1770s Brass Button Mold?

[Indiana Digger]

1770's Brass Button Mold?

Hi Everyone,

This was NOT a dirt find, but a garage sale deal that I could not pass up. This brass 4 button mold looks very, very close to the one listed here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370476233831

This mold is marked by hand, "NM". I don't know much about buttons or molds but I do know that this piece (and the brass bullet mold I bought with it) was to good to pass up. The nice little old lady told me that it had been in her family for many. many years. I paid her asking price and hurried home to melt down some printer's lead to see the results.

What do you think? Real deal or darn good copy?




Here's the maker's mark:




...and the bullet mold that came with the deal.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Cry Of The Eagle: History And Legends Of The Cherokee Indians And Their Buried Treasure - Grab it through Amazon!

[DMN]

Re: 1770's Brass Button Mold?

Now that is cool. Don't know the age of it although you may be able to guess it from the hinge pieces. Just interesting to see how those buttons were fashioned.

 

[kuger]

Re: 1770's Brass Button Mold?

Now that is cool. Don't know the age of it although you may be able to guess it from the hinge pieces. Just interesting to see how those buttons were fashioned.

x2!!!!!That is one of the coolest finds I have seen on here,dug or not!!!!

 

[Kenosha Kid]

Re: 1770's Brass Button Mold?

Just interesting to see how those buttons were fashioned.

That it is !

The link you posted stated this ~

"To see a similar example from the 18th century see pg.200 in AMERICAN COPPER & BRASS by Kauffman.

NOTE: this example is very similar to examples made by a Connecticut brass founder named Miller who worked around the time of the Revolutionary War."

Miller? NM? Maybe coincidence?

 

[hogge]

Re: 1770's Brass Button Mold?

AWESOME!!! Too bad it wasn't a "USA" mold!

 

[poppy in pa.]

Re: 1770's Brass Button Mold?

Now that is really awesome. What a great find. Thanks for shareing. HH poppy

 

[DMN]

Re: 1770's Brass Button Mold?

Of course, you can now go in to business creating vintage period buttons. Good luck on your new venture.

 

[mainer]

Re: 1770's Brass Button Mold?

Cool piece of history there. Thanks for sharing.

 

[kuger]

Re: 1770's Brass Button Mold?

Dang,Thats cool!!!!

 

[treasurepirate1]

Re: 1770's Brass Button Mold?

that is super cool next time get some brass and make some, and maybe get a nice profit from authentic reproductions

 

[september]

Re: 1770's Brass Button Mold?

Nice find!

 

[Indiana Digger]

Re: 1770's Brass Button Mold?

Just interesting to see how those buttons were fashioned.

That it is !

The link you posted stated this ~

"To see a similar example from the 18th century see pg.200 in AMERICAN COPPER & BRASS by Kauffman.

NOTE: this example is very similar to examples made by a Connecticut brass founder named Miller who worked around the time of the Revolutionary War."

Miller? NM? Maybe coincidence?

Yes, I notcied that! That's why I added a pic of the maker's mark - hoping that someone with more knowlege than me can help with the identification.

 

[tymcmurray]

Re: 1770's Brass Button Mold?

I would have snatched them up and ran home also!!!
Great finds! congratulations on them.

 

[tormes]

Hi nice find. I refresh this topic. NM may be Nathaniel Miller ( from Connecticut) as Kenosha Kid stated. See Brass Button Mold | Sale Number 2684M, Lot Number 207 | Skinner Auctioneers. It is similar and also marked NM.

 

[OutdoorAdv]

Hi nice find. I refresh this topic. NM may be Nathaniel Miller ( from Connecticut) as Kenosha Kid stated. See Brass Button Mold | Sale Number 2684M, Lot Number 207 | Skinner Auctioneers. It is similar and also marked NM.

I saw this post and got all excited! Then I saw that it was from 2011. haha The OP hasn't logged in since "Last Activity Dec 21, 2012 06:09 PM", so I doubt he will see this. That mold certainly looks original and legit and it was one awesome garage sale find.

I think you're spot on with that ID from Nathaniel Miller. The OP's mark and the one from your link certainly look the same to me. Nice work on that ID.

 

[tormes]

There is in MID-18TH CENTURY BUTTON MOLD BY JOSIAH MILLER ? Horse Soldier another mold marked "IM", for -Josiah Miller- also from Connecticut; and https://www.nps.gov/museum/exhibits/revwar/image_gal/morrimg/bulletmold.html, a mold for musket balls, also marked "IM" (they attribute to John Miller from Connecticut). I think both are the same (perhaps Nathaniel father?).

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Awesome find!