AboutWynneth Mullins Expertise I am a digitabulist - a thimble collector. I have been collecting thimbles since 1976 and have my own newsletter called Thimble Guild. I started a local thimble collectors group, Thimbles Are Us, in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area in 1985. I was Second Vice-President of Thimble Collectors International from 1988 - 1992. I have been a guest speaker on thimbles at local collectors groups, womens groups and churches. I am knowledgable about sterling and gold thimbles made in the US as well as England, Germany, France, Russia, Norway and a few other countries. I am familiar with manufacturer`s marks and codes, assay marks and date marks and other unique marks meaningful to any thimble collector. I am knowledgeable of porcelain, china, brass, pewter, bronze, aluminum, plastic, silver plated, coin and base metal thimble marks. Some questions I might be asked...what makes a thimble valuable (scarce maker, desirable pattern, commemorative, etc.)...where can I find more information on thimbles... are there collectors groups out there...is there a newsletter for collectors...what books are available on the subject? I am very happy to share my knowledge with anyone but will not make appraisals. To do that, you must be able to look at the thimble in person. I have a friend that has a saying, A knowledgable collector is a wise collector. She is a wise collector. In 1992, at the TCI Convention in San Diego, CA, I was given the highest honor in the thimble collecting community. It is called the Myrtle Lundquist Award. It reads, Lundquist Award - Compassion - Caring - Sharing - Awarded to Wynneth Mullins 1992. This award gives me a lot to live up to!
Question QUESTION: I have a thimble that has the following markings
(CH) OR (CM) (8)
DOPCAS
The thimble looks silver but I can find no other markings
ANSWER: Hi Jackie,
Thank you for your question. Your thimble is a Dorcas thimble made in England by Charles Horner. In the early 1880s, Charles Horner patented the relatively simple idea of a silver thimble sandwich with a strong, steel ‘middle’. He went on to design, perfect and patent the steel-cored silver thimble, registering his famous trade name ‘Dorcas’ – an inspired invention on which the Charles Horner business thrived, selling many thousands of the thimbles throughout Britain as well as abroad. Since your thimble has the word Dorcas on it, the thimble was made after 1905. The #8 is the size of the thimble. I do hope this helps.
Wynneth
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QUESTION: Thank you Wynneth
I would ask is it worth anything
Jackie
Answer Hi Jackie,
I would say yes it is worth something but I cannot determine that as there are several factors to consider such as condition. You may want to go to eBay and check out the thimbles like yours to see what value they are bringing. I would think you would be able to sell your thimble on eBay very readily. I hope this helps.
