Large 1800s Button (1".25) found in civil war camp. Help PBK

[Rebel Man]

Large 1800's Button (1".25) found in civil war camp. Help PBK

I found this button at the confederate camp / farm where most everything I have been finding this year.I must admit I was dragged out 5 hours into my hunt, (pinched nerve in my neck & all) I was giving up with 1 bullet, 1 small button, & an unusual I believe a lock cover 1850 patented date, I will post it a little later. I actually was dragging my detector behind me with the car in my sight, cold water snacks and to give my ears a break, when suddenly you guessed it a loud "ping"!!! I don't believe it always happens when I'm ready to leave & give up!! Well folks just like Joe Cocker always sang, I need a little help from friends. You won't believe this but another detectorist found one of these in Tenn. a couple months back,& from what that web site contributed is this!! A Fireman's button ,Chief/ captains button New York City no less. Ok Ok what the heck is this button doing in Spotsylvania VA. where I'm finding all the civil war relics?? The button has this chap blowing a horn/mega phone holding a smudge pot of fire & on the run?? Look close & you will see "FIRE" above his hat. Help PBK I'm not sure of the positive identification from this other web site. Thanks Guys & Gals for looking and sharing your opinion's.
Rebel Man in the fields and woods again & again

 

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[Hardy]

Re: Large 1800's Button (1".25) across very unusal find in civil war area

GREAT BUTTON

 

[goldencoin]

Re: Large 1800's Button (1".25) found in civil war camp. Help PBK

regardless of its rarity, it is very nice button

HH
-GC

 

[PBK]

Re: Large 1800's Button (1".25) found in civil war camp. Help PBK

Great find, Rebel Man!

The Big Book of Buttons by Hughes & Lester lists this button as follows:

EARLY FIRE ASSOCIATION BUTTON, circa 1825-35
The button bears the device of a fireman running in stove-pipe hat, carrying an oil torch to light his way through the streets, and shouting 'Fire' through his speaking horn. One piece brass, slightly convex; reverse: "Scovills Waterbury."

At the time of the book's publication in 1981, this button was valued at $75. Most prices in the book have at least doubled since that time.

A number of late 18th to mid 19th century fire insurance companies reportedly used similar "running fireman" logos, including the Friendship Fire Company of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Fire Association, and the Associated Fireman's Company of Baltimore.

 

[Leon]

Re: Large 1800's Button (1".25) found in civil war camp. Help PBK

Neat old button, WTG!!!

Good job on the ID PBK...
I was trying to figure, I know they used smudge pots to keep the frost off of trees, but what was he going to do with the horn?,,, try to wake them up too....

Continued Good luck, & Happy hunting~

 

[kieser sousa/rip]

Re: Large 1800's Button (1".25) found in civil war camp. Help PBK

Very cool button Rebel man ! I spent many years livin in Fredricksburg/Spotslvania/Orange.Have you ever hunted the wood's behind the Spotslvania Mall ? There were camps all through that area.

 

[panzermeyer]

Re: Large 1800's Button (1".25) found in civil war camp. Help PBK

Wow !!! Thats one cool button !!!!

 

[Evolution]

Re: Large 1800's Button (1".25) found in civil war camp. Help PBK

Great find. And worth a good bit too. Way to go!

 

[Don in SJ]

Re: Large 1800's Button (1".25) found in civil war camp. Help PBK

Congrats on making the banner, nice to see a button make it, it has been awhile and relics are so much a part of history that they deserve recognition.
That is one neat button, never heard of those existing before, but will now be on the lookout for them, especially if they can be associated with the Philly area, heck, I'm close enough for a chance.

As far as your button being found in Va and one in Tn, well, since they were made pre-Civil War, they still could have been worn during that period, or lost after a person moved to those areas from Baltimore, Philly or NYC area.

Don

 

[kg6yll]

Re: Large 1800's Button (1".25) found in civil war camp. Help PBK

Very nice find! Great ID by PBK. TreasureNet forum comes thru again.

 

[bookfisher]

Re: Large 1800's Button (1".25) found in civil war camp. Help PBK

Outstanding Find! I would say that's one of the best and most interesting buttons posted here on T-Net. Congrats on such a historic find.

 

[Montana Jim]

Re: Large 1800's Button (1".25) found in civil war camp. Help PBK

Outstanding find!!

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

Re: Large 1800's Button (1".25) found in civil war camp. Help PBK

Here is a button from Associated Firemen's Insurance Company
Baltimore, Maryland 1874-1899. This is from the site, http://www.hammerdown.com/marks.html It looks similar, but I found a photo of a simliar Fire Mark on a building in South Orange, NJ. Search the keywork "FIRE MARKS" .

This is what I love about this hobby. I learn something new every day!!

 

[Evolution]

Re: Large 1800's Button (1".25) found in civil war camp. Help PBK

Congratulations on making the banner. And once again, great find!!

 

[DaChief]

Re: Large 1800's Button (1".25) found in civil war camp. Help PBK

Hey Rebel Man. Give this a thought. I remember reading something related to the N.Y. Zuoaves being firemen. I may be wrong about that but it would explain how maybe a N.Y. fireman's button would get to a Civil War area.

I have not read any history of their uniforms to determine if they used such buttons on their military uniforms and they probably didn't but the probability exists that they may have in some cases and if they did not then maybe they had an article of clothing with them from their civilian profession.

Check out these links.

http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/11200/11224/zouaves_11224.htm

http://www.dmna.state.ny.us/historic/reghist/civil/infantry/10thInf/10thInfCWN.htm

 

[{Sentinel}]

Re: Large 1800's Button (1".25) found in civil war camp. Help PBK

Yes I was going to say the Zouaves as well but was beat to the punch. GREAT find there bud that button is a really FINE find!!! I have a spot for buttons and that is a GREAT one!Congratulations on that find!!!!

 

[Mainedigger]

Re: Large 1800's Button (1".25) found in civil war camp. Help PBK

Rebelman...congrats on an awesome find and for making the banner, deservedly so. That button is very sweet and is a wonderful piece of history and makes for a totally awesome find!!! I agree that it was probably lost by a soldier in the Zouaves and may have been lost off a home made uniform on which he used one of his fire buttons, or may even have been off the fire uniform itself. I absolutely love civil war buttons and your find is one of the better and unique ones I've seen....CONGRATS!!! Hit that place hard and slowly...gotta be more nice stuff there just waiting for you to pass your coil over it!!!

 

[desertfox]

Re: Large 1800's Button (1".25) found in civil war camp. Help PBK

A big congrats on the button and making the banner. It's about time a relic made its way up there.
Happy Hunting

Desertfox

 

[tymcmurray]

Re: Large 1800's Button (1".25) found in civil war camp. Help PBK

Fantastic button!
Congratulations.

 

[Big_Digger]

Re: Large 1800's Button (1".25) found in civil war camp. Help PBK

very nice button

hh