Small cardboard box. Lid and base. THE IMPROVED DORCAS printed on top, On base guarantee of durability (see inscriptions)Box Improved Dorcas thimble, sterling silver steel lined. On base: Made in England Will be exchanged free of charge if rendered useless from any cause. None genuine unless stamped Dorcus, together with initials CH as shown and CH10 Dorcas. On lid in gold: The improved Dorcas.

The domestic sewing box would have been used in the home.A brown varnished rectangular wooden lidded Sewing Box with a lift out top section which has 16 varying sized compartments for storing sewing accessories. There is a has a hollow area underneath the tray. The lid is attached with brass hinges and it has a brass lock and small key. There are several sewing items included - cotton reels and thread, assorted darning thread for hosiery, wool and nylon threads, a box of black pins, assorted sewing needles, thimbles, small decorative sewing scissors, black rolled tape, mixed buttons, hooks and eyes, nickel plated fittings for hats, vintage stocking hooks, a stick of white chalk, two (one green and one ivory) antique cotton thread winders and a medium sized vintage safety pin.a Variety of brands of items include - 'Rite Tone', 'Della Darn' 'C No Darn', 'Clark's Filosheen' hosiery thread, 'Barbour's Linen Wax Thread', 'The Flora MacDonald Best Steel Bodkins' 'National Hat Guard' nickel plated steel and brass fittings, 'Chadwick's Wool and Nylon' reinforcing mending thread, 'The Myrene Snap Studio' size 1 rustless press studs, 'The Pagoda Brand' rolled tape 5 yds, 'Cross Fox Brand' Best quality Steel Stems (long plastic headed pins), 'Toledo' brass thimble and a black box of 'F. Tayler & Co's Solid Headed Mixed Pins'. The brass lock has 'SECURE PATENT' stamped in to it on the inside of the edge of the front of the box. there is also a small VR with a tiny rounded pattern opposite the Patent sign. sewing equipment, sewing box, sewing, embroidery scissors, functional object

Development of steel lined thimbles was a major improvement in the improvement of a basic domestic tool Manufacture of a robust silver (and steel) thimble was one of the most significant improvements in sewing tools of 19th centuryGrey box, Burgundy guarantee label on base.THE IMPROVED DORCAS (top). "MADE IN ENGLAND, Improved Dorcas Thimble.Sterling Silver- Steel lined will be exchanged FREE OF CHARGE if rendered useless from ANY cause. None Genuine unless stamped DORCAS together with INITIALsC.H. & SIZE Number on rim as shewn. CH.10 DORCAS" (base)needlework, thimble, dorcas

Patented in 1884, these steel lined thimbles made by Charles Horner were a major achievement of 19th century thimble technology, solving the problem of easily holed silver thimbles with the benefits of being able to use a clean non staining thimble (unlike other materials). The steel cored silver thimble revolutionised thimble technology providing a durable, attractive thimble named for Dorcas, a good woman of the Bible who sewed clothes for the poor.Steel cored silver thimble, daisy pattern on top and upper sides. Middle band waffle pattern and lower band plainCH 9 DORCAScharles horner thimble, steel cored silver thimble