| Learn more about Brass Advertising Thimbles |
Build and share your knowledge about thimbles - new topics added regularly
THERE ARE 32 "LEARN MORE ABOUT..." TOPICS
Brass Advertising |
British Placenames |
British Royalty on Thimbles |
British Silversmiths |
Charles May |
Christmas |
Coalport
Dorcas Thimble Boxes |
Easter |
Gadgets |
Francesca |
Hallmarked Thimbles set |
'Mother' |
The World's Greatest Porcelain Houses
Royal Albert |
Royal Crown Derby |
Royal Doulton Thimbles |
Royal Worcester Handpainted Thimbles
Royal Worcester Decal Thimbles |
S + H Foskett |
Silver Advertising Thimbles |
Spode |
Stratnoid |
SylvaC
Thimble Books |
Thimble Collectors Club |
Thimble Societies |
Thimbles with Slogans
Thimblefuls |
Victorian Silver Scenic Thimbles |
Wedgwood Jasperware |
Wedgwood Bone China Thimbles
THERE ARE 22 PAGES OF THIMBLES & OTHER ITEMS TO BUY
aluminium 1 -
books 1 -
brass 1 -
china 6 -
display cases 1
gold 1 -
needlework tools 2 -
other collectables 1 -
pewter 1 -
plastic 1
silver 3 -
steel & metal 1 -
unusual materials 1 -
wood 1
Most thimble collectors will know of aluminium advertising thimbles which were produced in their millions, mainly in the 1920s and 1930s. There are thousands of different advertising brands available and it would be such a difficult topic for me to tackle - especially to find photos. I do have a database of different aluminium brands and there are currently 1350 on it. Most of these thimbles originate in the USA for American brands and adverts.
Most aluminium advertising thimbles have a colour around the band which emphasises the name of the product being advertised, as the lettering is left clear of colour. Some have coloured apexes - known as 'glass' tops but it is just a coloured piece of plastic which usually matches the colour on the band.
Brass advertising thimbles on the other hand are found far less frequently - now numbering 105 different adverts - and they would have been made earlier than the aluminium ones - but I don't know when - my guess would be from the 1880s onwards to the 1920s, after which aluminium thimbles would have been so much cheaper to produce. They would have been made in far fewer numbers and tho more durable than aluminium, there are not many that have survived. There are very few brass US brands on thimbles with the preponderance being made for British and other European products.
When I began this research, I would have guessed that there were more British products advertised than European - but the reverse is true - more French!!
Most brass advertising thimbles are just the one colour of brass, with no coloured band - the exception to this is some of the French thimbles: they have muted colour bands. The lettering stays in brass for clarity when the band is coloured. The bands on aluminium thimbles can be in many different colours for the same product. It is rare to find even more than one type of brass thimble for any one particular product!!
Lettering also varies from country to country or the length of the advertising slogan - most are in UPPER case. Occasionally the lettering is in Italics. Unless specified the lettering is raised and a there is a solid raised rim.
I have tried to indicate where the thimbles were made but this is the most difficult item to find out: even more so the manufacturer. With excellent new reference texts being published in France, this should be remedied in time. Many of the British brass advertising thimbles would have been made by Charles Iles of Birmingham. Their factory closed in 1990. Most of his thimbles have a striated or milled patterning behind the lettering. Do you know any of the other makers of advertising brass thimbles? Were all the rimless ones made by the same manufacturer?
It is rare to find a size number on brass advertising thimbles. When there is one, it was made later than the non-sized thimbles ie 1900 onwards.
Appropriately for thimble collectors a large number of advertisements are for sewing threads or sewing machines. I wonder how they were distributed? Were they free as giveaways or did one have to collect coupons? To me there is nothing lovelier for my collection than a lovely patina'd brass advertising thimble!!
I have not included other metal thimbles that are neither brass or aluminium. When I am in doubt of the material used, I have omitted the thimble advertised. Well I have added one steel advertising thimble - they are very rare!! It is also difficult to know what the makeup of brass or brass-plated thimbles is!! John von Hoelle defines brass as "a generic term for a group of alloys made of copper and zinc. The more zinc, the yellower the color; the more copper, the redder". Tombac is a type of brass and they are included in this survey - they are Austrian-made by Settmacher Bros of Vienna. This factory closed in 2005.
I have tried to follow the lettering ie upper or lower case. Apologies for ignoring umlauts, and French diphthongs and accents = I have only included them when I know that they appear on the thimble!
Always check in more than one place in the alphabetical listing below,as for many of the French advertisements is is often difficult to know where the advertisement begins and ends eg "Lave tout Persil" or "Persil lave tout". If you have found the original advertisement - please share!!
For Silver advertising thimbles, see Silver Advertising Thimbles
The thimbles are arranged alphabetically by the first letter of the advertising slogan
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
| BARBOUR'S LINEN THREAD
topic = sewing thread
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| BASCH JEWELERS 21618 GRAND RIVER
topic = jeweller
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| THE BEEHIVE LTD
topic = ?
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| BEMBERG
topic = fabric
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| BLEU RECKITT
topic = laundry
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| BLUE CROSS TEA TE CRUZ AZUL
topic = tea
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| BOHIN-AIGUILLES FRANCAISES
topic = needles
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| BRASSO POUR METAUX
topic = polish
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| BRUN-LEA WINCEYETTE
topic = fabric
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| BULL DOG GUINNESS
topic = alcohol
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| Bushells RICH Tea
topic = tea made for the Australian market
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| C.W.S. TEA
topic = tea
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| C.W.S. WEST END SHOE WORKS LEICESTER**
topic = shoes
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| CABLE AU SANGLIER
topic = sewing thread
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| Cablé LOUIS d'OR
topic = sewing thread
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| CALVERT
topic = alcohol
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| CENTAUREA + BLUE
topic = ?
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| CHANGS CREDIT JEWELERS BROAD...
topic = jeweller
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| CHAUSSURES BALLY
topic = shoes
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| Chocolat DELESPAUL-HAVEZ
topic = chocolate
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| CIOCOLATO PROCHET TORINO CAFFARE
topic = chocolate/coffee
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| CLARK & CO ANCHOR COTTONS
topic = sewing thread
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| CLARKS O.N.T THREAD
topic = sewing thread O.N.T stands for "Our New Thread"!!
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| COINTREAU LIQUER
topic = alcohol
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| Colonial QUALITY SAMSTAG'S NY / NEW YORK
topic = ?
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| COMPLIMENTS OF THE GARLAND STOVES AGENCY RANGE**
topic = stoves
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| CONFITURES SAXON
topic = jam
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| CO-OP FOR DRAPERY**
topic = fabric
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| COUSEZ AVEC L'AIGUILLE SCIENTIFIQUES
topic = needles
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| CRÊME ECRIRE ECLIPSE
topic = wax polish
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| DALUKOLA TEA
topic = tea
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| DANICK ...
topic = ?
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| DAVIDSON-SIOUX CITY
topic = department store in Ohio
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| DOS AMERICANOS CAFES
topic = coffee
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| DRINK BROWN'S PURE ALES
topic = alcohol
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| DRINK JAMES TEA
topic = tea
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| ECREMEUSE TITANIA
topic = cream separator see also: "Titanic Separator"
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| ECREMEUSES DIABOLO
topic = cream separator
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| EQUITY SHOES
topic = shoes they went into liquidation in 2008
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| FIL A COUDRE CRESPEL
topic = sewing thread
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| Fil á La TETE DE CHEVAL
topic = sewing thread
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| FIL AU CHINOIS
topic = sewing thread
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| FIL DE LIN PELOTES D'OR
topic = sewing thread
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| GEBRUIKT Buisman's GS
topic = coffee syrup
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| GEER CO. COAL
topic = home heating since 1926
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| GERZON
topic = Dutch Department Store
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| GOLD THIMBLE SCOTCH
topic = alcohol Hiram Walker in the USA distributed this Scotch - 1950s
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| GRANTS
topic = store
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| GRIFFITHS TEAS
topic = tea made in Sydney Australia 1939-1945
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| GÜTERMANN'S NAISEIDE / GÜTERMANN'S SEWING SILK
topic = sewing thread see also: "Soie á coudre GÜTERMANN"
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| HANDARBEITEN BRÜHL
topic = needlecraft
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| HAVERTYS FURNITURE CO
topic = furniture store
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| HOLBROOK'S SAUCE**
topic = sauce
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| HORROCKS'S VALUE
topic = fabric
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| HUSQVARNA SYMASKINER
topic = sewing machine
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| INDUSTRIA SETE CUCIRINE MILAN
topic = sewing thread
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| J NEEDA
topic = biscuits
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| J WHEELER
topic = ?
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| J P COATES
topic = sewing thread
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| JAMES HORNE & CO PITTSBURGH PA
topic = ?
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| JAVEL
topic = laundry
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| JOE OPTICAN JEWELRY ST JOSEPH MO
topic = jeweller
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| KARCHER BIERE
topic = beer
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| LES EPICES SPIGOL
topic = spices
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| LESSIVE-PHENIX
topic = laundry
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| LEWENSTEIN'S NAAIMACHINES
topic = sewing machine
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| LIBELLA SEPARATOR
topic = cream separator
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| LINDEBOOM Frou Frou
topic = biscuits
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| LION-NOIR ARGENTIL
topic = polish
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| LIPPMAN'S JEWELERS SINCE 1889 311 MARKET ST HARRISBURG PA
topic = jeweller
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| LUTONA COCOA
topic = cocoa
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| M RECORT MERCERIA
topic = drapers
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| MAGNESIA S PELLEGRINO
topic = medicinal - laxative & antacid
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| MASQUINAS SINGER PARA COSER
topic = sewing machine
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| MAZAWATTEE TEA
topic = tea
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| META ...
topic = ?
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| MIELE
topic = appliances
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| MUNDLOS
topic = sewing machine
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| NATIONAL SILK TEXTILES CREASES LESS
topic = sewing thread
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| NEWHOUSE
topic = ?
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| PERSIL LAVE TOUT
topic = laundry
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| THE PRUDENTIAL topic = insurance
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| RICH'S BAKERY FROM OVEN TO HOME**
topic = bakery
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| ROBIN STARCH
topic = laundry
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| ROSE MILL FABRICS**
topic = fabric
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| RUDOLPH'S DEPENDABLE JEWELER SINCE 1906
topic = jeweller
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| SANADON FA LA DONNA
topic = women's health
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| SARTEL
topic = sewing thread
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| SHELL TOX LIQUIDO INSETTICIDO
topic = insecticide
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| SKINNER & ROOK
topic = alcohol they were wine merchants in Nottingham, England
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| Soie á coudre GÜTERMANN
topic = sewing thread see also: "Gütermann ..."
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| SOIERIES 'CHRYSALIS'
topic = sewing thread
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| SUNBEAM POLISH
topic = polish
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| TITANIA SEPARATOR
topic = cream separator see also: "Ecremeuse Titania"
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| TRIESTE COSULICH LINE
topic = ship
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| TRY HIGGENS LAUNDRY SOAP
topic = laundry
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| UNION CHOCOLADE HAARLEM
topic = chocolate
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| USE HUDSON'S SOAP
topic = soap
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| USE VICARS 'LUSTRINE'
topic = sewing thread
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| VELILLA-ZARAGOZA
topic = soap
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| VENUS SOAP
topic = soap
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| VITELLO
topic = ?
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| W HALL & CO NEEDLEMAKER
topic = needles
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| WALTER J SHOPNITZ JEWELRY EAST 4TH WATERLOO IOWA
topic = jeweller
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| WASHINGTON FLOUR**
topic = flour
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DO YOU KNOW ANY MORE DETAILS ABOUT
BRASS ADVERTISING THIMBLES THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH OTHER COLLECTORS? YOU MAY KNOW OF MISSING BRANDS or HAVE BETTER PHOTOS
I AM VERY HAPPY TO HEAR IF SOME OF THE THIMBLES FEATURED HERE
With advertising thimbles it is preferable to have the entire slogan showing-
EMAIL thimbleselect@bigpond.com TO SHARE YOUR KNOWLEDGE. |
References
Christina Bertrand Brass thimbles (TCI). 1986
Frederique Crestin-Billet La folie des des a coudre 2003
Frederique Crestin-Billet Ouvrages de dames: mercerie, broderie. Catalogue 2005
Franz Groiss Thimble faktory in Vienna 1990
Edwin Holmes History of thimbles 1985
Adrienne de Smet De Vingerhoed in het kunstambacht 1992
Norma Spicer Equity Shoes The Thimble Society winter 2009. p5
Kay Sullivan Needlework tools and accessories: a Dutch tradition 2004
Thimble Society [of London] catalogues
Contributors
Christina Bertrand | Sue Caesar | William Isbister | Ray Nimmo | Ro Olbricht | Elaine Rogers
This listing of Brass Advertising thimbles does not purport to be complete or accurate in all aspects
Rather it invites comment and contribution to add to our knowledge of these late 19th to early 20th century collectable thimbles
My thanks to the other contributors
Enjoy!
© Sue Gowan
January 2009
THERE ARE 32 "LEARN MORE ABOUT..." TOPICS
Brass Advertising |
British Placenames |
British Royalty on Thimbles |
British Silversmiths |
Charles May |
Christmas |
Coalport
Dorcas Thimble Boxes |
Easter |
Gadgets |
Francesca |
Hallmarked Thimbles set |
'Mother' |
The World's Greatest Porcelain Houses
Royal Albert |
Royal Crown Derby |
Royal Doulton Thimbles |
Royal Worcester Handpainted Thimbles
Royal Worcester Decal Thimbles |
S + H Foskett |
Silver Advertising Thimbles |
Spode |
Stratnoid |
SylvaC
Thimble Books |
Thimble Collectors Club |
Thimble Societies |
Thimbles with Slogans
Thimblefuls |
Victorian Silver Scenic Thimbles |
Wedgwood Jasperware |
Wedgwood Bone China Thimbles
THERE ARE 22 PAGES OF THIMBLES & OTHER ITEMS TO BUY
aluminium 1 -
books 1 -
brass 1 -
china 6 -
display cases 1
gold 1 -
needlework tools 2 -
other collectables 1 -
pewter 1 -
plastic 1
silver 3 -
steel & metal 1 -
unusual materials 1 -
wood 1
Any questions or comments?
thimbleselect@bigpond.com
I do not offer any type of valuation or advice on prices.
| Last updated 21 November 2009 |