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Collectibles--General (Modern)/Patterns on Thimbles
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Dear Wynneth, I live in the UK and started collecting metal thimbles this year, so have very little knowledge so far. I know that some thimbles have named patterns, such as Louise and Princess May. Do you know if there is a book I could buy that records all/most of the recognised thimble patterns that have been used in England. I am mostly interested in those used in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Thank you for your help.
With best wishes, Christine
Hello Christine, Forgive me for taking so long. We have several illnesses in the family. There is a booklet, IDENTIFYING STEEL-CORED THIMBLES by Diane Pelham Burn (UK citizen) that lists and shows all the different designs and name for each design on these English thimbles. She also wrote a supplement to that booklet. If you cannot find it there in the UK, just email me direct at
thimble_guild@geusnet.com
There is also a book called, THE STORY OF THE THIMBLE, AN ILLUSTRATED GUIDE FOR COLLECTORS by Bridget McConnel (an actress in the UK) that is very good with great color pictures and I believe would help you very much in educating yourself on the thimbles available.
I do hope this helps.
Wynneth
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| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 10 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | Dear Wynneth, Thank you for your answer, which is very helpful. It is also nice just to be in touch with someone else with a shared interst, so far I have foumnd no one locally. With Best wishes, Christine | ||
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Answers by Expert:
Wynneth 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!
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