British Placename thimbles - Thimbleselect Catalogue

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placename thimbles

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Silver Placename Thimbles

INTRODUCTION - BRITISH PLACENAMES

Introduction

What do British seaside holiday resorts have to do with thimbles?

There are many British silver thimbles made in the late 1920s by Henry Griffith & Sons, with names of placenames or towns which include seaside resorts, that have now become collectable in their own right. The placename is lettered in upper case in relief around the band of the thimble. Occasionally the name is lettered over vertical striations. I have noticed that some placenames are enclosed within inverted commas or quote marks eg "Stratford-on-Avon". 'Rhyl' has an asterisk at either end - others may have this as well. Only 'Stratford-on-Avon' has the lettering in smaller print than the standard.

After World War I, tourism became accessible to more people and the English thimble silversmith, Henry Griffith & Sons took full advantage of this by producing silver placename thimbles as souvenirs. He produced thimbles with the names of British destinations on the bands of his thimbles and he was the only maker to do so in any quantity, with hallmarks for 1929 1930 1931. The great depression saw the end of this lucrative production [very few other English thimble makers produced silver thimbles during the late 1920s]. There will be the occasional HG&S placename thimbles with 1928 and 1932 dates but these are scarce. Were the ones with 1925 and 1926 an experiment in marketing?

The placenames [currently there are 85 we know of] are as diverse as the popular Stratford-on-Avon and Blackpool, to small inland towns like Rugby, up to Inverness in Scotland, to the ever popular Chester, to the capital cities of London, Cardiff and Edinburgh. There are Griffith thimbles for England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, as well as the Channel Isles; the Isle of Man and the Isle of Wight. It is interesting to note that there is a placename thimble for Oxford but not for Cambridge; for Bristol but not for Bath. Dublin [tho Charles Horner had created one earlier] nor Belfast have placename thimbles.

In addition to the size marks, Griffith often marked the band of his thimbles with "The Spa" or "Royal Spa". This lettering is on the band below the British placename together with a full set of hallmarks. A small proportion have no assay marks, just the lettering 'Made in England' or 'Sterling Silver' [see Combe Martin thimbles for examples].

I have recorded all the known Griffith placename thimbles and it is interesting to note that only three designs were used for the placename thimbles - plainly indented; a band of daisies above the placename and an all-over daisy pattern. I have included all these generic patterns for each placename.Your thimble may have slightly different daisies but I could not record each variety of daisy pattern used. Only 'Stratford on Avon' has an additional patterned placename thimble.

It is apparent just from looking at this cross-section of placenames that Griffith thimbles for Blackpool, Llandudno and Stratford-on-Avon were the most popular holiday destinations for souvenirs. Griffith used the greatest variety of lettering, patterns and the biggest cross-section of silversmiths made these two placenames. Tho it may seem from such a comprehensive listing that these thimbles are commonplace, they are not. I have added 'RARE' to the HG&S placename thimbles, when these placenames are scarce.
It will be very worth your while to search out the placenames that have relevance to your life. My personal favourite is the 'Halifax' thimble with its association with Charles Horner, though Horner never produced a Halifax thimble. Living in Australia I am not familiar with the location of many of these places, so I have added the area in the UK for the information of other 'foreigners'. Please help if I have made any glaring errors!

Tho Henry Griffith is the most prolific he is not the only English silversmith to produce placename thimbles. The earliest I have been able to trace with a hallmark is 1887 - for Jersey by James Swann. The earlier placenames which don't seem to have been in any great quantities, were made by
Charles Horner [Aberdeen-Ballater-Callander-Dublin-Falmouth-Felixstowe-Guernsey [with a rare banner name]-Ilfracombe-Looe-Mona]
James Fenton [Blackpool-Glasgow-Torquay]
James Swann [& Son] [Blackpool-Burslem-Chester-Dundee-Guernsey-Isle of Man-Jersey-Stockport-Yarmouth]
Henry Swann [Dolgely-Guernsey-Isle of Man].

The above makers' lettering is very distinctive and different from the later Griffith placename thimbles. The lettering is larger and more ornate and only the Horner thimbles have stone apexes. The Mona thimbles also have the marks for Henry Williamson Ltd but these were probably made for Williamson by Charles Horner.
See 'Brighton' for the earliest recorded placename thimble! The placename thimbles by these other thimblemakers are very scarce.

There is a small selection of 1930-1931 placename thimbles made by none of the silversmiths mentioned above. The lettering for the following thimbles ['From Blackpool', 'Llandudno' and 'From London'] where the lettering is larger on a plain unstriated band, are made by Birmingham's Gomms [G'S]. These were probably his first output as the 2nd batch as below - this is born out by the hallmark date of 1930 - seem a better quality?
He is also the maker of the following placename thimbles [Brighton-Bournemouth-Eastbourne-Ilfracombe-Skegness-Southport]. This group of thimbles are different from the short list above - the smaller uppercase lettering on a wider striated band. This batch of names have the 1931 hallmark date.
The thimbles in both styles are plainly indented.

There are a few variations to the single placenames - where a phrase is used. From Blackpool [Gomms] - From Brighton [1830s] - From London [Gomms] - A Present from Rhyl [HG&S]

I have also included 6 extremely rare placename thimbles from the 1830s - maker/s unknown.

There have been many listings compiled for placename thimbles over the years and the list of references is supplied. Where I have not been able to supply a photo, I have listed where the information was found.

For completeness, this is a listing of other European placenames located in the thimble literature:
[infomation in the square brackets is not included in the thimble lettering]
Amsterdam - Bad Nenndorf - Bad Neuheim - Bourbale - Dinan - Geneve [German made] - Grece [German made] - Hamburg - Karlsbad - Kissingen [Gabler] - Lauterberg [brass]
Le Treport - Lourdes [silver; brass] - Paris - St Petersburg - Ste Baum [steel] - Stavanger - Verdun [silverplate] - Tibidabo - Wien - Wiesbaden

Rest of the world:
Asheville [NC] [Ketcham & McDougall 1880s] - Aspen [CO] [Ketcham & McDougall 1880s] - Atlantic City [Simons with enamel] - Bermuda [Henry Griffith & Sons] - Brisbane [James Fenton 1909] - Bucyrus [OH] [Ketcham & McDougall 1880s] - Colorado Springs [CO] [Ketcham & McDougall 1880s] - Delphi [IN] - Detroit [MI] - Florida [Ketcham & McDougall 1880s]* - Geneva [NY] - Jamaica - Kenton [Ketcham & McDougall 1880s] - Kingston [Ontario Canada] - Manhattan - Minneapolis [MN] [Ketcham & McDougall 1880s] - Newark NJ [Simons with enamel] - Newport [RI] [Ketcham & McDougall 1880s] - Pasadena CA - Peepskill - Peterboro [Ketcham & McDougall 1880s] - Queensland [James Fenton 1904] - San Bernadino [CA] - Telleride - Urbana [OH] - Washington DC [Simons 1890s] - Yonkers [NY]
Some of the US thimbles were pictorial thimbles as well.

The placenames are arranged alphabetically [click on each thimble for an enlargement to see finer details]. The dates are from specific thimbles and where I have listed no thimble maker, the maker is Henry Griffith & Sons.

According to The Thimble Society in their spring 2007 catalogue, the HG&S placename thimbles sold for 1/- [one shilling] or 5p in today's money, in 1930.

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

1830s placenames

Brighton
From Brighton
Canterbury
there is a cathedral on the band
Cheltenham
Dover

From Tunbridge Wells

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

Aberdeen
east coast of Scotland

Charles Horner
1931
with a stone apex

Aberdovey
in Wales

Holmes / Spicer

Aberystwyth
on the coast of Wales

Aylesbury
in Buckinghamshire

1929
1930
1930

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

Babbacombe
on the coast in Devon

1931
1931

Ballater
in Scotland

Charles Horner
Spicer

Bangor
on the north coast of Wales
RARE

1930

Birmingham
in Warwickshire, the home of the Victorian Jewellery Quarter
RARE

1929

Blackpool / From Blackpool
on the coast of Lancashire

1899 / 1905
James Fenton
1897
James Swann
1921 / 1923 / 1924 / 1927
James Swann & Son
1930

1930 / 1931
1930
1930
Gomms
From Blackpool
with large lettering

Bournemouth
on the coast of Hampshire

1930
1930
1931
Gomms

Bridlington
on the coast of Yorkshire

1931

Brighton
on the coast of Sussex

1930
1930

Gomms

Bristol
a port on the Somerset coast

1930
1930
1930

Bude
on the west coast of Cornwall

1931
1931
1931

Burslem
in the Potteries, Staffs

1896
James Swann
over striations
size 11
photo J Pollitt

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A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

Callander
in the Trossachs - Scotland

Charles Horner
with a stone apex

Cardiff
the capital of Wales

1930
1930
1930

Chatham
in Kent
RARE

1936??

Chester
in Cheshire

c.1900
James Swann
1930

Colchester
in Essex

Colwyn Bay
on the north coast of Wales
RARE

1930

Combe Martin
on the coast of Devon

1932
photo N Spicer

Croydon
in Surrey

1930
1929 / 1930

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

Dewsbury
in Yorkshire
RARE

Dolgely
in north Wales

Henry Swann
Spicer

Dublin
capital of Eire

Charles Horner
with a stone apex

Dundee
on the coast of Scotland

1898
James Swann
with a blackberry design
photo William Isbister

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

Eastbourne
on the coast of Sussex

1931
Gomms

Edinburgh
the capital of Scotland

unknown maker
1930

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

Falmouth
on the south coast of Cornwall

1919
Charles Horner
with a stone apex

Felixstowe
on the coast of Norfolk

Charles Horner
1908
with a stone apex
1925
1925

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

Glasgow
Scotland

James Fenton
1909
photo C Meacham

Glastonbury
in mid Somerset

1930
1930

Gravesend
at the mouth of the Thames

1929
1929

Great Yarmouth
on the coast of Norfolk

1930
BUY THIMBLE LIKE THIS
1930

Guernsey
one of the Channel Isles

1901
Charles Horner
name in a banner
photo B Biske
1892
Henry Swann

James Swann
Spicer
1930
1930

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

Halifax
in Yorkshire
the home of Charles Horner

1930
1930
1930

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

Ilfracombe
on the north coast of Devon

Charles Horner
another identical thimble made by WG&S?
1897
1930
1930
1931
Gomms

Inverness
in Scotland
RARE

Ipswich
in East Suffolk

1930
1930

Isle of Man
between England and Ireland

1894
Henry Swann
silver-gilt
1893
James Swann
includes the three-legged symbol
1897 / 1899 / 1900 / 1901
1902 / 1903 / 1905 / 1906
James Swann
includes the three-legged symbol
1902 / 1904
James Swann
includes the three-legged symbol
[triskelion]
slight variation in band pattern

1924
in a Webb's Douglas box

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

Jersey
one of the Channel Isles

1887
James Swann
earliest dated placename thimble
1906
James Swann
1930
1930
1930

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

Killarney
on the west coast of Ireland

1930
on Royal Spa thimble
1930
on Royal Spa thimble

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

Leamington Spa
in Warwickshire
also know as Royal Leamington Spa

1930
1930
1930

Leeds
in Yorkshire

19--

Leigh on Sea
on the coast of Essex
RARE

Leven
in Fife, Scotland
RARE

1930
1933

Llandudno
on the north coast of Wales

1930 / 1931
1930 / 1931
1930

1930
Gomms
with large lettering

Llanrwst
in Wales

unknown maker

London / From London

1930
1930
1930
1930
Gomms
From London

this isn't a sterling silver at all
but I feel we need to know about it
made of a base metal with copper dominating
was it made by Charles Iles?

Looe
on the south coast of Cornwall

1912
Charles Horner
with a stone apex

Spicer

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

Minehead
in Somerset

1930
1930

Mona

1896
John Thompson & Son
with three-legged symbol
larger band of indentations
1906 / 1907
Charles Horner
with three-legged symbol
photo Bonhams
1907 / 1909
Charles Horner
1904
Henry Williamson Ltd
with three-legged symbol

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

Newquay
on the west coast of Cornwall
RARE

1931
1931

<

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

Omagh
in county Tyrone, Northern Ireland
RARE

1932

Oxford
the great university town
RARE

1928
1929

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

Peebles
in southern Scotland
RARE

Penmaenmawr
on the north coast of Wales

1930
1930

Penrith
in north Cumberland

1930
1930

Penzance
on the very south coast of Cornwall
RARE

1929

Plymouth
on the coast of Devon

1929
1929
1930

Portsmouth
on the coast of Hampshire
RARE

19--
19--

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

Reading
west of London, in Berkshire

1929
1930

Rhyl / A Present from Rhyl
on the north coast of Wales

1930
1930
1930

1930
A Present from Rhyl
1931
A Present from Rhyl
1930
A Present from Rhyl

Rugby
in Warwickshire
RARE

1930
photo N Spicer

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

Sandown
on the Isle of Wight

Scarborough
on the coast of Yorkshire

1930
1930
1930

Shrewsbury
on the River Severn in Shropshire
RARE

1930

Skegness
on the coast of Lincolnshire

Gomms
1930

Southend
on one of Scotland's western islands
RARE

1929

Southend on Sea
on the coast of Essex

1929
1929 / 1930

Southport
on the coast of Lancashire

1931
Gomms

Southsea
on the coast of Hampshire at Portsmouth

1930
1930

St Leonards
on the coast of Sussex, near Hastings
RARE

1929

Stockport
in north west England

1911
James Swann
with blackberry pattern

Stourbridge

1896/1911
James Swann

Stratford-on-Avon
the birthplace of Shakespeare

1930
1930
rare band patterning

1928
name in smaller print
1927 / 1929
name in smaller print
1926 / 1927 / 1929
name in smaller print

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

Teignmouth
on the coast of Devon
RARE

1930
1930

Tenby
on the coast of Pembrokeshire, Wales

1931

Torquay
on the south coast of Devon

1910 / 1911
James Fenton
1930
1928
1931

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

Ventnor
on the Isle of Wight

1931
1931

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

Wallasey
on the coast of Cheshire
RARE

1930

Westcliff on Sea

1930
1930
1930

Weston Super Mare
on the coast of Somerset
RARE

Whitley Bay
on the coast near Tynemouth Northumberland

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

Yarmouth
on the Isle of Wight

James Swann
Spicer

Yeovil
in Somerset

Spicer

York
in Yorkshire

1930
1930
1930

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

DO YOU KNOW ANY MORE DETAILS ABOUT ANY OF THE THIMBLES LISTED ABOVE?
DO YOU KNOW OF ANY OTHERS THAT HAVE BEEN OMITTED?
DO YOU HAVE A CLEARER PHOTO TO SHARE?
EMAIL thimbleselect@bigpond.com TO SHARE YOUR KNOWLEDGE.

References

Bonhams catalogues

Henry Griffith & Sons of Birmingham & Leamington Spa
Norma Spicer, 1999

A History of thimbles
Edwin F Holmes, 1985. p186

Illustrated guide to Britain
Automobile Association, 1972

James Fenton silversmith and thimble maker etc.
Norma Spicer, 1995

James Swann maker of gold and silver thimbles
Norma Spicer, 1997

Mona - the makers got it wrong
Norma Spicer Thimble Society, spring 2007

Place name silver thimbles
Norma Spicer

Thimble Society [of London] catalogues

Zalkin's handbook of thimbles & sewing implements
Estelle Zalkin, 1988. p66-67;72-74

Contributors

This listing of Thimble Placenames does not purport to be complete or accurate in all aspects. Rather it invites comment, updating of details and contribution to add to our information about these places and different dates or designs and makers. My thanks to the other contributors.

Enjoy!

Any questions or comments?
thimbleselect@bigpond.com
I do not offer any type of valuation or advice on prices.

Last updated 11 January 2012
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