FIRST THIMBLE.
How many women are familiar with the origin of the thimble.
As a matter of fact, it dales hack to the year IGB4. In that year Nicholas LSenschoten, an Amsterdam goldsmith. Rent a thimble as a gifl to a lady, with the dedication: "To Myfrnu van Rensolaer, this little object which I have invented and executed, as a protective covering for her industrious fingers." At first thimbles were cosily, so that only well-to-do women could afford them, but they became much cheaper on being mad.e of lead and other common metals.
The word thimble points to the fact, that originally this protection was worn
on the thumb to parry the thrust of the needle, and not, as at present, to help to push it through the material. The Dutch term, finger-bat or flngcrhooil, became in England the "Lhumhbell." from its bell-like shape. Eventually the word was changed to thimble.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT19220819.2.83.17.17
Bibliographic details
Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15022, 19 August 1922, Page 13 (Supplement)
Word Count
151FIRST THIMBLE. Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15022, 19 August 1922, Page 13 (Supplement)
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Waikato Times. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Log in