Need help with button identification

[bk]

I found this button recently at an urban development site. The button appears to have a "5" at the 12:00 position and also some fancy script that I am unable to discern.
There is a makers mark on the reverse, but due to the corrosion I am unable to read it.
The only coins found at this site were an 1857 seated quarter, and an 1882 Indian head cent. No, I didn't find the coins.

 

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[bk]

Here's a pic of the site.

 

[Gypsy Heart]

MNC?

NY on back?

 

[bk]

Hey Gypsy, thats a nice job of highlighting. I could see the "NY" on the back but can't read enough to make any sense out of it. In case you didn't notice, that is snow next to the building in the background. I think its gone now. (I hope).

 

[Montana Jim]

Good job Gypsy... I'm going to look around and see what's out there...

 

[PBK]

I believe that the backmark may be DEVLIN & CO. N. Y. The firm dates c., 1843-93; however, all buttons bering this backmark are post-Civil War.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

MNC? Matson Navigation Company?

Captain William Matson (1849 – 1917) founded Matson Navigation Company in 1882. Born in Sweden, Captain Matson arrived in San Francisco in 1867 at the age of 16. There he began sailing on many vessels in San Francisco Bay in northern California rivers. Captain Matson became acquainted with the Spreckles family and was asked to serve as skipper on the Spreckels yacht, Lurline. The Spreckles family later assisted Captain Matson in obtaining his first ship, the Emma Claudina.

Gliding into Hilo Bay in the early dawn of April 23, 1882 was the three-masted schooner Emma Claudina, 13 days out of San Francisco. This sailing launched the beginning of Matson's service. By 1886, with sugar production in Hawaii climbing to 100,000 ton crop annually, the Islands economy begins to grow. Captain Matson is assured eastbound hauls of sugar, with westbound voyages filled with machinery and building materials.

The bark Roderick Dhu is purchased in 1900. Captain Matson makes the vessel world famous when he equips it with a cold-storage plant and electric lights operated by a gasoline engine. Captain Matson's shipping business is incorporated in 1901 as Matson Navigation Company, a California corporation capitalized at $1.5 million, with Captain Matson as president.

In 1927, with Matson’s introduction of the S.S. Malolo, the largest and most palatial luxury cruise liner ever built in the United States at that time, and the opening of its Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Matson builds upon Hawaii’s tourism market. During this year, Matson initiates the custom of having passengers throw their leis into the Pacific, as a vessel steams by Diamond Head, signifying as the lei floated away that the passenger would one day return. By 1929, with the success of the Malolo and the Royal Hawaiian, annual tourist traffic nearly triples, from 8,000 in 1921 to 22,000 in 1929.

Anything around the rim of that button might indicate a ship's name?

 

[PBK]

Interesting possibility, Charlie. I checked: it's not listed in Van Court's book on maritime transportation uniform buttons.

The garter (belt & buckle) border and number "5" seem more suggestive of a militia regiment or municipal company number (fire, police).

BK, can you read any of the lettering on the border?

 

[Montana Jim]

There is a buckle & belt here...

Damn PBK... great minds... I'm posting anyway!

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Is there a chance that that's a "G" instead of a "C"?

Minnesota National Guard?

 

[Montana Jim]

Is there a chance that that's a "G" instead of a "C"?

Minnesota National Guard?

I think we just identified a Minnesota National Guard hat pin... maybe they had buttons too... but, I really think it's a "C".

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

The back's got an opening. Give me two minutes with a hammer and a 1/16" drift punch and it will be a "G".

 

[Montana Jim]

The back's got an opening. Give me two minutes with a hammer and a 1/16" drift punch and it will be a "G".

Gimme one second with a hammer and I'll make it an unidentiyable flat button!

 

[bk]

The back's got an opening. Give me two minutes with a hammer and a 1/16" drift punch and it will be a "G".

That opening wasn't there until I tried to wipe off the dirt. Oops!
Some very interesting thoughts and suggestions. I'll just sit back and see what else turns up.

Thanks everyone!

 

[PBK]

Got it! Militia/guard regiment, all right.

Maryland National Guard, 5th Regiment.

Listed in Albert's book as #MD 18

 

[Montana Jim]

Got it! Militia/guard regiment, all right.

Maryland National Guard, 5th Regiment.

Listed in Albert's book as #MD 18

WTG PBK

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

See. Told you it was a "G".

You rock, PBK!

 

[Montana Jim]

See. Told you it was a "G".

You rock, PBK!

Yes... you sure did! I still don't see it... but...

Nice Charlie...

Hey, here is a pic of a hat plate from that outfit, nitice the "belt" motif around the #5.

http://www.civilwarpreservations.com/catdet.asp?TargetItem=CHR322&CategoryType=HartPlates

 

[PBK]

You rock, PBK!

Well, maybe a little... back in the day. 8)

Thanks, Charlie! I say we split the bag of doughnuts on this one— unless Jim wants to spring for a couple more!

 

[Montana Jim]

You rock, PBK!

Well, maybe a little... back in the day. 8)

Thanks, Charlie! I say we split the bag of doughnuts on this one— unless Jim wants to spring for a couple more!

I don't owe you doughnuts... But I'd sure buy you guys doughnuts...