Need help identifying Scovill button

[thebirdflu]

Hello fellow TNet citizens. I need some help identifying a Scovill button I found yesterday in a field. I know nothing about buttons. In fact this is my first button find.

First, here is the history of the site. A house formerly stood there dating back to at least 1896 and perhaps earlier depending on the (in)accuracy of the county play maps. The house was torn down sometime in the late 1940's-early 50's and turned into crop land. The only sign of a house are rocks strewn about the field.

I found this button just under the surface. It's a two-piece with the words "Scovill Waterbury" on the back. It is approx the size of a dime and it appears to be made from pewter. I took the best pictures I could with my iPhone to try and show the fine details.

Please let me know what you think about it date, rarity, value etc. I was talking with the property owner (inlaws) when I finished and she mentioned a story of a fruit jar filled with silver coins that was buried somewhere near the house 😳. I'm gonna have to keep hitting that site and maybe I'll get lucky!

Thanks for your time.

 

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[osage express]

Scovill Waterbury Made Some of the buttons for the confederacy.The story behind the Co. is neat.But i will let the ones that know this stuff fill you in.Good luck on your hunt for the silver and welcome to Tnet.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Close examination of the markings on your button's back indicates there's not enough room for saying Scovill Mfg. Co. Waterbury" -- so it probably says "Scovills & Co. Waterbury." (Note the s at the end of the Scovill name.) The company only used the name Scovills & Co. from 1840 to 1850.

Please examine the marking closely and tell us whether it says "Scovills & Co." or something else.

The emblem on your button's front is not a Military emblem. It appears to be either a windmill's blades or an "ornate" non-Military version of Maltese Cross or another kind of cross. Therefore, your button was made for use on Civilian clothing.

By the way, it is definitely not a pewter button. It is made of stamped sheetbrass. If it looks silvery to your eye, it is silverplated brass.

 

[thebirdflu]

I've looked closely at the back and can't determine what's between the words Scovills and Waterbury. I've taken closer pictures using a 10X loupe.

I agree with your thought that it's a windmill design. The "waves" in the background could represent wind blowing through the windmill.

Thank you for your response. No matter what the value of the button is it's still awesome to find something that old in a big field. I'm going back tomorrow to see what else I can find.

 

[HutSiteDigger]

That is a early civilian button from Scovills. This is got to be one of their early 19th c. buttons they produced. At least 1820-1830s period. This picture of the back of a Scovills button which is a federal topographical engineer button, dates to the 1830s... I have a couple civilian floral flat buttons that have Scovills Waterbury on them and i think a & or a * in between them, will have to go and look when i get back from vacation for the weekend, but - i am pretty sure that is an oldie Scovills button dating way pre CW.