100 y/o suspender collection from R.R. logging camp

[highnam]

These are the suspender clips from the last three years found in one R.R. logging camp. The camp had a fire and a row of bunkhouses burned, leaving these beauty's behind. Most of the clips I have found the match if not multiple sets. The smaller buttons pictured are mostly suspender snap type buttons (seen also in the suspender display photo). The "doughnut" stye buttons were riveted buttons from work trousers that anchored the suspenders. The large buttons with no holes might have been coat buttons. After finding over 300 metal work type buttons one thing is amazing to me....not one wobble shank button. It's my opinion if you walked into a logging camp in Washington State in 1910 with wobble shank garment you would be looked at funny. The most practical buttons were riveted, studded, or snap type buttons, something that wouldn't pop off walking through the dense N.W. forrests.
What I find strange....buttons like these are selling for crazy money on ebay, but they all have wobble shank backs, Am I the only person that thinks these wobble shank buttons are a scam? It makes an easy explanation on how the button was retrieved (cut off easily). also the wobble shank back certainly makes the button seem old, but most of all the buttons used back in the early 1900's were not meant to be easily removed. Any thoughts out there? Would love to hear from a work button collector.

 

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[G.A.P.metal]

Hi high
Wonderful finds, love the personal relics the best..you got a good site there HH.
Gary

 

[creskol]

What a wonderful display and collection .. Thanks for sharing that with us. I enjoyed seeing that!

 

[wheatfinder13]

Awesome buckles

 

[kuger]

Great collection,all kinds of variety.Thanks for sharing!!

 

[thrillathahunt]

Nice display of finds. I like finding this kind of stuff too. Two thumbs up!

 

[highnam]

Thank you all for the comments, i'm glad there is some people that enjoy these buckles too! I thought it was interesting to read that there were 10x more suspender patents then there was for trousers back in 1910, I found one company in Boston that offered 20 different suspender models to choose from, that came in all kinds of different hardware setups. If I were to guess (just a guess) I'd say there was probably at least 200 different suspender models that could be found in a 1910 camp. Here is a pic of some suspender related parts.

 

[justdon]

Beautiful i would probably do cartwheels across the floor if i had a find like that..Its just awesome..

 

[g-olden years]

WOW! These are wonderful! Andi

 

[SCDigginWithAK]

What info do you have on the button with the train on it? I found one too and don't know much about it.

 

[puroman1]

Wow,what a very old and unique collection.When things were true quality
made to last.

 

[highnam]

What info do you have on the button with the train on it? I found one too and don't know much about it.

I haven't found out anything about the train button, they came in pairs, maybe they were buttons from gloves. some of the leather gloves I have found looked like they had a button hole at the wrist. I have traced most of the other buttons back to the mfg, but its hard to research a picture only button.

 

[Hunter1805]

I haven't found out anything about the train button, they came in pairs, maybe they were buttons from gloves. some of the leather gloves I have found looked like they had a button hole at the wrist. I have traced most of the other buttons back to the mfg, but its hard to research a picture only button.[/QUOT

Nice Stuff....

 

[HISPAN]

interesting and nice collection !

 

[highnam]

couple more buckles found for the collection...

 

[Texas Yankee]

Love the collection... i have a few, not as many as you that i found in an old ghost mining town in New Mexico this year. Good to see someone else enjoys history... keep it coming. I'll share mine at a later date, maybe you might be able to tell me a little more about them.
Great finds highnam,

 

[Brian C.]

Here is an interesting button for clothing.

 

[highnam]

Post those buckles Texas...love the history of the buckles, they were there as the big trees hit the ground.

 

[highnam]

Cool button Brian... Looks like a snap type...I would be stoked to find one like that...