Thimble Advertising Piece
A thimbleful of Tiny Tuesday
Our pristine thimble is made of lightweight aluminum, with a grooved edge and dimples to catch the eye of the needle. The inscription on the blue band reads “HYCO BEVERAGES TEL. 178,” for this artifact served not just as a sewing implement, but as an advertising piece. Thimbles were a necessity during this period, as most people sewed. Such a clever advertising tool was certain to succeed!
Based on the telephone number, this thimble dates between 1922 to 1941. Not only can we distinguish the timeline of this thimble through the phone number, but also by the material used to create it. Aluminum was a commodity item after the United States entered World War II, as nearly all metals were rationed.
The Samuel Hyde Company began as a wine and liquor distributor in 1893. As time progressed, the company began to sell “Fancy Groceries” as well as alcohol. However, due to the beginning of Prohibition during 1920, the Samuel Hyde Company began to bottle and distribute carbonated beverages; by 1922, their main product was Hyco Beverages. Even after the end of Prohibition, the company focused production on their popular flavored carbonated drinks. By 1945, the name was officially listed as Hyco Beverages Company, which remained in business until 1969.
The survival of this thimble is credited to its twin. Nestled inside a worn and faded counterpart was our perfectly intact little thimble!