| Learn more about Thimblefuls |
Build and share your knowledge about thimbles - new topics added regularly
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British Royalty on Thimbles |
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Thimblefuls
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THERE ARE 22 PAGES OF THIMBLES & OTHER ITEMS TO BUY
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steel & metal 1 -
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THIMBLEFULS NOT SHOWN TO SCALE
| Thimblefuls |
I have done a thorough search of all my thimble books and the internet and I was surprised to find how little information there is on thimblefuls. There are two photos in one of McConnel's thimbles books, which confirm my findings that the Thimble Society of London has rarely had any of these for sale. There are no examples in the book on Settmacher in Austria, but there is record of a German advertising thimbleful, made by Gabler. Where there are brief mentions in the literature, I have included the photos. Johnson lists them under 'Novelties and Oddities'. The exception to scant information is Holmes who has an entire chapter entitled 'Just a Thimbleful', which lends credence to collecting them. Gaussen maintains that thimblefuls are collected with sewing accessories because of their thimble shape.
As early as 1617 the thimbleful was accepted as an indication of measure. From then on there is a clear association of thimble shapes and drinking measures. The internet is peppered with references to 'Just a Thimbleful' but rather as a figure of speech, indicating a small amount.
Spirit or tot measures have been made in the shape of thimbles since Victorian times as popular novelties. They are known by a variety of names: shot glasses, jiggers and thimble cups. They replicate thimbles, down to the indentations and when placed with the open side up the height measures, on average, 50mm. The base should be flat or able to stand on its own without wobbling. Some have indented bases, others are smooth. The traditional measure for a spirit measure is one ounce [1 oz]. Some have this measurement lettered on the base of the thimbleful. Thimblefuls can have a metal or enamel badge affixed for various events, tourist attractions or towns. Some of the Scottish thimblefuls are thistle-shaped.
AMERICAN JIGGERS [Gullers]
Thimblefuls are made of glass, brass, aluminium, china or porcelain, copper, chromium or chromed metal, nickel silver, silver plate, silver, pewter, plastic, wood and gold. In fact they "come in any material you can pour drinks out of".
The lettering varies considerably; from 'Thimble Full' [usually over two lines], 'Thimbleful', 'Just a Thimbleful', 'Just a Thimble Full' [most common form], 'Only a Thimbleful' or 'Only a Thimble Full' [this appears to be American terminology], 'A Stitch in Time Saves Nine', the Scottish 'A Wee Drappie' or 'For Auld Lang Syne' and 'A Wee Doch and Doris' and a newly discovered term of 'Just a Swallow' lettered across the top of the thimble when the thimbles are placed on the apex, with the open end upwards. The German lettering is 'Nur ein Fingerhut Voll'. Some thimblefuls have no lettering at all. In my opinion, the lettering is what makes a thimbleful. Without it, does it just become a spirit measure?
Some would have been handmade. The rims are not commonly rolled, but examples exist with rolled rims. Most have the indentations going under across the base, a few are smooth.
In 1970, Cartier initiated a 'Gold Thimble' award for outstanding fashion designers. It is about three inches tall and made of silver gilt.
Johnson has a good selection of thimblefuls, showing the variety available, in both material, height and style.
I have not included large-sized china thimbles that usually stand on their open-side, with no lettering of 'Thimblefuls'. The exception is the crested china thimbles.
It is interesting to find that some thimblefuls have their own thimble cases. They would be particularly useful for the fragile glass thimblefuls. It was rare to find one with a case but they are becoming available now thru eBay. The cases are made of cardboard or leather. The shapes vary from cylindrical boxes or those that are fitted to the thimble shape and that open sideways. I have included photos of the thimble containers where possible.
L-R: PEWTER WITH A THICK ROLLED-BACK RIM; SILVER-PLATED; NICKEL WITH ENAMEL SOUVENIR PLAQUE;
GREEN GLASS; PEWTER; ANOTHER SOUVENIR; SILVER-PLATED; BLACKBERRY AND CREAM SLAG GLASS [Johnson]
[McConnel]
THIMBLEFULS
METAL | WOODEN | SILVER | CHINA | PEWTER | GLASS | PLASTIC
| Metal thimblefuls |
The largest group of thimblefuls is those made of metal. It is difficult to accurately describe the metals, and they are included in this section if they are not made of silver or pewter.
Charles Iles, and later Iles & Gomms, of Birmingham would have made the most commonly found thimblefuls, those made of cupro nickel, chromed metal or silver-plated brass. Over time the silver plate has worn off, leaving the brass showing. Iles, who had been producing thimbles since the 1860s, were the world's biggest producers of functional thimbles in the twentieth century until they ceased production in 1990.
COPPER, 1984 |
CHROMIUM-PLATED |
SILVER-PLATED BRASS |
A WEE DEOCH-AN-DORIS |
| ----------------------- CHARLES ILES ----------------------- 44mm ----------------------------------------- JUST A THIMBLE FULL ----------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- A WEE DEOCH-AN-DORIS ----------------------------------------- |
|||
Charles Iles registered his design for silver-plated brass thimblefuls with the RD No. 707065 and the lettering is 'Just a Thimble Full'. He registered the design on 17 July 1924. The registered design included a crest attached to the side. The copyright was extended for four five-year periods and expired in July 1939, which attests to a popular design. Their production ceased in 1970. Was it coincidental that Iles made thimblefuls with enamelled badges for the British Empire Exhibition in the same year of 1924?
CHARLES ILES
WITH A GLASS INSIDE
So if you have any metal thimblefuls where the words 'thimble' and 'full' are separate, with no rolled rim, the band that contains these words being half of the total height of 44mm, and the indentations going from there right under the thimble, you have got an Iles-made thimbleful. It is a bonus when the RD No is on the thimble as well.
NORTHERN RHODESIA ILES & GOMMS |
BRITISH EMPIRE EXHIBITION 1924 CHARLES ILES |
MELBOURNE ILES & GOMMS |
| ----------------------------------------- JUST A THIMBLE FULL ----------------------------------------- | ||
As can be seen, the enamel crests that are affixed to Iles thimblefuls are very varied in shape and design. I know this list is endless but it would be great to have it as complete as possible. Do you know of any other crests to add to the list of 68 below? It is interesting to note that they seem exclusively made for countries of the British Commonwealth. The following list are of Iles thimblefuls with an enamel crest made for the tourist market or as a commemorative. I have listed the lettering from the top as it appears on the badge.
![BON ACCORD ABERDEEN [Canada]](tf/bonaccordaberdeen.jpg){kind=link}
![EAST LONDON [South Africa]](tf/justa1.jpg){kind=link}
![EDINBURGH [A Wee Deoch-an-Doris]](tf/bb425.jpg){kind=link}
![ROTORUA N.Z. [geyser]](tf/rotorua1.jpg){kind=link}
![[and crest]](tf/goolwa1.jpg){kind=link}
These thimblefuls with rolled rims, a beaded band below the rolled rim (tho some seem to be on the rim itself) and round metal with enamel badges affixed, are for a range of Australian cities and towns. The indentations are dash-like and the bases are indented. Are they Australian made? They were available in shops in Australia in the 1950s. The word 'Thimble Full' or 'A Thimble Full' may be written, one word under the other, on some of these examples. The script also differs on some examples, from Italics to Gothic. The shapes of the badges are the same as those produced for teaspoons in Australia. The badges for those were made by Stokes of Ringwood, Victoria.
HOBART showing The Cat and the Fiddle Arcade |
KEMPSEY NSW |
GLENELG SA |
| ----------------------- ROLLED RIM ----------------------- 47mm ----------------------------------------- THIMBLE FULL ----------------------------------------- |
||
Others of this type:
with no badge BUY THIS THIMBLE
ALICE SPRINGS N.T.
CANBERRA A.C.T
DARWIN N.T.
KOSCIUSKO BUY THIS THIMBLE
LAUNCESTON TAS
LIGHTS STATUE ADELAIDE
NORFOLK ISLAND
ORANGE NSW
This group of thimblefuls are different enough not to be made by Charles Iles or Iles & Gomms. The lettered band is much narrower, the dimpling is different and the indentations go right under the base. They mainly have a small hole near the lip of the thimbleful - was this to prevent to thimble from overflowing if used as a spirit measure? But the lettering is identical to the Iles thimblefuls? Was this just a later version. One or two of these examples also have a slightly flared rim, the plain band is nearly as wide as an Iles' thimbleful and they don't have a 'hole' near the rim, whereas most of the other examples are quite straight-sided right to the rim.
Is it just a coincidence that most of this group of thimblefuls depict New Zealand scenes?
RAILWAY STATION TOWNSVILLE QLD |
THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP |
GREAT BARRIER REEF HERON ISLAND |
| ----------------------- JUST A THIMBLE FULL -----------------------
40-43mm |
||
Others of this type:
ADVANCE TAURANGA NZ with a flared rim
DUNEDIN N.Z.
FOX GLACIER HOTEL N.Z. THE MAJESTIC FOX
MAORI WARRIOR ROTORUA NZ
PEACEFUL LAKE WANAKA NEW ZEALAND with a flared rim
POLPERRO + hole
MOUNT RUAPEHU N Z with a smooth base + hole
RUSSELL BAY OF ISLANDS N.Z. with a smooth base + hole
Another batch of thimblefuls are those that don't match any of the above and some have fluted patterning at the opening. There is no uniformity about the size and shape of the metal or enamelled fixture. Type C and Type D have identical lettering to the earlier Iles thimblefuls - are they just later versions?
Type A PAUL REVERE HOUSE, BOSTON MASS [USA] ONLY A THIMBLEFUL fluted opening smooth base 43mm |
Type B DAYTONA BEACH ONLY A THIMBLE FULL rolled rim smooth base 40mm |
Type C BERMUDA JUST A THIMBLE FULL with 'pinched top' |
Type D BAGPIPER JUST A THIMBLE FULL |
Other placenames like Type A
ATLANTIC CITY NEW JERSEY
CHEYENNE WYOMING
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK
Other placenames like Type B
HEMINGWAY HOME KEY WEST
HIGHEST BRIDGE IN THE WORLD ROYAL GORGE COLO
PINE TREE STATE MAINE
STATUE OF LIBERTY NEW YORK CITY
SUN VALLEY
TIMBERLANE LODGE MT HOOD OREGON
WEST POINT
Other silver-plated thimblefuls are made by 'P.H.V.' or 'P.H.V & Co'.They are made in England and are marked 'Just a Thimbleful'. They measure 37mm [1oz] and 52mm [1 1/2 oz] and there is even one for 2 oz! The base is smooth.
P.H.V. |
P.H.V. & Co |
SILVER-PLATED |
| ----------------------------------------- JUST A THIMBLEFUL ----------------------------------------- | ||
 |
BUY THIS THIMBLE |
 |
Another maker's mark on silver-plated thimblefuls is 'I.F.S.' with 'LTD' vertical. Above this is a closed fist with a hammer-type instrument. They are marked 'Just a Thimbleful'. They measure 52mm [1 1/2 oz, which is marked on the base] and the base is smooth; the rim is rolled. It is very similar in shape to those made by 'P.H.V.'
The one thimbleful that I covet belonged to my sister in Melbourne. She found it as a gift for Mum about 35 years ago. It is huge and it was an appropriate gift for our mother, as she always only wanted a 'thimbleful' of sherry. It is silver-plated and now fits in nicely with the rest of my collection!! It's made by 'William Hutton & Sons' and silver-plated. The indentations are continued under the base, leaving a smooth circle for the maker's mark. This very large thimbleful will hold a pint!!
WMH & S JUST A THIMBLE FULL SILVER PLATE 125mm - 105 mm wide |
 WILLIAM HUTTON & SONS MARK with crossed swords |
There are a few thimblefuls made of aluminium, but they are in the minority. The examples have smooth bases.
Type A ALUMINIUM JUST A THIMBLE FULL with a bright-cut thistle 45mm |
Type B ALUMINIUM A STITCH IN TIME SAVES NINE 100mm |
Type C ALUMINIUM COMPLIMENTS OF BANK OF NAPA CAPITAL $175,000 SURPLUS $220,000 51mm |
Type D ALUMINIUM PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH ONLY A THIMBLE FULL with a paper label and crosshatched indentations |
Other placenames similar to Type D [slightly different indentations]
3 VALLEY GAP B.C. CANADA ['Hong Kong' on smooth base and paper label] [43mm]
ALOHA FROM HAWAII ['Japan' on base]
KNOTT'S BERRY FARM ['made in Hong Kong'] [40mm]
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND LADY SLIPPER
TEXAS
WILLIAMSBURG VA
Isn't this such a cutie? Not unlike a jelly-mould in design with its fluted body. The lettering is 'Just a Thimble Full'.
JUST A THIMBLE FULL
A rarer copper thimbleful of high quality and a thick rolled rim comes from Canada. There is no metal badge affixed, but the place name is included as 'Niagara Falls Canada Just A Thimble Full'
NIAGARA FALLS CANADA
JUST A THIMBLE FULL
47mm
Another copper thimbleful has the Scottish 'A wee deoch-an-Doris' as a thimble whiskey measure. Long indents.
A WEE DEOCH-AN-DORIS
40mm
This brass thimbleful has beading below the rim and the indentations are different in that they are diamond-shaped.
ONLY A THIMBLE FULL
49mm
These are advertising thimblefuls.They have a label embossed into the base and around the opening.
GOOD OLD QUALITY WILL NEVER TARNISH around opening |
PR LANCASTER AND CO PURE KENTUCKY LIQUORS MAIL ORDERS SHIPPED SAME DAY RECEIVED OWENSBORO, KY on base 50mm |
Other known advertising thimble "shot glasses" are
Y.P.M. WHISKEY, PHILADELPHIA, PA;
KENTUCKY LIQUOR HOUSE, SPRINGFIELD, MO;
ALTMAYER & FLATAU LIQUOR CO, MACON, GA and
WILLIAM J TURNER, HARTFORD, CONN.
50mm
This aluminium thimbleful is unusual as it has a screw-top lid. Was the lid used to carry the illicit grog during the Prohibition days of the 1920s in the USA? There is lettering on the lid: 'A Thimble Full'. It is also an advertising thimbleful for 'BUCKLEY'S 418 GAY ST. BALTO MD' which is lettered around the band. This is a bar in Baltimore Maryland.
ALUMINIUM
BUCKLEY'S 418 GAY ST. BALTO MD
A THIMBLE FULL
50mm
It is rare to find a silver-plated thimbleful with its own leather fitted case. It is velvet-lined. The thimbleful has no marks or lettering.
SILVER-PLATED
JUST A THIMBLE FULL
only the leather case has lettering
thimble: 50mm
Silver-plated thimblefuls were made by James Dixon & Sons, in Sheffield, England. The maker's mark is lettered on the base, with a bugle. 70mm (that's big). This size is said to be a 'dramme measure'.
SILVER-PLATED
JAMES DIXON & SONS - SHEFFIELD
JUST A THIMBLE FULL
thimble: 70mm
This metal thimbleful was made in Hong Kong. It is fun to see the original packaging. The thimble is lettered "Only a Thimble Full".
METAL
HONG KONG
ONLY A THIMBLE FULL
This aluminium thimbleful has diagonal lines patterning. The thimble is lettered "Just a Thimbleful".
ALUMINIUM
JUST A THIMBLEFUL
This silver metal thimbleful is almost as wide as it is tall. The lettering "Just a Thimbleful" is lettered to read correctly when the open end is down. The surface is very stippled. Good weight.
METAL
JUST A THIMBLEFUL
36mm
This little treasure is a silver metal thimbleful with the lettering "A Wee Deoch an Doris" on a thistle-shaped thimbleful. The enamel crest is for Grantown on Spey, a place in Scotland - completing the Scottish themed thimbleful.
METAL
A WEE DEOCH AN DORS
GRANTOWN ON SPEY
thistle-shaped
photo : Anne Jansen
The lettering on this thimbleful is a first!! "Just a Swallow" - how many interesting slogans can there still be? Some glass spirit measures also include a swallow decaled onto the surface, but they are not classed as thimblefuls.
Other than the ubiquitous Charles Iles thimblefuls, Registration numbers for other thimblefuls hadn't been encountered until now. This is a new RD number and I am hoping someone will know something about the maker. The thimbleful itself isn't marked with the RD # - thankfully it is recorded on the box. The thimble is marked 'Just a Thimble Full' and it is silver-plated. There are no other marks - so the box becomes such a treasure. The RD number is 315477, which would make this an English-made item.
It would seem that thimblefuls have been prized rather than used as more of the original cases find their way onto the market, happily with the thimbleful inside. This example is gilded inside and has no other marks, other than the lettering 'Just a thimbleful' - there is a blank cartouche for engraving a name. Isn't this such a gorgeous sturdy little case?
Here the thimble holder almost takes precedence over the thimbleful!! These bear holders usually were made in Germany.
Robert Herron of Tasmania's thimblefuls are of Huon pine with 'Just a Thimbleful' pyrographed onto the thimbles. Doug Birrell of Melbourne has also produced wooden thimblefuls in various timbers with 'Just a Thimble-Full' pyrographed. Herron's base is flat, Birrell's has rounded his but there is no movement.
Sterling Silver from the USA, made by BBL. The example at left has monogram AED on the verso. There is a band of beading near the rim. Click to see the verso
This is an American sterling silver thimbleful made by Cartier. It is marked on the open end with 'Sterling' the Cartier maker's marks and 'Cartier', below a beaded rim. The lettering is 'Only a Thimble Full'. The base is stippled with the same pattern as the body of the thimbleful with a gilt lining.
Norma Spicer, in her booklet on James Fenton, mentions a 'tot measure', which could be given as a gift or souvenir. "As they only hold three teaspoonsful, any Scotsman given a 'wee dram' in one of these would have every right to feel deprived". The one shown is stemmed, of sterling silver and hallmarked for 1898 with 'For Auld Lang Syne' around the top.
Sterling silver from Birmingham by Hilliard & Thomason. Lettered 'Just a Thimble Full' with a thistle
The ultimate thimbleful to own would be that made by Charles Horner. In his sales catalogue this sterling silver thimble is called a 'whiskey measure'. It looks taller than other thimblefuls. Known hallmark dates are from the 1910 and 1950s. The lettering is 'Just a ThimbleFull'.
Recently another example has turned up, hallmarked Chester 1948. Contrary to the advertisement for Horner thimblefuls, this one is lettered 'Just a Thimbleful' - the ad shows that it ends with "-full".
The thimble on the right has markings for K & Co. There are additional marks with 'E.P' for electroplated silver?, and a crossed keys maker's mark. The thimbleful is larger than usual. The lettering is 'Just a thimbleful' with a cross.
This sterling thimble is lettered with The Mauser Mfg. Co on the base but there is no country of manufacture. A Google search reveals this to be a US based company at the end of the 19th C. The lettering is in an unusual script [see the Towl thimbleful for identical lettering] "Just a thimble full". There is additional lettering on the rim 'Sterling 7760'. There is a gold wash inside.
Henry Muhr was one of the smaller thimble makers in the United States during the late 1800s. It is another example of a thimble being made to stand on its open end. The indentations are stippled with the lettering 'Just a Thimble Full'
This sterling thimble is made by an English silversmith who manufactured thimbles in the 1960s and 70s - SJ Rose. It is hallmarked for Birmingham, 1972. The base is smooth with a gold wash inside. It is different in that the lower surface is interestingly stippled.
Simons of Philadelphia have made thimblefuls in both sterling silver and gold. The thimblefuls have the Simons sterling silver mark on the inside base of the thimble. The base is indented or knurled. They are shorter than usual. The lettering is ornate.
Made by James Swann & Son, marked with the Jubilee hallmarks of 1977. The lettering is 'Just a Thimbleful'; they are taller than average and there are indentations on the base.
Sterling Silver from Texco Mexico. They are marked '925'. The indentations are handmade and situated quite low down. The thimbleful has the maker's mark for Rakhu Alecre on the base. The lettering is 'Thimble Full'.
Sterling Silver by Towle. They also made pewter thimblefuls. These are stamped ' TOWLE Sterling' and lettered 'Just a Thimbleful / Thimble Full' in italics; unusual lettering [see Mauser for identical lettering].
A rare sterling thimbleful is hallmarked for 1876 and made by George Unite. The 'Just a Thimbleful' lettering is well raised on a finely striated band. It is gilded inside and hallmarked in Birmingham. There is a blank shield cartouche. The base is indented and quite concave.
Webster, thimble silversmiths from the USA, also made sterling thimblefuls. Theirs have the maker's mark on the base and are gilded on the inside. The ornate lettering is 'Only a Thimble Full'. The indentations are markedly different from other sterling thimblefuls, having a beaten or stippled surface.
Truly a little gem, this thimbleful is different in two aspects: it stands on its open end and has the lettering in blue on a band of white enamel. Made by Henry Wilkinson & Co., hallmarked in London in 1875, with the lettering 'Thimble Full'.
Thimblefuls were sometimes sold in a designated case. This of red leather.
According to Dreesman, "Sometimes the prude phrasing of the shotglass was not put on the drinking thimble itself but on its covering, as on the leather etui of this sterling 'Thimble Full' ".
Holmes shows a comprehensive selection of crested china and porcelain thimbles. Most of these thimbles stand on their open end like sewing thimbles. Makers here include those made in the Goss tradition (miniature white porcelain bearing an armorial crest), but thimbles by Goss have never been authenticated ** ** In May 2008, a Goss thimbleful appeared for sale on eBay. The coat-of-arms is for Braemar, Fife. The lettering, which is across the outer apex, is identical to that that appears as below, inside the unmarked Reading thimble. The lettering is for 'Just a Thimble-Full'. The Braemar thimbleful is also the same as the Reading thimble in that the crest is on a smooth raised shield. There is a very clear Goss backstamp inside the thimbleful. So for 75 years it appeared that the Goss factory never made thimbles of any kind - the appearance at this time refutes that!! They can't have been made in any number for this one to have finally surfaced from the 1930s!!**
Other Arcadian [Arkinstall & Sons] place names are
Another china thimbleful is for Arms of Reading. The lettering 'Just a thimble-full' is on the inside rim. The coat-of-arms is on a raised shield. There are no other maker's marks.
Edwin Holmes lists the following brands of crested china thimbles, made along the lines of Goss china as "Arcadian China" and made by the following thimble makers:
There is no uniformity of lettering for the following china thimblefuls: but at least they have that wording.
A porcelain thimbleful, decorated on two sides. Different as it has the lettering all on one side, instead of traditionally around the rim. It is made by Enesco.
More recently Thimblecraft by Shirley, in England, has made grey porcelain thimblefuls - even some for the Dutch market with 'Een Vingerhoed Vol', which measure 37mm.
This traditional-sized thimbleful is of pewter. The rim is flatly rolled, with 'Just a Thimble Full' with indentations going under the base. The base is concave in the centre.
There are Perfection Pewter thimblefuls that have the lettering 'Thimble Full'. The maker's mark is on the base.
Pewter by Poole - presumably in England, as the lettering around is 'Just a Thimbleful'. The maker's marks are on the plain base with the symbol of a candle stick with a snuffer.
NewburyPort Pewter Towle, lettering around is 'Just a Thimbleful'. The maker's marks are on the plain base with the symbol of a ship's wheel. Tho these are made of pewter they are brass-coloured.
Feldman of Germany had four sizes of pewter thimbles for sale in the early 1990s. They are made in Sheffield. The lettering is 'Just a Thimble Full'.
The following two thimbles are very similar. Both are Victorian, one being of pewter, the other of silver-plate. Neither have any thimbleful lettering. The one on the right is pictured inverted in Holmes. The monogram shows it is meant to be this way up. The bases are indented. Neither have any lettering, so technically can't be called thimblefuls? Do you agree?
Made in England of polished pewter this 2oz thimbleful on the left has "Just a thimble full" engraved on the rim.
Other pewter thimblefuls made in England are [left] this "Just a thimble full" engraved around the band and with a heavy rolled rim. This thimbleful is made by Mastercraft Pewter, Sheffield. It is double the usual height of thimblefuls
Slag glass is the residue from completed items in glassworks where iron is incorporated in the glass. The usual colours are opaque, mottled purple to deep blues. Thimblefuls of slag glass are associated with Sowerby & Co of Gateshead, which used the peacock's head in relief as their makers' mark, made between 1860 and 1880. Other maker's were Greener & Co and George Davidson & Co. The bases are indented.
These glass thimblefuls have knobbed or berry indentations.
These glass thimblefuls have the more usual indentations.
This clear glass thimbleful is totally unmarked. It is the green faux leather case that is lettered with 'A Thimble Full'.
One has to be careful when purchasing plastic thimblefuls. Unless they are indented to look like thimbles, they could be plastic beakers, dice cups etc.
A red plastic thimbleful has the following marked on the base: 'Protection in Estomul 'Riker' [in a lozenge] Simplest Form'. There is no lettering to guarantee that it is a thimbleful.
EMAIL thimbleselect@bigpond.com TO SHARE YOUR KNOWLEDGE.
References
Contributors
This listing of Thimblefuls does not purport to be complete or accurate in all aspects. Rather it invites comment and contribution to add to our knowledge. My thanks to the other contributors.
Enjoy!
© Sue Gowan
THERE ARE 30 "LEARN MORE ABOUT..." TOPICS
THERE ARE 22 PAGES OF THIMBLES & OTHER ITEMS TO BUY
Any questions or comments?
METAL
JUST A SWALLOW
photo : Anne Jansen
SILVER-PLATED METAL
JUST A THIMBLE FULL
SILVER-PLATED METAL
JUST A THIMBLEFUL
SILVER-PLATED METAL
JUST A THIMBLEFUL
photo : Mabel Rogers
METAL | WOODEN | SILVER | CHINA | PEWTER | GLASS | PLASTIC
Wooden thimblefuls
ROBERT HERRON
JUST A THIMBLEFUL
DOUG BIRRELL
JUST A THIMBLE-FUL
METAL | WOODEN | SILVER | CHINA | PEWTER | GLASS | PLASTIC
Silver thimblefuls
in alphabetical order by silversmith
19TH CENTURY SILVER, AND A SILVER-PLATED ONE BY ASPREY'S OF LONDON. [Dreesman]
AMERICAN STERLING SILVER
ONLY A THIMBLEFUL
AMERICAN STERLING SILVER
BBL
ONLY A THIMBLE FULL
AMERICAN STERLING SILVER
JUST A THIMBLE FULL
Valley Forge Kennel Club on the verso
CARTIER
ONLY A THIMBLE FULL
CARTIER MARK
JAMES FENTON [Spicer]
1898
FOR AULD LANG SYNE
HILLIARD & THOMASON
BIRMINGHAM
JUST A THIMBLE FULL
HORNER CATALOGUE [Lawson]
CH CHESTER 1948
JUST A THIMBLEFUL
gilt wash inside
51mm
CH CHESTER 1910
JUST A THIMBLEFULL
lettering upright when the thimble stands on the open end
gilt wash inside
50mm
On the right this thimbleful is more ornate than usual with additional decoration around the rim. The lettering is in a narrow band flanked by a row each of striations. This is a modern thimbleful made by KMS, hallmarked for Birmingham, 1997. The lettering is 'Just a Thimbleful'.
K & CO
JUST A THIMBLEFUL
60mm
KMS
BIRMINGHAM, 1997
JUST A THIMBLEFUL
THE MAUSER MFG. CO.
JUST A THIMBLE FULL
1.75 inches
HENRY MUHR &SONS
JUST A THIMBLE FULL
2 inches
SJR = SJ ROSE
BIRMINGHAM 1972
JUST A THIMBLEFUL
2 1/4 inches
Simons also produce a 14-carat gold jigger.
SIMONS
ONLY A THIMBLE FULL
40mm
The thimbleful on the right is American, made by Charles Thomas & Sons.
JAMES SWANN & SON
BIRMINGHAM, 1977
JUST A THIMBLEFUL
54mm
AMERICAN STERLING SILVER
CHARLES THOMAS & SONS
ONLY A ...
TEXCO MEXICO STERLING SILVER
THIMBLE FULL
RAKHU ALECRE, TEXCO MARK
TOWLE STERLING SILVER
JUST A THIMBLEFUL
50mm
TOWLE MARK
TOWLE STERLING SILVER
JUST A THIMBLE FULL
50mm
this example is engraved with the date 1909
One Unite thimbleful example has the same shield as the one below left, with a bow and arrow, a quiver and two birds and 'Da Dio Cerco Aiuto' roughly translated as 'From God seek help'.
Very similar to the George Unite on the left, this sterling silver thimble on the right is unmarked. 'Just a Thimbleful' lettering is well raised on a finely striated band. It is gilded inside. There is a blank shield.
GEORGE UNITE
BIRMINGHAM, 1876
JUST A THIMBLEFUL
56mm
JUST A THIMBLEFUL
WEBSTER
ONLY A THIMBLE FULL
42mm
WEBSTER MARK
The thimble on the right is a later thimbleful from Henry Wilkinson & Co - hallmarked in Birmingham 1911. It is as desirable, because of its thistle-shape. Lettered with 'Wee Drappie'
HENRY WILKINSON & CO
LONDON, 1875
THIMBLE FULL
blue enamelled lettering
H W Ltd - for HENRY WILKINSON LTD
BIRMINGHAM, 1911
WEE DRAPPIE
in the shape of a Scottish thistle
ENGLISH [Gaussen]
1930-1940
JUST A THIMBLE FULL
NOVELTY COMPENDIUM
ENAMELLED ON SILVER [McConnel]
JUST A THIMBLEFULL
STERLING [Dreesman]
THIMBLE FULL
METAL | WOODEN | SILVER | CHINA | PEWTER | GLASS | PLASTIC
China thimblefuls
Arkinstall & Sons in Stoke-on-Trent (1904-1924) with the backstamp for Arcadian (terrestrial globe with A&S) though other marks exist.
Wiltshaw & Robinson (1890-1910, with a swallow and WR) and Locke & Co of Worcester (1900-1904).
Other china brands include Willow Art China (1903-1905), Porcelle, Sussex China, and Swan China made by Charles Ford in Stoke-on-Trent (1900-1904). None of these crested thimbles are lettered with the wording 'Thimbleful'. Technically this doesn't make them thimblesfuls - do you agree?
APEX
BRAEMAR FIFE
GOSS BRAEMAR BACKSTAMP
HOBART
CITY OF LIVERPOOL
HECKINGTON
RUSSIA
1914 war editionThe Arcadian China thimblefuls in the second row have a different lettering 'Tak a Thimble Full'. It is not lettered around the top of the thimble as is the norm on non-china thimblefuls, but printed on the verso.
BRIGHTON
VERSO
BIRCHINGTON
-------------------- ARCADIAN CHINA --------------------
NEWQUAY - SANDOWN I.W.
See the blurb above on the recently discovered Goss thimbleful, which is identical to this Reading thimble - this one bears no maker's mark - the Braemar one does!!
READING
ARKISTALL & SONS [Holmes]
WILTSHAW & ROBINSON [Holmes]
WILTSHAW & ROBINSON/CARLTON CHINA
STOKE-ON-TRENT
LOCKE & Co [Holmes]
WILLOW ART CHINA
STOKE-ON-TRENT ENGLAND
A WEE "DEOCH AN DORIS"
RICHMOND SURREY
in the shape of a thistle
with the translucent china
bubbled around the fatter part
49mm
VICTORIAN WHITE CHINA
SMOOTH BASE
JUST A THIMBLE FULL
62mm
CHINA with FLORAL DECALS
JUST A THIMBLE FULL
54mm
MOTTLED GREEN CHINA
CRUDE CHINA
ENESCO
ENGLISH CHINA THIMBLEFUL
JUST A THIMBLE FULL
VERSO
THIMBLECRAFT BY SHIRLEY HEWITT
JUST A THIMBLEFUL
37mm
THIMBLECRAFT BY SHIRLEY HEWITT
EEN VINGERHOED VOL
37mm
METAL | WOODEN | SILVER | CHINA | PEWTER | GLASS | PLASTIC
Pewter thimblefuls
JUST A THIMBLE FULL
PERFECTION PEWTER
THIMBLE FULL
[over two lines]
PEWTER BY POOLE
JUST A THIMBLEFUL
JUST A THIMBLE FULL
From their website, I have the following information on Towle. Towle Silversmiths was founded by the Moulton family of Newburyport, Massachusetts, in 1690.
They were taken over in 1986 by Syratech Corporation.
NEWBURYPORT PEWTER TOWLE
JUST A THIMBLEFUL
NEWBURYPORT PEWTER TOWLE MARK
MODERN SHEFFIELD PEWTER THIMBLES IN FOUR SIZES
JUST A THIMBLE FULL [Feldmann]
OLD PEWTER
65mm
SILVER-PLATED
71mm
[inverted, Holmes]
The thimbleful in the centre is made by British Nobleman Pewterware and has on the base "Made by craftsmen Sheffield England" and lettered "Just a Thimble Full".
The thimbleful on the right is by William Adams - and also of Sheffield - most of the pewter thimbles seem to originate here - "made by a Craftsman" - again lettering associated with this batch of English pewter thimblefuls. Some seem identical, just with diferent "makers names"!! The lettering on all of this batch of thimblefuls is narrower than usual.
2oz ENGLISH PEWTER
JUST A THIMBLE FULL
BRITISH NOBLEMAN PEWTERWARE
JUST A THIMBLE FULL
MADE BY CRAFTSMEN SHEFFIELD ENGLAND
42mm
BRITISH NOBLEMAN
MARK
WILLIAM ADAMS
JUST A THIMBLE FULL
MADE BY A CRAFTSMAN IN SHEFFIELD ENGLAND
2 inches
WILLIAM ADAMS
MARK
The one in the middle is smaller with Justa Thimble Full, also made in Sheffield.
The right-hand thimbleful is Fine English Pewter made for Smyth. It is also a very large thimbleful
MASTERCRAFT PEWTER SHEFFIELD
JUST A THIMBLE FULL
101mm
ENGLISH PEWTER SHEFFIELD
JUST A THIMBLE FULL
50mm
FINE ENGLISH PEWTER for SMYTH
JUST A THIMBLE FULL
113mm
METAL | WOODEN | SILVER | CHINA | PEWTER | GLASS | PLASTIC
Glass thimblefuls
AMBER GLASS
JUST A THIMBLE FULL
65mm
SLAG GLASS
1900-1930
JUST A THIMBLE FULL
[inverted, Gaussen]
SLAG GLASS
JUST A THIMBLE FULL
GEORGE DAVIDSON & CO
c.1890
PRESSED GLASS
JUST A THIMBLE FULL
GLASS
JUST A THIMBLE FULL
43mm
BROWN GLASS
JUST A THIMBLE FULL
RED TOP
COBALT BLUE
JUST A THIMBLE FULL
FROSTED
JUST A THIMBLE FULL
animal symbol on the base
JUST A THIMBLE FULL
CLEAR GLASS
A THIMBLE FULL
lettered on the top of the case
METAL | WOODEN | SILVER | CHINA | PEWTER | GLASS | PLASTIC
Plastic thimblefuls
BLUE PLASTIC
52mm
RED PLASTIC
52mm
BASE
METAL | WOODEN | SILVER | CHINA | PEWTER | GLASS | PLASTIC
DO YOU KNOW ANY MORE DETAILS ABOUT THIMBLEFULS?
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER THIMBLEFULS NOT MENTIONED?
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER THIMBLEFULS NOT PICTURED?
Cecile Dreesman - Een vingerhoedje…A thimble full… - 1981
Feldmann catalogues - no 8 (Germany)
Elaine Gaussen - Sewing accessories; a collectors guide - 2001
Susan Jean Gowan - Thimbles of Australia - 1998
Barbara Gullers - Antique sewing tools and tales - 1992
Edwin Holmes - A history of thimbles - 1985
Anne Jansen - Just a thimbleful - Only a Thimble full - thimble shapes - TCI Bulletin summer 2004
Denise Jenkins - James Dixon & Sons thimbleful TCI Bulletin fall 2005
Eleanor Johnson - Thimbles and thimble cases. 2nd ed (Shire) - 1999
Tom Lawson - Charles Horner of Halifax - 2002
Averil Mathis - Antique & collectible thimbles and accessories - 1986
Bridget McConnel - The story of the thimble - 1997
Norma Spicer - James Fenton: silversmith and thimble maker etc - 1995
Norma Spicer - Iles: a family of thimble makers - 2001
pre-pro.com
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Sue Wilson, David Wiscombe and Sandy Woodyard
February 2003
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Last updated 16 June 2008
