A good collector will always know the stories and history behind the items that they collect. Silver thimble availability was not as widely spread prior to the Victorian era, at which time there was a flourish in their production.. In fact, it was during the Victorian era that thimble collecting became a popular pastime. This means that thimbles earlier than the Victorian era will be likely more expensive and harder to find. Many of the earlier examples survive in mint condition, suggesting that they were not used but were used as display items.. Until the 'Dorcas method' was patented by Charles Horner (Halifax) in 1884, silver thimbles only had a working life of 20 years;the Dorcas thimble, however, consisted of a steel core dipped in silver, creating better durability.
The first thimble made in England was in 1695 by a Dutch metal worker named Lofting. It was called the ' thumb-bell,' because it was worn on the thumb when in use, and shapped like a bell. The shape eventually changed, but the name, softened into thimble, still remains.