Nice buttons but I am at a loss as to what they are.

MichaelB · Mar 19, 2010

I have posted this on the WHAT IS IT section but it is a todays find so here they are:

We were hunting for a civil war camp and found these. I can't find any reference to them on the internet. I don't think they are civil war but look like maybe early 1900's. The site is north of Mobile Alabama but a long ways from any town.

MichaelB

jgas · Mar 19, 2010

Maybe Overall buttons? Just a guess... Nice finds tho. :thumbsup:

jgas

RPG · Mar 19, 2010

Hey MichaelB. Good to see you posting on todays finds. I think you're right about them being early 1900's. I was down home (monroe county) last week and dug some of the very same buttons in the Finchburg ghost town. Most of those home sites date early 1900's. I'll try and take some pics this weekend and post. They are the very same as the ones you found.

Good Luck and maybe we can get together sometime when I'm coming down.
Randy

MichaelB · Mar 19, 2010

Randy, that would be great. The Obryans I thought could be an overall button but the Panama Mobile so close to Mobile, Alabama had me stumped. It was found close to the river so I was thinking some type of Banana Boat offloading way North of Mobile....just a reach.

MichaelB

RPG · Mar 19, 2010

MichaelB said:
Randy, that would be great. The Obryans I thought could be an overall button but the Panama Mobile so close to Mobile, Alabama had me stumped. It was found close to the river so I was thinking some type of Banana Boat offloading way North of Mobile....just a reach.

MichaelB

Yeap. The ones I found were very close to the river also. I'll do a little research and see what I can come up with. Maybe we can tie them to the fire ant infestation we have in Bama.

I'll post those pics tomorrow and keep you posted on what I can find out about them.

vayank54 · Mar 19, 2010

jgas had it. They are overall buttons early 1900's or so.

GibH · Mar 19, 2010

Duck Pants in the Post-Civil War Era

The Duck Head name can be traced back to 1865 and two brothers in Nashville, Tennessee. George and Joe O'Bryan, according to lore, bought surplus Army tents made out of a heavy, canvas-like material known as duck. Although it was not intended as a clothing material, duck proved to make durable work pants and overalls. These early khakis also made a success of the O'Bryan Brothers Manufacturing Company and created a Southern clothing staple. In 1892 the brothers tried to trademark the name "duck," but were turned down by the Trademark and Registration Office in Washington because the term was in general usage. Told that "duck head" was available, the O'Bryan brothers registered the term, which naturally led to the head of a mallard duck becoming the lasting symbol of their products.

Duck Heads continued to be manufactured in the 20th century by O'Bryan Brothers, although during World War II the business turned its exclusive attention to making military uniforms. Following the war the company latched onto the popularity of country music, a natural connection given its Nashville location, and with such stars as Hank Williams sporting Duck Heads, the product line gained even greater regional appeal. During the 1980s, Duck Heads were all but the official uniform of the Southern college fraternity brother. By 1989 Delta Woodside decided to buy the Duck Head brand and attempt to roll it out on a national basis.

Read more: http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/history2/75/Duck-Head-Apparel-Company-Inc.html#ixzz0ifwfV34t

RPG · Mar 19, 2010

Thanks GibH. That's very good reading. I too have found some of these O'Brian buttons and didn't realize they could be so old. These could date to the 1800's. I always thought they were early 1900's. I'll try and pull some of mine out.

MichaelB · Mar 19, 2010

GibH, you are the man. I think you nailed the O'BRYAN button. Now I just have to track down the PANAMA MOBILE> Many thanks.

MichaelB

MichaelB · Mar 20, 2010

Bigcypress sent me a great clue with another PANAMA MOBILE button:

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,300687.0.html

MichaelB

RPG · Mar 20, 2010

Here is some of the ones I found last week. The last pic is some of the other types I found in the same site. I really like the strong man button.

MichaelB · Mar 20, 2010

RPG those are sweet. I can't believe I've never found any of these in all my years of digging and then I find some just south of you. The strongman is a killer button. There has to be a cool story behind that one. Thanks for the pictures.

MichaelB

RPG · Mar 20, 2010

I can hardly wait to get back to the site where I found these. I only had half a day there and was dodging rain showers. It's a green plot about two acres and I have barely touched it. I am sure there are more buttons to be found. :thumbsup: