Cleaning a Button

[reskinsrock]

Hey everbody... I just found an old button. It has alot of dirt on it and i would like to know how to clean it so that the details will show but so that i wont mess up the button. This is my first relic and i want it to look its best, so i need the best cleaning method.

k.k.
Thanks

 

[cryptodave]

It all depends. I would start with a little warm soapy water and a toothbrush. Then if I wasn't satisfied I would put it in olive oil to soak for a day or so. Others will tell you that olive oil is bad because it (the relic) will leak oil for along time afterwards and tell you to use hot/warm hydrogen peroxide.
I've tried the peroxide, and didn't like the results on an old copper flat button (oxidized it and turned it a funky green that won't come off) so I haven't used it since. I've come to the conclusion that it depends on the soil condition that the relic has sit in over the last 100+ years.

Also, it depends on what kind of "dirt" is on the button. Around these parts you sometimes get a sand "cement" that just won't come off. I've taken wire brushes to them and been fairly happy with the results, but it does damage the button... But if you got the cement muck, then its better to see some details than none at all I suppose.

 

[Montana Jim]

HA!  Crypto beat me to the post!! 


Soap and water and a soft toothbrush... take it easy... clean it a little bit at a time and see what you have.  

You will prolly gets tons of ideas about soaking it and cleaning it in a variety of cleaners or oils or whatever... pay close attention, they know what they are talking about.  

Bottom line is... you decide when to stop cleaning it and be happy with what you have regardless of condition!

Crypto, I've been very happy with the olive oil, and then on some buttons, wish I never did it... I don't use it anymore.

 

[reskinsrock]

UPDATE...IT'S GOLD!!!!!!!! IS THERE ANYTHING I SHOULD DO DIFFERENT SINCE IT IS GOLD? I AM SO HAPPY...
K.K.
THANKS

 

[cryptodave]

Is it gold, or is there just gold gilt still on it? What period are we looking at for this button? Colonial, CW, etc etc....

Are there details on the button you can see? A Design or writings?

 

[Charlene]

Ok, drooling now, I need a picture fix really bad!

 

[reskinsrock]

It's probably gold gilt.. but there sure is alot of it left on the button. As i said this is my first relic older than WW2 so I don't know... I will have my mom post a pic as soon as she gets home. I will describe it to the best of my ability... it looks like it has a small shield in the middle with the smaller eagle above it. It has what looks like laurel wrapping on both sides. Holding on to the shield are two horses. the shield looks like it might also be a harp or a jar.

k.k.
Thanks

 

[azmetaldetector]

tumble it

 

[reskinsrock]

UPDATE: The back of the button says Philadelphia and other stuff that i can't make out!

 

[Montana Jim]

lol... soap, water, a soft brush... keep at it.

Does it look anything like this?

 

[PBK]

Hey, K. K.—

Looks as if Montana Jim has zeroed in on your description of the button. Sounds as if it might be a Pennsylvania state seal button. Here are a couple of examples. The one on the left is a Civil War period button; the one on the right, post-war to modern:

​

 

[Nana40]

OHHHHHH my goodness KK!! 8) I wanna see!!!!

Hurry and get home Mom!!!!!!

Nana

 

[reskinsrock]

Unfortunatley it is neither of the buttons pictured...mom had to work late but the picture is coming. I Promise.. when it does come i will post it under the topic (FINALLY A PICTURE OF THE BUTTON). Also the gold only shows when the button is wet.. when it dries it turns a light green...like a patina. Is that weird?

 

[Montana Jim]

No... not wierd! Hey... post your pic right here in the same post, don't start a new one! It will be mofe fun to see it here... then we can help with the button too, and tell you what it is.

 

[PBK]

No match, eh? Sure sounded like a Pennsylvania state seal variety.

I guess another possibility might be a Michigan state seal button. However, based on your description I don't think that's what it is. The shield certainly isn't jar- or harp-like, there are no laurels framing it, and the critters on either side of the shield actually aren't horses, but an elk and a moose.

But what the heck? Can't hurt to post a few examples anyway. If nothing else, maybe it will help ID someone else's find. Here are three examples— one Civil War period (left), and two postwar to modern:

​

 

[BuckleBoy]

Do NOT tumble it!!! Just gently with a SOFT toothbrush and water. If it is Civil War, you'll want as much of the gold gilt to stay on as possible.

Can't wait to see the pics!

Buckleboy

 

[reskinsrock]

NEWs FLASH... on the front on the bottom of the button there are the initials N.C. or N.S. or N.G. It is hard to tell which but I am going with N.C. because it stands for north carolina. Sorry there has been no pictures I'm having trouble formatting them to the right size. but they are coming.
k.k.

 

[PBK]

There are Pennsylvania National Guard buttons with a similar design and "N. G." at the bottom. They also have a tiny keystone (PA state symbol) above the eagle, except for one variety which has a "V" above the eagle instead. Here's an example:

 

[Don in SJ]

There are Pennsylvania National Guard buttons with a similar design and "N. G." at the bottom. They also have a tiny keystone (PA state symbol) above the eagle, except for one variety which has a "V" above the eagle instead. Here's an example:

In addition to PBK's information, those buttons happen to also have some with backmarks of Horstmann, Philadelphia and ***George Evans***/Phila or J H Wilson Phila/Patented 1878. So, see if any of those backmarks match.....

Don

 

[reskinsrock]

it is a pennsylvania national guard button... and it does have the back mark pennsylvania horstmans... any idea on its value...im not gonna sell it just interested... Wow im so excited... how old is it. and how did it get in maryland? anybody know? k.k.