✅ SOLVED Button ID Help...Civil War Era?

[Patriot Relics]

Hey guys,

Dug this interesting 2 piece button at a CW field hospital today. Any ideas as to age/origins?



Believe the back is A (K?) Button (C?), Newark, NJ

 

[Spats]

The Union News Company was a subsidiary of the American News Company. They were in business from around 1890 until 1969. They sold newspapers, magazines, and sundries in train stations and on trains. Was this button found near an old railroad depot?

 

[jewelerguy]

cool button. I'd imagine it's somewhat rare too

 

[Patriot Relics]

Still working to pin down the date in which the UNC was founded as a subsidiary of the American news Company (established in 1864). Thanks for the help Spats, there was a railway in the mid 1800s near the site.

 

[Patriot Relics]

Benchmark is A M Button Co, Newark NJ

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Your button's backmark is the key to correctly time-dating it. "AM Button Co Newark NJ" means the American Button Company, which began making uniform buttons (military, railroad, etc) in 1901. Its button-making factory burned in 1917 and the company ceased to exist in 1920. My info-source is the book "American Military Button Makers And Dealers; Their Backmarks & Dates" by William F. McGuinn and Bruce S. Bazelon.

 

[Patriot Relics]

Your button's backmark is the key to correctly time-dating it. "AM Button Co Newark NJ" means the American Button Company, which began making uniform buttons (military, railroad, etc) in 1901. Its button-making factory burned in 1917 and the company ceased to exist in 1920. My info-source is the book "American Military Button Makers And Dealers; Their Backmarks & Dates" by William F. McGuinn and Bruce S. Bazelon.

Thank you as always for your expertise