How Old Is this GS Button?

[cambria09]

Hello All. I can't seem to pin the age of this GS button down. Found it in a small town curb strip that has yielded some 1900's items. Wife says it's post WWII because "Pennsylvania" is "PA" and not "PENN".

Please let me know if you have any info and thanks for the view. Good Luck out there. C9

 

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[fyrffytr1]

According to the book: "American Button Makers and Dealers; Their Backmarks & Dates" by William F. McGuinn and Bruce Bazelon (page 156) your overcoat button dates from1910-1923. The black finish was only used during that period. What I found interesting is that your backmark does not appear under the Horstmann headings in the general text. It only shows in the Great Seal backmark section. Maybe someone with more knowledge (Calling "TheCannonballGuy!") can explain this or maybe I just overlooked it. In the Great Seal section that backmark is denoted with the letters B and O. The B stands for black finish and the O for overcoat.

 

[cambria09]

According to the book: "American Button Makers and Dealers; Their Backmarks & Dates" by William F. McGuinn and Bruce Bazelon (page 156) your overcoat button dates from1910-1923. The black finish was only used during that period. What I found interesting is that your backmark does not appear under the Horstmann headings in the general text. It only shows in the Great Seal backmark section. Maybe someone with more knowledge (Calling "TheCannonballGuy!") can explain this or maybe I just overlooked it. In the Great Seal section that backmark is denoted with the letters B and O. The B stands for black finish and the O for overcoat.

Hello fyrffytr1. Thanks for the great research. I had a feeling it was NOT post WWII.

Question: Why do you call this button's finish "black"? It is dark in color but not black...I figured the darkness of it was due to it being in ground and elements.

Thank you for the reply and Good Luck out there. C9

 

[fyrffytr1]

I couldn't tell for sure from the picture so I went on what was posted in the book I referred to in my first reply. They do not list one with the bronze finish with that backmark. Since yours does not have the black finish and I don't have any other information on that particular backmark I am going to say that my identification is not correct. Your button could be from 1910-1917 or it could be from 1923-? Buttons made from 1917-1923 were black only. Hopefully someone will have more info on your backmark. Meanwhile, I will do some more digging and see what I can come up with.

 

[fyrffytr1]

I couldn't tell for sure from the picture so I went on what was posted in the book I referred to in my first reply. They do not list one with the bronze finish with that backmark. Since yours does not have the black finish and I don't have any other information on that particular backmark I am going to say that my identification is not correct. Your button could be from 1910-1917 or it could be from 1923-? Buttons made from 1917-1923 were black only. Hopefully someone will have more info on your backmark. Meanwhile, I will do some more digging and see what I can come up with.
Here is a link to a list of backmarks found on Great Seal buttons. The last updated version can be found on page 25. But your exact BM is not there.
http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/what/112828-great-seal-button-backmarks-help.html

 

[Tpmetal]

spot on for around ww1 era

 

[cw0909]

bigcypresshunter posted 1 that looks like yours and noted date as


"a post 1902 Great Seal button. I guess they used up old dies."
http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/what/273879-backmark-date-i-am-not-seeing-my-book.html#post2608664