AboutBarbara K. Acchino Expertise II CAN ONLY ANSWER QUESTIONS ON THIMBLES
AND ANTIQUE SEWING TOOLS. NO SEWING MACHINES. NO NON-SEWING ITEMS.
Experience I have been collecting for almost 20 years.
Organizations ThimbleCollectors@ONElist.com; Thimble Collectors International; Thimble Guild; Thimbletter II, Empire State Thimble Collectors
Publications "Sewing with Scotties" Scottie Sampler; various articles for the "Bulletin" - official newsletter of Thimble Collectors International (TCI)
Question Barbara,
I have a thimble from my grandmother. I know absolutly nothing about antiques of any sort, so I am afraid to just walking into any antique store and ask about it's value because I could easily be 'taken'. (I live in the Twin Cities, Minnesota)
Please excuse my description, I don't know any terminology, either. The rounded top and the top half of the thimble are rows of tiny dot indentations. The lower half or so looks like scrollish type ferns or something. My gramma emigrated from Norway as a child (born in 1898) so the thimble could be from there, or she may have bought it here in Minnesota. I don't even know my metals--I would tend to think it is silver, but maybe it is brass or some type of gold? How could I find out if it even has any value, and if so, what? Thanks so much,
Dawn
Answer Hello Dawn. I'm not going to be able to help you much without a picture. If you can take a digital picture of the thimble, please send it to me at bacchino@twcny.rr.com What you describe on the top half of the thimble is called knurling. If it looks machine made, that indicates it was done after the industrial revolution. The bottom half, or band, can have many different scroll/leaf/fern designs so that's where a picture would come in handy. Have you looked up inside the top of the thimble? Sometimes there are maker's marks.....an Old English "S" in a shield shape is for Simons Bros. Co. of Philadelphia, who still makes thimbles to this day. There are a number of other thimble makers who marked the inside top, some marked the band, some marked in the knurling itself. The condition of the thimble will also contribute to the value....are there any pin holes (hold it up to the light and look through it), is it round where you would insert your finger, are there any creases or dents? There are a number of books out on thimbles. You may be able to find one at your local library. There is a thimble collecting group in MN. Go to http://www.thimblecollectors.com and look for local groups. There should be a contact listed for the Lady Slipper Thimblers of MN. Good luck with your search for information on your thimble. Barb
