The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-07-15
FIRST MENTION OF THIMBLE.
In the Twelfth Century II Was Made
of Bronze.


st. Louis Globe Democrat: In these
days, when everything we see hear and
touch is supposed to have a history, it
is humiiating to have TO confess that
the thimble, a truly feminine article, is
absolutely without any account OF its
origin or shape or use I'm early days.
The first mention we get of It is in
the twelfth century. but this In no sense
helps US TO its origin. II occurs in the
collection of words of common things,
written out Of Hildegrade, and, there.
fore we gather that it must have been
in daily use in her time
We have some little guide as to the
shape Of the thimble in the twelfth
century by looking at the one dug out
Of the Burg Tannenberg in the Berk.
strasse at Darmstadt.
The burg itself was destroyed in 1899
and never built up again, therefore this
thimble, which is now TO be seen in the
museum at Darmstadt. must have been
In use before the destruction OF the
burg.
The shape is somewhat similar TO
ours; 1t is u very well made bronze thin.
BILE.
As far as we can be certain OF any.
thing, the thimble is to be traced to the
inventive and ingenious artisans of
Nurnberg who were the acknowledged
manufacturers OF 1t in the fourteenth
century.
II was not, however. until 1884 that
the thimble makers became what is
called a corporate body. although for a
whole century previously the Nurnberg
merchants had carried thimbles with
them for sale on their yearly expeditions
to the great fairs OF Leipsic. Hamburg
and Lubeck.
The artisans OF Nurnberg were ruled
by the authorities with a rod OF iron;
they were allowed no independence OF
action. even in trifles, and the regula.
tions issued seemed TO repress even the
improvements Of trade.
Thus, for example, I'm 1872 a thimble
maker named Jork Endthor invented a
twisting wheel. but he was forbidden
TO use II on pain Of punishment. be.
cause 1t would have given him an ad.
vantage over other members OF the
craft.
There We're many thimbles made OF
gold and silver. designed by the gold.
smiths for the use OF rich and high.
born DANES for presents for the pretty
bride or the good wife: and now and |
then goldsmith would on his own ac.
count eNpend time, talent and money in |
order to produce a perfect and costly
thimble for his sweetheart.
Among these was one Nlkolaus yon |
Bentschoten. who lived 200 years ago /
His work was so beautiful and called so
much attention to the thimble that II
gave rise to the fable that he had I'm.
vented H. whereas. the fact was, that
by his bringing II into notice IL became
an article OF everyday necessity.
What Benschoten did invent was not
the thimble itself, but the artistic or.
namentation OF IL.
a copper engraver by name Job Theo
de Bry. who lived from 1861 TO 1924
produced n sheet covered with repre.
sentations OF the most beautiful thin.
bles, the richest OF which were adorned
with NEUROLOGICAL subjects.
there is a cupid or genie. surrounded
by the inscription, Force d'amour."
Wis amoris," la puissance d'amour"
lthe power OF lovel.
II seems that up to the end OF the
seventeenth century the thimble was 10
be found In few places outside OF Nurn.
berg Cologne and Holland
There was at that time double thin.
hles, OF which the under one was quite
smooth and gilded. while the upper one
was OF silver and entirely pierced
through.
Thimbles seem TO have been introduc.
ed into England as articles OF common
use by a man named John Loftlng. who
came over from Holland at the end OF
the seventeenth century and establish.
ed thlmble factory at Islington.
Tho word thlmble Is said to be derived
from the Scotch thimmel or thembbeli
n sort OF shield.