimble. But did you know that a a little 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 in general decorative, collectorsintrigue 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 detailed design. New thimbles are being issued to commemorate everything from football teams to Disney characters. Every tourist destination offers souvenir thimbles to tourists.

Thimble collecting is an extremely popular hobby worldwide. A great number of thimbles are inexpensively priced and easily for sale. Men, women and children collect them. Some collectors are interested in the history of thimbles while others collect them for their decorative value. The humble 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 practical tools ever invented, born of necessity.

How To Make More Profit From Your Collectible Thimbles
If you are a thimble collector or if you have inherited a collection from a family member and you are looking to make some money, thimbles are great items to auction off for big bucks. The most popular selling method for thimbles is auctioning them locally or online auctions.

Here's How To Collect Antique Thimbles For Good Cheer And Income
A very brief history of thimbles, what makes thimble collecting a good beginning hobby, where to find thimbles, what you should know before you begin and how to get this knowledge are tips that may help the new collector who has an interest in thimble collecting.

Antique Thimbles: A First Look
This article is about the journey to collect antique thimbles. It is a collector's dream to find the most of their items and to make it unique to his or her needs. It tells of an author's love for thimbles and how these little items complete her life.

Antique Thimbles - Buying Antique Thimbles Or The Things You Need To Know First
Read what you need to know about antique sewing thimbles before you buy any collectible thimbles. You get a brief history of thimbles and when and where they they originated. The article clearly explains what materials thimbles are made of and describes designs that are still in use today.

Learn About Coin Grading: How To Decide The Value Of Your Coins
Coin grading is very important because it will help you determine the condition of your coins and their probably value. When it comes to coin collecting, people who know how to spot rare coins that are still in very good condition always have an edge.

Finding The Best Sewing Thimble For Your Collection
Here is an introduction to collecting sewing thimbles with some of the latest ways people have been improving the hobby to make it work for them. The article goes on to suggest different ideas and approaches, some via the Internet, to make money collecting sewing thimbles.

Lord Of The Rings Action Figures - How To Get Started With Collecting These Items
A passion that is rising in popularity is collecting Lord of the Rings action figures. The three part motion picture adaptation of Tolkien's masterwork has been a huge cause for the rise. Nowadays people of all ages can get pleasure from collecting Lord of the Rings action figures.

Lord Of The Rings Figures - Unearth Secrets On How To Begin A Collection Immediately
Collecting Lord of the Rings figures is a pastime that is all the rage, however it is a passion that continues to grow in popularity. There are a number of of different causes for this popularity increase.