✅ SOLVED Eagle Button - Civil war era or Spanish-American war era?

[wayfas4u]

Dug this coat button today about 6 1/2" deep in the ground, then cleaned her up a bit. Measures 22mm - backmark reads STEEL & JOHNSON MFG Co. Please confirm date...thank you!

 

[fyrffytr1]

It's a fake!!!! If it were real the backmark would read Steele & Johnson not Steel. The Steele & Johnson Mfg. Co. backmark would date it between 1875 and 1920. The raised shield also dates it to later than the civil war. Now, quit bothering people with plain old buttons and go find something good! You didn't find it under my tree did you? See you tomorrow.

 

[rick67]

Federal general service button, eagle with shield, Steele & Johnson
Steele & Johnson Manufacturing Co operated in the 1850s followed by Steele & Johnson Button Co from the late 1850s to 1875.
This is what I found listed in Relicmans book.

 

[wayfas4u]

Fyrffytr1, So the raised shield is a definite change in timeline? I thought I read Steele & Johnson Mfg co was 1850's era and the button company was later. The eagle's head and feathers are different on this button than my earlier find this week, that's what made me a bit more suspicious and ask the question. Thanks for the good info! I didn't touch your tree, found another tree further away, although there were two holes dug earlier just a few feet away! All your impressive finds are rubbing off on me . See you in the A.M.

 

[wayfas4u]

Thank you for responding rick67!!

 

[duggap]

I don't think it has a raised shield as compared to the ones they started making in 1876. That one is definitely civil war era. And a nice specimen.

And the later eagle had the wings pointing more towards 3 and 9 o'clock.

 

[wayfas4u]

Duggap, I looked closer with a magnifying glass and compared it to a button I found last week that has a raised shield. I agree with you here because the shield doesn't appear to be raised. I also noticed the wings are pointed more up and neck is thinner! I'm not an expert but am soaking up info like a sponge! Thanks for your response.

 

[fyrffytr1]

This is from "American Military Button Makers and Dealers; Their Backmarks and Dates" by William F. Mcguinn and Bruce Bazelon.
Steele & Johnson, Waterbury, CT. Comprised of Elisha Steele & Joseph G. Johnson. Organized in 1852 to manufacture gilt and plated metal buttons. Sold to Waterbury Jewelry Co. in 1856 but reorganized on March 17, 1858 as Steele & Johnson Button Co. In 1875 it became Steele & Johnson Mfg. Co. & lasted to c. 1920.
I also found this in the same book and it gets a little confusing. They have a GI 94 listed with a Steele and Johnson Mfg. Co. backmark. The GI94 is the early version dating back as far as 1854. The GI94 refers to the button number in Albert's button book. And, indeed it is listed in Albert's. But, they also list a GI88A with the same backmark and it is pre 1854. But, Albert's does not show the Steele and Johnson Mfg. Co. backmark in the listing for GI88A. Instead it shows a "&Steele & Johnson".I hope someone can explain this to us. How does a 1875-1920 backmark show up on an 1854 button? Was there a huge surplus of button fronts that eventually were put into service with the newer back? How long was the first version produced before they changed to the raised shield?
OK, my head hurts now. Y'all think about it, I'm outta here!

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Your guess is mostly correct... not "a huge surplus" but enough leftovers that buttons combining an earlier front with a later back (and vice-versa) have been found. The McGuinn-&-Bazelon book on backmarks mentions some examples in the backmark listings.

The front of Wayfas4u's button was manufactured from 1854 through 1875, so it may have been only a 1-year-old lefotover when the 1875-through-1920 Steele & Johnson Mfg. Co. back was put into it.

 

[wayfas4u]

This is getting very interesting!! I'm satisfied with an early front and a later back to close out 2015! Thank you both Fyrffytr1 and TheCannonballGuy for this in-depth discussion in history!! I have learned much from this thread!! Happy New Year Gentlemen!!