Help with buttons,U.S., eagle, cones boss

[salty dog]

I found these buttons the other day.
I have been able to find out that the cones boss is a button from work clothes, but can anyone tell me from about what time period?
The U.S. does not have a back and measures about one inch across.
The eagle buttons look like they were two piece but the backs are missing. One of the eagle buttons looks like someone put two holes in it.
Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[CodyCat Borat]

Here ya go with the cone boss.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Medium-Vintage-...ones-Boss_W0QQitemZ140121659723QQcmdZViewItem

 

[salty dog]

Thanks Codycat.

 

[Montana Jim]

Your first piece is a U.S. Army collar brass... or the Enlisted Collar Insignia. Complaints in 1907 about the loss or snagging of officer cut-out collar insignia led to the adoption of bronze circular disks for enlisted personnel. Die struck with the branch, US and unit designation, the collar ornaments changed to gilt after 1924.

Your second and third are U.S.Army Great Seal buttons... after using part of the nations great seal (eagle & shield) in the older buttons (think civil and Indian war like my avatar), in 1902 the Army went to the design you found. Key to more accurately dating these will be the back mark if any. Can you post pics of the backs? NOTE: The second button is older looking, but that means nothing really. Still looking for references. It may in fact be a type I've not seen - and therefore possibly a older diplomatic/government official button... I don't know.

I didn't find too much more than Cody did on the cones boss button, except speculation that it may be depicting a railroad lantern. Age unkown. Someone with a book will prolly knoow.

 

[ivan salis]

the first one looks kinda like the great seal button (first issued in 1902) but seems a bit well odd to me similar but a tad differant somehow maybe its a early issue type there were several makers- over the years---- the other one (the one with nothing over the eagles head) however looks much older ----ah ---update--- I did a bit of checking seems to me --it looks like a 1875 to 1902 era enlisted man button (the shield was "raised" in 1875--- from 1854 to 1875 it was "level" with the eagle making feel "smooth " if you run your hand over it ---if its sheild is "raised" its 1875 to 1902 era)---if it were an officers button it eould have a letter or symbol on the sheild---very interesting---Ivan

 

[salty dog]

Thanks Montana and Ivan. You have been a great help.
McSancho, I'm finding these around an old home site.
I will definitely be going back.

 

[RobsGirl]

The Cones Boss button is from the CB Cones Manufacturing Company in Indianapolis, IN. The company was founded in 1879 by Constantine B. Cones and was in business until the mid 1940's. They manufactured work wear for the railroad and the company was one of the first receive approval from the United Garment Workers Union. CB Cones was the second cousin of my great-grandfather, Van Buren Cones and I've been researching my family. I would love to obtain these buttons and other artifacts. CB Cones is buried with his family in Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.

 

[fyrffytr1]

I think the third button is a federal department one and not a "Great Seal" Infantry. I don't know of a "Great Seal" Infantry button that doesn't have the globe above the eagle's head. Bigcypresshunter is the go to guy for Great Seal buttons. He has a thread about the different backmarks. It's a long read but it shows a lot of pictures.
http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/what/112828-great-seal-button-backmarks-help.html

 

[Rich in Houston]

Cones Boss

The Cones Boss button is from the CB Cones Manufacturing Company in Indianapolis, IN. The company was founded in 1879 by Constantine B. Cones and was in business until the mid 1940's. They manufactured work wear for the railroad and the company was one of the first receive approval from the United Garment Workers Union. CB Cones was the second cousin of my great-grandfather, Van Buren Cones and I've been researching my family. I would love to obtain these buttons and other artifacts. CB Cones is buried with his family in Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.

Any idea when these buttons were in production? Just dug one and researching..

 

[sutphin]

NICE FINDS