Thimbles from makers around the world, including James Fenton, Henry Griffith, Charles Horner and Simons

Learn more about marks on British silver thimbles

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This listing includes steel-cored sterling silver thimbles

Charles Horner [CH] HALIFAX, ENGLAND

DORCAS THIMBLES Steel-cored sterling silver Charles Horner patented his steel-cored sterling silver thimbles in 1884. Silver thimbles with use, go to holes & his patent provided for a lining of steel between two layers of silver. Initially these thimbles had no marking other than "PAT." short for Patent & a size number. These early Dorcas thimbles often included the Registered design [RD] number as well & Horner promoted his thimbles with specifically named patterns. Having a core of steel, all Dorcas thimbles will attract a magnet. In 1905 Horner introduced his "Improved Dorcas", where the steel & silver were fused together & from this date the apexes of all his steel-cored thimbles are flatter. It is not possible to date Dorcas thimbles any closer than this, as they are not only made of sterling silver & thus cannot be hallmarked. Horner ceased to make Dorcas thimbles after 1947. Horner's Dorcas size numbers are 0 for the largest down to the smallest at size 14. The sizes at either end of this spectrum, are extremely rare. I have only had those from size 3-12 for sale in over 200 examples, which bears this out. I have arranged these Dorcas thimbles for sale, by pattern name & then by size from the largest to smallest sizes. There are differences in the way the maker's mark "CH" & the size number are stamped onto the band - the normal marking is to have his initials & the size number in an oval [Type I]. I have noted when the thimbles for sale are differently stamped from this. The Type III is the least commonly found. For further information about this prolific English silversmith, see Tom Lawson's Charles Horner of Halifax: a celebration of his life & work (2002) or Diane Pelham Burn's Identifying steel-cored thimbles (1993) Learn more about Dorcas Boxes Type I Type II Type III

a306 = $63 size 4 Dorcas Daisy flat apex 17mm diameter - very good condition - a300 = $45 size 5 Pat. Daisy domed apex 16.5mm diameter thimble is over 100 years old - out of round - a295 = $36 size 6 Dorcas Daisy domed apex 16mm diameter thimble is over 100 years old - small part of silver missing off rim - uu1405 = $32 size 6 Dorcas Daisy maker’s mark Type II flat apex 16mm diameter - very good condition - a289 = $30 size 9 Pat. Daisy domed apex 15mm diameter thimble is over 100 years old - holed in apex - 8/824 = $30 size 6 Pat. RD73626 Diamond domed apex 16mm diameter thimble is over 100 years old - worn to steel in some of diamonds - - out of round - a286 = $43 size 7 Pat. RD73626 Diamond domed apex 14.5mm diameter thimble is over 100 years old - out of round - 10/71 = $72 size 4 Dorcas Flora flat apex 17mm diameter - heavy use on apex - - daisy centres almost down to steel - 10/107 = $42 size 7 Pat. RD127211 Louise domed apex 15mm diameter thimble is over 100 years old uu1407 = $22 size 7 Dorcas Louise maker’s mark Type III domed apex 16mm diameter thimble is over 100 years old - worn thru to steel over 2 rows - a301 = $83 size 3 [rare size] Dorcas Plain flat apex 18mm diameter - tiny bit of silver missing off rim - a173 = reduced to $24 size 6 Pat. Plain domed apex 15.5mm diameter thimble is over 100 years old - silver lifting off steel on inner rim - - leaving a rough edge - 10/64 = $39 size 7 Dorcas Plain "CH" Type III marks flat apex 15.5mm diameter a308 = $38 size 7 Dorcas Plain flat apex 15.5mm diameter uu1396 = $24 size 7 Dorcas Plain domed apex 16mm diameter thimble is over 100 years old - outer lining of silver has worn off as very dark - 10/65 = $50 size 8 Pat. Plain domed apex 15.5mm diameter thimble is over 100 years old - out of shape - a303 = $38 size 8 Dorcas Plain flat apex 15mm diameter 8/825 = $44 size 6 Pat. RD210799 Shell domed apex 16.5mm diameter engraved B C thimble is over 100 years old - worn to steel in some of the shell bases - - out of round - a298 = $40 size 9 Pat. Engraved acanthus scrolls domed apex blank cartouche 15mm diameter thimble is over 100 years old - apex has worn to steel - 8/778 = $21 size 8 Little Dorcas 16mm diameter - most of lettering worn off - - worn down to steel in a band around thimble & around the apex - - holed in side & out of shape -

HALLMARKED THIMBLES Charles Horner of Halifax, registered his maker's marks "CH" in Chester in 1885 & he produced silver thimbles from then until 1947. The hallmarked thimbles for sale below are arranged in date order of the hallmark. With all the sterling Horner's that have passed thru my hands, I've observed that size 4 [18mm] is the largest, with size 15 [child's] the smallest. Check your Size 6 CH silver thimbles. I have noticed that it is only this size - but not all of them - that has the sizing marked .6.. All the other sizes just have the sizing numeral. The earliest hallmarked Horner sterling thimble to have passed thru my hands is for 1893, the latest 1927. Do you know of any dates outside this period? bm85 = $20 Sterling silver Chester, 1905 size 5 17mm diameter thimble is over 100 years old - many holes in sides - a279 = $54 Sterling silver Chester, 1909 size .6. RD429537 registered 25.3.1904 Hardwood design 16mm diameter thimble is over 100 years old - has been mended in apex - - out of shape - uu1234 = $28 Sterling silver Chester, 1910 size 5 16mm diameter Ottoman band thimble is over 100 years old - tiny dents - - mended holes in apex - uu1359 = $35 Sterling silver Chester, 1910 size 7 16mm diameter thimble is over 100 years old - mended by re-silvering the inside - uu1360 = $55 Sterling silver Chester, 1910 size 7 RD429537 registered 25.3.1904 Hardwood pattern 16mm diameter thimble is over 100 years old - out of shape - mended apex - bm58 = $31 Sterling silver Chester, 1911 size 7 16mm diameter thimble is over 100 years old - good hallmarks - - out of round - - holes in apex - bm56 = $23 Sterling silver Chester, 1923 size 9 14.5mm diameter - out of shape - - holed in sides - bm144 = $23 Sterling silver Chester, 1924 size 7 16mm diameter Flora - several holes in apex & worn - uu1246 = $25 Sterling silver Chester maid's size 13mm diameter - marks rubbed -

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Charles May [CM] ENGLAND Learn more about Charles May thimbles

a259 = $38 Sterling silver Birmingham, 1889 16mm diameter thimble is over 100 years old bm49 = $20 Sterling silver Birmingham, 1892 16.5mm diameter thimble is over 100 years old - hole in apex has been mended - - very out of shape -

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Gabler Bros GERMANY Gabler thimbles have an 8-point star on the apex

bm227 = $20 Sterling silver 13mm diameter raised Greek Key/Walls of Troy blank cartouche - one hole in side - - out of shape - uu717 = $30 Sterling silver 16mm diameter

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Henry Fidkin [H][F] ENGLAND

uu1356 = $25 Sterling silver Birmingham, 1896 15mm diameter thimble is over 100 years old - worn & mended on sides - uu1346 = $25 Sterling silver Birmingham, 1900 17.5mm diameter thimble is over 100 years old feathery band - very out of round - - holed in side -

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Henry Griffith & Sons [HG&S] ENGLAND Learn more about British Silver Placename thimbles Learn more about Silver Advertising thimbles

Henry Griffith is another of England's great thimble makers during the Victorian era. He registered his maker's mark in Birmingham in October 1856 & the company ceased making thimbles in 1955. From 1873 his thimbles are marked "HG&S", but the earliest hallmarked Griffith thimble that has passed thru my hands, is dated 1875 and the latest is for 1953, the coronation thimble. As Charles Horner's Dorcas thimbles had been such a commercial success, Griffith introduced his own equivalent - the Dreema thimbles. Griffith is the maker of most English placename thimbles from 1929-1931 & The Spa & Royal Spa thimbles. He is one of the few silversmiths who marked some of his thimbles only with 'Sterling Silver' instead of having them hallmarked. His thimble sizing ranges from 9-20 [smallest to largest] - the sizing is in millimetres; the only Victorian English silversmith to do so. Some of his thimbles are only marked "Made in England" without his maker's mark, but when the accompanying size mark is within the Griffith's thimble size range, they can only be HG&S thimbles. He is often erroneously referred to as Henry Griffiths Norma Spicer's book Henry Griffith & Sons of Birmingham & Leamington Spa is a must for collectors of HG&S thimbles uu1381 = $20 Sterling silver Birmingham, 1929 size 17 The Spa 17mm diameter - several holes in sides with a dent - - out of round -

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Henry Williamson Ltd [H W Ltd] ENGLAND

bm105 = $37 Sterling silver Chester, 1904 size 6 16mm diameter thimble is over 100 years old - several holes in apex - - out of shape - uu1348 = $15 Sterling silver Birmingham, 1912 size 9 15mm diameter thimble is 100 years old - large dents near apex - - out of shape -

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James Cook [JC] ENGLAND

bm40 = $23 Sterling silver Birmingham, 1893 16.5mm diameter thimble is over 100 years old - holed in sides -

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James Fenton [JF] ENGLAND

James Fenton of Birmingham was one of England's top silver thimble makers during the Victorian era His maker's marks "JF" were first registered in 1852 at the Birmingham Assay Office until 1911 & he ceased making thimbles in 1922, tho I have had thimbles with his mark assayed as late as 1925. He began to place the size marks on his thimbles from as early as 1892, tho not all this early bear size marks [I have seen one sized with an 1888 assay date. The earliest JF thimble I have encountered has an 1886 assay mark]. The higher the size number, the larger the thimble size for James Fenton thimbles. The smallest sized Fenton thimble I have had for sale is size 6 [about 13mm], with the largest being size 14 [17mm]. Do you have a larger or smaller one? There are however several smaller unsized thimbles - made by Fenton for use by children or "dolls", with the smallest diameter being 9mm. James Fenton has a huge range of designs & this makes him an interesting silversmith to collect. Norma Spicer's book James Fenton: silversmith & thimble maker etc is a must for collectors of Fenton thimbles bm64 = $23 Sterling silver Birmingham, 1889 15mm diameter faceted rim thimble is over 100 years old - out of round - - holed in sides - bm398 = $38 Sterling silver Birmingham,1898 size 11 15mm diameter Flora thimble is over 100 years old - out of round - - mended - bm379 = $28 Sterling silver Birmingham,1901 size 8 15mm diameter thimble is over 100 years old - very out of shape - 10/74 = $54 Sterling silver Birmingham,1902 size 8 14.5mm diameter thimble is over 100 years old - out of round - a188 = $27 Sterling silver Birmingham, 1902 size 12 16mm diameter thimble is over 100 years old - signs of wear on apex - - not holed–has been mended - bm47 = $13 Sterling silver Birmingham, 1903 size 8 15mm diameter thimble is over 100 years old - several dents - - very out of round - bm308 = $35 Sterling silver Birmingham,1904 ? size 15mm diameter thimble is over 100 years old - hole in apex - - very out of shape - bm381 = $23 Sterling silver Birmingham,1904 size 11 15mm diameter faceted rim thimble is over 100 years old - one dent at apex - - hole in apex - uu1371 = $25 Sterling silver Birmingham,1904 size 9 14mm diameter striated bands with rolled rim thimble is over 100 years old - out of round - - finely holed in a circle on apex - a263 = $36 Sterling silver Birmingham, 1909 size 12 16mm diameter thimble is over 100 years old bm377 = $24 Sterling silver Birmingham,1909 size 11 16mm diameter thimble is over 100 years old - very worn striations - - holed in sides - - out of round - uu1377 = $35 Sterling silver Birmingham,1909 size 12 16mm diameter faceted rim thimble is over 100 years old - very good condition - uu1378 = $29 Sterling silver Birmingham,1911 size 11 15mm diameter thimble is over 100 years old - dent at apex rim - - out of round - bm141 = $20 Sterling silver Birmingham, 1916 size 10 14.5mm diameter - out of shape - - hole in apex & several in sides - bm5 = $17 Sterling silver Birmingham, 1925 (?) - very out of shape - - two dents at apex [by teeth?] - - band seems to be separating - bm259 = $27 Sterling silver Birmingham, unknown date size 10 15mm diameter - several holes in apex & in sides along one row - - date mark missing - uu1361 = $35 Sterling silver no assay marks size 13 16mm diameter - -

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James Swann & Son [JS / JS&S] ENGLAND

James Swann became James Swann & Son in 1922 James Swann & Son, most recently owned by Ray Coggle, closed in April 2005 There will be no more new silver thimbles made by JS&S See also Swann Thimbles Norma Spicer's book James Swann (& Son) makers of gold & silver thimbles 1887-present is a must for collectors of Swann thimbles bm181 = $17 Sterling silver Birmingham, 1889 16mm diameter thimble is over 100 years old - out of round - - one large hole in apex - uu1347 = $38 Sterling silver Birmingham, 1902 size 7 15mm diameter thimble is over 100 years old faceted rim uu1290 = $38 Sterling silver Birmingham, 1916 size 6 15.5mm diameter faceted rim bm41 = $23 Sterling silver Birmingham, 1917 size 7 15mm diameter faceted rim - one large hole in side - - lightweight - uu1235 = $35 Sterling silver Birmingham, 1922 size 6 16mm diameter - crisp daisies - - holed in apex - a281 = $36 Sterling silver Birmingham, 1948 size 7 15.5mm diameter a426 = $84 Sterling silver & enamel Birmingham, 1977 commemorating Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II1977 boxed Learn more about British Royalty on thimbles a428 = $85 Sterling silver & enamel Birmingham, 1981 commemorating marriage of Charles & Diana 1981 Prince of Wales feathers on verso not handpainted boxed Learn more about British Royalty on thimbles uu1283 = $55 Sterling silver & enamel Birmingham, 1988 Yorkshire Terrier a275 = $43 Sterling silver size 8 14mm diameter small in height no assay marks - very good condition -

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Levi & Salaman [L&S] ENGLAND

bm317 = $36 Sterling silver Birmingham, 1912 size 9 14.5mm diameter faceted rim thimble is 100 years old - excellent condition -

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Lotthammer-Eber PFORZHEIM GERMANY these thimbles have an 6-point star on the apex

8/477 = reduced to $12 Sterling silver & enamel size 9 16mm diameter scene is of a windmill & yachts gilded inside - enamel is damaged - some bits missing - - worn to the guilloche in places -

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Olney, Amsden & Son [OA / OA&S] ENGLAND See also his Steel thimbles

bm117 = $20 Sterling silver Birmingham, 1892 14mm diameter faceted rim thimble is over 100 years old - out of round - - holes in apex & tiny dents on band - bm33 = $29 Sterling silver Chester, 1904 15.5mm diameter Olney, Amsden & Son thimble is over 100 years old - holed in a row on apex - - out of round -

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Peter F Jackson [PFJ] ENGLAND

a257 = $38 Sterling silver Birmingham, 1926 size 7 17mm diameter - slightly out of round -

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Simons PHILADELPHIA, USA

Simons are one of the few major silver thimble manufacturers still in operation anywhere in the world any pattern names are taken from American silver thimbles by Gay Ann Rogers 8/1274 = $36 Sterling silver size 9 15mm diameter housed in English, worn cardboard box with J.M. Wendt Jeweller Adelaide on outer lid - upper lid has been mended with cellotape on 4 sides - uu1340 = $36 Sterling silver commemorating Columbus quincentenary jubilee 1492-1992 - mint condition - uu1417 = $35 Sterling silver commemorating convention of TCI Des Moines Iowa 1986 state flower & the TCI logo patterned rim 16mm diameter uu1418 = $30 Sterling silver size 9 alternating blocks of plain & domino-type dots striated rim 14mm diameter - mint condition - sale pending uu1420 = $35 Sterling silver commemorating conventionof TCI Louisville, KY. 1990 trotting horse & the TCI logo patterned rim 15mm diameter - mint condition - uu1421 = $35 Sterling silver commemorating convention of TCI San Diego 1992 yacht & the TCI logo patterned rim 15mm diameter - mint condition - uu1423 = $40 Sterling silver commemorating tercentenary of Philadelphia 1682-1982 Indian chief & William Penn 16mm diameter - mint condition -

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Stern Bros USA

uu1379 = $28 Sterling silver size 11 dot in scroll very narrow band maker’s marks are those for 1908-1912 17mm diameter

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Swann Thimbles [S(T)] ENGLAND

See also James Swann Frank Jones ceased making thimbles in 2002 Norma Spicer's James Swann (& Son) makers of gold & silver thimbles 1887-present is a must for collectors of Swann thimbles Frank Jones Sterling silver Birmingham, 1991 16mm diameter Made for the Thimble Collectors' Guild which includes their silver mark From a set of 12 signs of the zodiac Daisy apex 5/553 = reduced to $12 Pisces 5/554 = reduced to $12 Libra

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Tommie J Lane USA

uu1473 = $45 Sterling silver Doll wearing a thimble hat holding 2 needles in relief patterning of tiny hearts quilting concave apex NEW

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Walker & Hall [W&H] ENGLAND These thimbles are similar in composition to Dorcas thimbles

bm113 = $72 size 6 Dura Pat G Louise Steel-cored sterling silver 15mm diameter - with use, the silver has worn off the apex leaving a jagged surface - housed in coquilla nut thimble holder basket - split on one side - a292 = $72 size 7 Dura Pat 4 Plain Steel-cored sterling silver 16mm diameter - silver has worn on sides -

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Whitehill Silver & Plate Co [WS&P] ENGLAND

uu1248 = $60 Sterling silver/enamel Birmingham, 1981 butterfly with morning glory small butterfly on verso 16mm diameter boxed - mint condition - uu1351 = $40 Sterling silver/enamel Birmingham, 1981 2 children playing in gold - rubbed - gold rose on verso 16mm diameter

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Learn more about Marks on English silver thimbles

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Last updated 8 February 2012

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