Novice needs help

[drsheilamarykennedy]

I have a silver / silver plated (?) thimble with a hallmark that I can't work out. It only has PAT.7 on it and don't know where best to search after failing to find it on the online encyclopedia

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated as I have no living relatives who can help in aging or locating its origins.

Thanks
Sheila K

[2209patrick]

Hello and welcome.

I can't identify the manufacturer.
Here's a site that has lots of information on thimbles.
http://www.thimbleselect.bizland.com/silversmiths.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Pat.

[carling]

Sorry about the late reply, Sheila. Your thimble was made by Charles Horner of Halifax, ca 1890. It is a steel-cored and silver clad early Dorcas thimble. The design of yours is known as the Flora pattern (daisy top, diamond or waffle border). Like all early Dorcas thimbles this thimble is not marked "DORCAS". They were marked DORCAS from around 1905. Pat is short for Patent and 7 is the size number.

Regards/carling

More about the Dorcas thimble:

THE CHARLES HORNER DORCAS THIMBLE

These steel cored silver thimbles were first granted a patent on June 14, 1884 (Pat. No. 8954). A US Patent was granted on June 11, 1889 (Pat. No. 404,910). The original Dorcas had a domed top whereas the later improved Dorcas had a flat top.

The original Dorcas was made until 1905. Four of the early Dorcas patterns were registered, DIAMOND (1887 - Reg. No. 73626 though this should really be 73624), LOUISE (1889 - Reg. No. 127211), SHELL (1893 - Reg. No. 210799), and PRINCESS MAY (Reg. No. 210800). Non registered designs were: ENGRAVED, DAISY, PERSIAN, STAR and FLORA. The Improved Dorcas was introduced in 1905 and manufactured until 1948 when production ceased. The flat top Dorcas was a further modification to the design though it is not known exactly it was introduced. Even though the outer and inner layers were made of thick sterling silver Dorcas thimbles were disqualified from hallmarking because of the steel core.

The name Dorcas comes from the Bible. Dorcas was a seamstress who lived at Joppa and she dedicated her life to making clothes for those in need. See Acts Chapter 9, Verses 36-39. In the nineteenth century church women formed Dorcas Sewing Circles to continue her work of sewing for the poor.

[drsheilamarykennedy]

origins of the name DORCAS

Sorry about the late reply, Sheila. Your thimble was made by Charles Horner of Halifax, ca 1890. It is a steel-cored and silver clad early Dorcas thimble. The design of yours is known as the Flora pattern (daisy top, diamond or waffle border). Like all early Dorcas thimbles this thimble is not marked "DORCAS". They were marked DORCAS from around 1905. Pat is short for Patent and 7 is the size number.

Regards/carling

More about the Dorcas thimble:

THE CHARLES HORNER DORCAS THIMBLE

These steel cored silver thimbles were first granted a patent on June 14, 1884 (Pat. No. 8954). A US Patent was granted on June 11, 1889 (Pat. No. 404,910). The original Dorcas had a domed top whereas the later improved Dorcas had a flat top.

The original Dorcas was made until 1905. Four of the early Dorcas patterns were registered, DIAMOND (1887 - Reg. No. 73626 though this should really be 73624), LOUISE (1889 - Reg. No. 127211), SHELL (1893 - Reg. No. 210799), and PRINCESS MAY (Reg. No. 210800). Non registered designs were: ENGRAVED, DAISY, PERSIAN, STAR and FLORA. The Improved Dorcas was introduced in 1905 and manufactured until 1948 when production ceased. The flat top Dorcas was a further modification to the design though it is not known exactly it was introduced. Even though the outer and inner layers were made of thick sterling silver Dorcas thimbles were disqualified from hallmarking because of the steel core.

The name Dorcas comes from the Bible. Dorcas was a seamstress who lived at Joppa and she dedicated her life to making clothes for those in need. See Acts Chapter 9, Verses 36-39. In the nineteenth century church women formed Dorcas Sewing Circles to continue her work of sewing for the poor.

[carling]

origins of the name DORCAS

Dorcas means doe or gazelle. It is the Greek version of the Aramaic name Tabitha. The lady referred to in the Acts of the Apostles after whom the Dorcas thimble was named was known by both versions of the name.

Regards/carling