Expert: Barbara K. Acchino - 5/28/2010

Question
Hello :) I have never been here before. I found a small box of thimbles, and i would love a little info about them. There's six of them. Two just look like brass thimbles (no marks inside), and one looks tin (i guess? also no marks). Three are sterling. One only has 'England' stamped on it, one has houses and a bridge on it, i think it is Simons Brothers Co. Inside, there is a bell shape with a really fancy 'S' inside of it.

The one that interests me the most is a small (sz 7) sterling thimble with a small red, blue, and gold compass-like emblem on it that says "Friends War Relief Service." The inside is stamped mKd sterling. Researching the thimble specifically on google didn't bring up anything. I found some info on the friends war relief service which sounded to me like some war relief effort during world war one sponsored by the Quakers, but i have never heard of it before. Do you know anything about this thimble? Thanks a bunch if you do.

Answer
Hello Frank.  I am familiar with the Friends War Relief Organization of World War I.  The thimble you describe was made by Ketcham and McDougall, a thimble maker from New York State.  They manufactured thibmles from 1832 until 1932.  The thimble should have a plain band with no rim.  This thimble has an applied disk with the words "Friends War Relief Service" which commemorates the organization.  It was first illustrated in the 1880s.  It is sterling.  It appeared in Ketcham and McDougall's catalog as stock #113.  In 1989, Gay Ann Rogers Amercian Silver Thimbles price guide valued it at $45-$65 but it could bring more than that today.  Condition is important.....is it out of round?  Are there any pin holes?  How about dents/dings/scratches/creases?  These conditions would all impact the value in a negative way.  A picture of your thimble is on page 70 of the book I mentioned.  As for the other thimbles, I would need to see pictures to be able to give you any information on them.  Hope I've helped.  Barbara