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A definition! About the demise of this page, and The Electronic Thimble Newsletter |
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A definition! About the demise of this page, and The Electronic Thimble Newsletter |
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thimble (thîm´bel) noun
1.A small cup made of metal, ceramic, plastic, leather, or other hard material, worn for protection on the finger that pushes the needle in sewing. 2.Any of various tubular sockets or sleeves in machinery. 3.Nautical. a. A metal ring fitted in an eye of a sail to prevent chafing. b. A metal ring around which a rope splice is passed. [Middle English thimbil, alteration of Old English thýmel, leather finger covering, from thúma, thumb.]
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition copyright © 1992 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Obviously for our purposes, we are talking about number 1. To be honest, I didn't even know that there were other kinds of thimbles until I thought to look up the word in the dictionary! Then you have this definition, from the "Micropædia Ready Reference and Index" from the folks at Britannica...
thimble,
small, bell-shaped implement designed to protect the top of the finger when sewing. Among the earliest known thimbles, dating from before AD 79, were those made of bronze and found at Pompeii and Herculanium. Thimbles can be made from almost any material, but modern ones are almost exclusively produced in plastic or soft metals.
from The Encyclopædia Britannica®, 15th Edition copyright ©1977 by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Now that we have all that information...
For many years, thimbles have been considered a "collectible" item. They can even be a "cross-collectible" when the theme or composition of the thimble is considered. For example, a thimble in the shape of a rabbit, crafted out of brass might well appeal to collectors of rabbits, brass, and miniatures as well as thimble collectors. There are clubs and newsletters for thimble collectors, and whole catalogs just full of collectible thimbles. Thimbles range in price from ¢.89 for a utilitarian sewing thimble at a discount store, upwards. Thimble collecting is a relatively easy form of collecting to begin as souvenir thimbles abound, and quite often very nice examples can be purchased for less than $5.00. As a bonus, they are lightweight, easy to pack, and take up little room! That makes them the ideal souvenir for travelers! I always ask friends and family who are traveling to keep an eye out for thimbles!
Housing your collection can be quite a challenge as it grows. Custom thimble cases are available from several
vendors, and many collectors house their thimbles in old printers drawers, as they often offer a variety of different
sized slots. My personal preference is to keep them behind a glass or plastic cover, since that cuts down significantly
on my dusting! 
My personal thimble collection has grown steadily since it began more than ten years ago. I collect thimbles of all types; my main criteria is personal satisfaction. Many of my friends have generously added special thimbles to my collection - thimbles from their hometowns, or home state, heirloom thimbles from family members long gone, thimbles from their travels, abroad or in the United States, and thimbles that represent our friendship. I would truly be hard pressed to pick a favorite; they are all special to me!
Please note: I apologize: Updates to this page, and The Electronic Thimble have been "on hold"
for some time now. After my accident, I now realize that the chances of bringing it back any time soon are extraordinarily
slim. 
This page will no longer be updated.
Please do not link to it as a current resource.
To former subscribers of The Electronic Thimble, I want to assure you that your email addresses have never been
(and never will be) sold, rented, distributed, leased, or loaned to anyone. As of December 1, 2001, they were destroyed.
Please note that at this time, I am NOT participating in trades.
Thanks for visiting! Sarah
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