Need Help! Silver Button? And older pin?

[testing123]

Found this button yesterday. It's slightly larger than a quarter, but looked almost silver when it came out. There was no corrosion or pitting and came out feeling very smooth. I tested it as home, but on the front side, the solution turned blue, indicating it may be copper, zinc or nickel. Is it possible that if it was any of these metals it would come out so clean? The soil here in NH isn't good on metals besides silver or gold. Also, any idea on age? There are no markings on it at all.

Second is a pin that looks to be either brass or gold plated. It is about the size of two nickels put together. Any idea on age? Also, did that "hangy thingy" have any function? It looks a bit out of place.

Thanks for any help you can provide!

 

[Sky Pilot]

Hello T123.
Sky Pilot here.

Great find!
Any chance that it's pewter?

There are lots of folks here that know just about anything you could ever ask and I'm sure one of them will notice this post soon.

Looks like a tumbac style, but I'm no expert.

Cool button, at any rate!

 

[BuckleBoy]

Your button is not silver or pewter. It is Tombac. Please see my button cleaning post in the Cleaning and Preservation section of the forum for more information on them--or just google "tombac." It is a late 1700s find. The item below appears to be some sort of fastener or sash buckle, Victorian Era.

Best Wishes,


Buckleboy

 

[Lucas]

Nice tombac.

"Buckle" looks like it is from a silk ribbon watch fob. Sears Catalog era.

 

[Woodland Detectors]

That Tombac button is in really nice shape!
Tombac, was an import from Malay, where the root of the word meant copper. It was used in some cases to imitate gold, because the rose color of the copper was softened to almost yellow by the addition of zinc, tin, or other metals. The shanks of these buttons were often soldered in place with a sort of cone-shape buildup of metal on the back. This conical base at the shank is not exclusive to Tombac, however. The color of these buttons ranges from almost aluminum to almost a brassy color. Brass is also an alloy of copper and zinc, but the copper content is much higher in brass, so it is never a "white" metal.

 

[timekiller]

Yep tombac,but the other I think is a victorian brooch.
Like this one sorta with that back attachment I see on yours.
Take Care,
Pete

 

[Sky Pilot]

Cool, a tumbac.
Great find!!

Great hunting and good luck!!

SkyPilot

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Nice tombac.

"Buckle" looks like it is from a silk ribbon watch fob. Sears Catalog era.

Yes it looks similar to the metal attachment on a gentlemans silk fob but it could also be a sash pin or brooch.

ADDED: Heres a pic from 1909 Sears Roebuck cataloge. Not a match but you get the idea.

 

[testing123]

Thanks for your help and comments everyone! I didn't realize that button was so old!

 

[Sky Pilot]

Thanks for your help and comments everyone! I didn't realize that button was so old!

No problem for my part, glad to help!

 

[BuckleBoy]

Nice tombac.

"Buckle" looks like it is from a silk ribbon watch fob. Sears Catalog era.

Yes it looks similar to the metal attachment on a gentlemans silk fob but it could also be a sash pin or brooch.

ADDED: Heres a pic from 1909 Sears Roebuck cataloge. Not a match but you get the idea.

That's a great ID!

 

[Sky Pilot]

On par with the excellence we've come to expect (but never take for granted) from y'all!