"Button" [stokes and sons] Colonial Australian

[tinpan]

Hi i founf this button some time ago near a once busy street and most of the structures date 1870-1920.the button was made by Stokes and Sons .Got a bit of time to play with the new camera so the macro-pics will get better.lol

"any ideas" tinpan

[pgill]

Hey Tinnie, hope all is well on your side? Cannot help you with the button, but wonder whoe's pants fell down

God bless
Peter

[gldhntr]

Stokes & Sons, Melbourne Victoria. Stokes were one of the most successful silverware and medallion manufacturers in Australia, and according to K Cavill, 'arguably . . . the best-known manufacturer of domestic silverware from the 1890s to the 1960s'. Stokes produced an extensive range of sterling-silver napkin rings throughout the first half of the 20th century. The company dates to 1856 when Thomas Stokes gave up looking for gold and set up business as a die-sinker producing medals, tokens, and buttons. A merger with GF Martin in 1867 saw the firm introduce electroplated nickel-silver to Australia. The banking crisis of the 1890s saw a split with Martin and the gradual joining of Thomas Stokes's three sons and by 1911 the company was called Thomas Stokes and Sons. By 1939 Stokes were employing 280 people. The company's pre-eminent status amongst its competitors is demonstrated by commissions to produce Queen Elizabeth II's wedding gift from Australia, and her 1954 tour-gift from Victoria. Stokes line of silverware was discontinued in the 1960s, but they remain an important company in Australia today - still producing medals, badges etc. in addition to a diverse range of automotive and engineering products.

Stokes & Sons, Melbourne. Stokes produced an extensive range of sterling-silver napkin rings throughout the first half of the 20th century.


http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/coll...ase/?irn=56128

http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-.../buttons01.htm

http://www.iswright.com.au/result-mi....php?subcat=30

[lonewolfe]

nice button find tinpan,

HH

[Harry_Morant]

It appears to have 3 feathery plumes which are known as Prince of Wales plumes which were only to awarded to certain military units. Does it say Ich Dien anywhere on the button? I think there's only one current Australian unit which been awarded them which is 4/19th Prince of Wales Light Horse but in the past there have been a number of historic light horse units which have had them.

Any description of words on the button would help tie it down.

Cheers

Harry