I am assembling a list of US Army Great Seal button backmarks 1902-present.. This seems to be the most complete list available anywhere. With the help of TN members, I am occasionally adding and improving upon it. So far I have over 100 different backmarks. Anyone with a Great Seal button backmark or backmark variation not listed please post the pic and Ill add it. The thread is already so long its not necessary to add anything already pictured. Thanks.
This is how it all started:
I bought 2 bags of small Great Seal of US buttons for a buck at a flea market. Can someone help me date these backmarks? I believe they are all post 1902. I cant find anything else online.
1- Top row SCOVILL MF'G CO WATERBURY (back ungilted)
2- SCOVILL MF'G CO WATERBURY
3- Bottom CITY BUTTON WORKS - N.Y.
4- WATERBURY BUTTON CO.
I live in a state of rules where I am not permitted to live on my own country land because my home is not 130 MPH rated! I can only visit it from time to time and pay the fines. I feel so safe with Big Government protecting me. In some states its illegal to collect rainwater.
My City Button Works may be WWI but the Scovills have me confused. According to internet research, this backmark is documented as a 1850-1865 production mark.
I live in a state of rules where I am not permitted to live on my own country land because my home is not 130 MPH rated! I can only visit it from time to time and pay the fines. I feel so safe with Big Government protecting me. In some states its illegal to collect rainwater.
That is a seriously nice haul of buttons. BigCH
I know so little about buttons, but i'm learning all the time from the learned here on TNet.
Mike
I figured what the hell for a buck. I thought they were modern and I have been tossing them in the surf to see were they end up in my thixotropic sand movement testing. I didnt know they were old until I noticed the different backmarks. Im still trying to get a date on the Scovills and Waterburys. Somebody here should know.
I live in a state of rules where I am not permitted to live on my own country land because my home is not 130 MPH rated! I can only visit it from time to time and pay the fines. I feel so safe with Big Government protecting me. In some states its illegal to collect rainwater.
wow you could throw a few my way! Instead of wasting em in the surf!
Now you know zlincolns are better at that test than good buttons.. LOL
J2
Hopefully some one with Button knowledge galore will answer you!
these were used from wwI thru wwII until now. there are afew in the button book but for the most part they are new.
Yes, I realize they are all post 1902. I would like to better date the backmarks. Does your book say anything?
I live in a state of rules where I am not permitted to live on my own country land because my home is not 130 MPH rated! I can only visit it from time to time and pay the fines. I feel so safe with Big Government protecting me. In some states its illegal to collect rainwater.
Since I started this thread, I have found several other Great Seal button backmarks. Here is a list so far (may have errors)
1- SCOVILL MF'G CO WATERBURY (back ungilted)
2- SCOVILL MF'G CO WATERBURY
3- WATERBURY BUTTON CO. *
4- CITY BUTTON WORKS - N.Y.- (WWI)
5- CITY BUTTON WORKS- NEW YORK- 1877-1955
6- US PRODUCTS CORP
7- R. LIEBMANN MFG CO (WWI)
8- R.L. MFG Co Newark N.J.
9- THE AUSTIN CO. PROVIDENCE R.I.
10- WATERBURY COS INC CONN modern
11- W W W W (waterbury) modern
12- D. EVANS CO. ATTLESBORO, MASS. 1902- WWII
13-ARNSTEIN, SIMON & CO. S.F.
I live in a state of rules where I am not permitted to live on my own country land because my home is not 130 MPH rated! I can only visit it from time to time and pay the fines. I feel so safe with Big Government protecting me. In some states its illegal to collect rainwater.
I added a few more to the list of Great Seal Buttons.
1- SCOVILL MF'G CO WATERBURY (back ungilted)
2- SCOVILL MF'G CO WATERBURY
3- WATERBURY BUTTON CO. *
4- CITY BUTTON WORKS - N.Y.- (WWI)
5- CITY BUTTON WORKS- NEW YORK- 1877-1955
6- US PRODUCTS CORP
7- R. LIEBMANN MFG CO (WWI)
8- R.L. MFG Co Newark N.J.
9- THE AUSTIN CO. PROVIDENCE R.I.
10- WATERBURY COS INC CONN modern
11- W W W W (waterbury) modern
12- D. EVANS CO. ATTLESBORO, MASS. 1902- WWII
13- ARNSTEIN SIMON (& CO.) * S.F. *
I live in a state of rules where I am not permitted to live on my own country land because my home is not 130 MPH rated! I can only visit it from time to time and pay the fines. I feel so safe with Big Government protecting me. In some states its illegal to collect rainwater.
That link does not apply to more modern Great Seal buttons or is in error. If you notice under Scovill I have the same SCOVILL MF'G CO WATERBURY backmark but Great Seal buttons are post 1902.
I live in a state of rules where I am not permitted to live on my own country land because my home is not 130 MPH rated! I can only visit it from time to time and pay the fines. I feel so safe with Big Government protecting me. In some states its illegal to collect rainwater.
1- SCOVILL MF'G CO WATERBURY (back ungilted)
2- SCOVILL MF'G CO WATERBURY
3- WATERBURY BUTTON CO. *
4- CITY BUTTON WORKS - N.Y.- (WWI)
5- CITY BUTTON WORKS- NEW YORK- 1877-1955
6- US PRODUCTS CORP
7- R. LIEBMANN MFG CO (WWI)
8- R.L. MFG Co Newark N.J.
9- THE AUSTIN CO. PROVIDENCE R.I.
10- WATERBURY COS INC CONN modern
11- W W W W (waterbury) modern
12- D. EVANS CO. ATTLESBORO, MASS. 1902- WWII
13- ARNSTEIN SIMON (& CO.) * S.F. *
14- N.S. MEYERS * NEW YORK *
15- AMERICAN BUTTON CO. *NEWARK N.J.*
16- AMERICAN EMBLEM CO. UTICA N.Y. (WWI)
I live in a state of rules where I am not permitted to live on my own country land because my home is not 130 MPH rated! I can only visit it from time to time and pay the fines. I feel so safe with Big Government protecting me. In some states its illegal to collect rainwater.
That link does not apply to more modern Great Seal buttons or is in error.  If you notice under Scovill I have the same SCOVILL MF'G CO  WATERBURY backmark but Great Seal buttons are post 1902. 
That backmark was used during the CW, post-CW, Indian Wars, Turn of the Century, early 20th c. ... 
The deciding factor is the Size of the lettering on the backmark, the presence of one ring or two, or a dotted ring around the shank, etc.  Do you have a copy of Tice's book?  If so, check out the Plates in the beginning of the book.  If not, I'll try to make some time to do a little work on this for you.  Eve though Tice doesn't list buttons made after the CW, in his preliminary remarks about dating buttons, he lists backmarks and rough time frames for the big producers. 
Waterbury Button Co. is 20th c. for sure...but I'll look up the exact dates later for you. Time to hit the sack...
-Buckles
Spring 2012 CaneField Bandits Totals: TEN Half Reales:
1740, 1777, 1784, 1796, 1801, 180?, 1806, 1807, 1808, and 1814
1836 8 Reales
A 17?? One Real
1819 Token/Jeton
Two "Russian Blue" Trade Beads
Henry Clay Campaign Button FIVE Early New Orleans Seated Coins:
1838-O Dime (no stars), Three 1839-O Half Dimes, an 1840-O Dime, and an 1842-O Half Dime
1892 Barber Dime
1918 Walking Liberty Half
1866 and 18?? Shield Nickels, and some GawGag V's and Beefaloes. Military Relics: Possible Spanish Colonial Era Cap Badge
FOUR War of 1812 Artillery Buttons
1820s Pewter Militia "U.S." Button
CW Eagle Artillery Cuff Button
CW Eagle Infantry Officer's Coat Button
3-Ringers, Enfields, Musketballs, and Shell Fragments
Any relics, coins, or other items appearing in my finds posts were found on PRIVATE PROPERTY with total consent and permission from the owners of said property.
That link does not apply to more modern Great Seal buttons or is in error. If you notice under Scovill I have the same SCOVILL MF'G CO WATERBURY backmark but Great Seal buttons are post 1902.
That backmark was used during the CW, post-CW, Indian Wars, Turn of the Century, early 20th c. ...
The deciding factor is the Size of the lettering on the backmark, the presence of one ring or two, or a dotted ring around the shank, etc. Do you have a copy of Tice's book? If so, check out the Plates in the beginning of the book. If not, I'll try to make some time to do a little work on this for you. Eve though Tice doesn't list buttons made after the CW, in his preliminary remarks about dating buttons, he lists backmarks and rough time frames for the big producers.
Waterbury Button Co. is 20th c. for sure...but I'll look up the exact dates later for you. Time to hit the sack...
-Buckles
I think it should say 1855- 1965. Possibly a typo.
I live in a state of rules where I am not permitted to live on my own country land because my home is not 130 MPH rated! I can only visit it from time to time and pay the fines. I feel so safe with Big Government protecting me. In some states its illegal to collect rainwater.
That link does not apply to more modern Great Seal buttons or is in error. If you notice under Scovill I have the same SCOVILL MF'G CO WATERBURY backmark but Great Seal buttons are post 1902.
That backmark was used during the CW, post-CW, Indian Wars, Turn of the Century, early 20th c. ...
The deciding factor is the Size of the lettering on the backmark, the presence of one ring or two, or a dotted ring around the shank, etc. Do you have a copy of Tice's book? If so, check out the Plates in the beginning of the book. If not, I'll try to make some time to do a little work on this for you. Eve though Tice doesn't list buttons made after the CW, in his preliminary remarks about dating buttons, he lists backmarks and rough time frames for the big producers.
Waterbury Button Co. is 20th c. for sure...but I'll look up the exact dates later for you. Time to hit the sack...
-Buckles
I think it should say 1855- 1965. Possibly a typo.
Could be, but I just use the books when I can. I don't trust the net. Again, with that backmark--it's the Size of the letters, and other features that determines the date range.
Spring 2012 CaneField Bandits Totals: TEN Half Reales:
1740, 1777, 1784, 1796, 1801, 180?, 1806, 1807, 1808, and 1814
1836 8 Reales
A 17?? One Real
1819 Token/Jeton
Two "Russian Blue" Trade Beads
Henry Clay Campaign Button FIVE Early New Orleans Seated Coins:
1838-O Dime (no stars), Three 1839-O Half Dimes, an 1840-O Dime, and an 1842-O Half Dime
1892 Barber Dime
1918 Walking Liberty Half
1866 and 18?? Shield Nickels, and some GawGag V's and Beefaloes. Military Relics: Possible Spanish Colonial Era Cap Badge
FOUR War of 1812 Artillery Buttons
1820s Pewter Militia "U.S." Button
CW Eagle Artillery Cuff Button
CW Eagle Infantry Officer's Coat Button
3-Ringers, Enfields, Musketballs, and Shell Fragments
Any relics, coins, or other items appearing in my finds posts were found on PRIVATE PROPERTY with total consent and permission from the owners of said property.
Could be, but I just use the books when I can. I don't trust the net. Again, with that backmark--it's the Size of the letters, and other features that determines the date range.
ok thanks
I live in a state of rules where I am not permitted to live on my own country land because my home is not 130 MPH rated! I can only visit it from time to time and pay the fines. I feel so safe with Big Government protecting me. In some states its illegal to collect rainwater.
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The thread is already so long its not necessary to add anything already pictured. Thanks.
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Originally Posted by trikikiwi
I didnt know they were old until I noticed the different backmarks. Im still trying to get a date on the Scovills and Waterburys. Somebody here should know.
