Old Metal Buttons

[pike1313]

I found these buttons while metal detecting in Utah. I actually found more then 100 of these buttons.

 

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[Bigcypresshunter]

Could it be upside down? It looks like a tent or structure with people inside and a bent cross on the roof. Some kind of fraternity or reunion maybe. Or could it be a crown?

 

[allen]

welcome to TNET and the second button looks
military with the crossed cannons and cannonballs.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I just realized that the majority of your buttons are way off my screen lol.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

I am unable to locate a match for any of them in Alpheaus Albert's encyclopedic book, "Record of American Uniform and Historical Buttons." The sole exception might be the one with an anchor on it ...but we can't see all of its face in the photo.

They appear to date from the late-1800s and early-1900s. The only backmark shown appears to date from that time-period. Pike1313, we need additional back-view photos to date the other buttons.

Some appear to be "Career-uniform" buttons. If I recall correctly, the button with "CS" is a railroad-company button. Three of them show what seems to be Fireman's equipment (hook, ladder, helmet, fireman's-axe). The "cannon" on one button may be a cannon, but I have to say it is shaped more like a firehose nozzle. Some may be Fraternal. Some have a foreign (non-USA) look ...such as the one showing only a European-style number 5 on it. If I recall correctly, a late-1800s/early-1900s European army (France, I think) had 2-piece brass buttons with just a number on them.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

You have some unusual buttons with a mystery as to how they got there. What kind of area did you find them?

As TCG said, one button with ladder, hook and axe looks like fireman. I think its upside down. Looks like a hat too.
Something like this.

As TCG requested I would like to see a pic of all the backs to try and get a manufacturers name.

I can probably find the anchor button if I could see it better and the one on the bottom left I cant see.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Update:
I checked through the seven pages of antique Fireman's buttons at the Waterbury Buttons website. As I suspected, four of Pike1313's buttons are Fireman's button. Also as suspected, the "cannon" on one of them is a firehose-nozzle. For proof, note the (single) loop on the nozzle's side. No cannonbarrel had a "single" loop on its side.

The first Waterbury button photo (below) shows the helmet with crossed Fireman's axes, as shown on one of Pike1313's buttons.

The second Waterbury button photo shows the distinctive firehose-nozzle (and other unidentified object) shown on the "cannon" button.

Edit: I see BigCypressHunter posted a photo while I was typing my post. Seems we were on the same track at the same time.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

BigCypressHunter wrote:
> I can probably find the anchor button if I could see it better and the one on the bottom left I cant see.

The one on the bottom left appears to be the cuff-size version of the coat-size button at upper right in the photo, identical except for the size..

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I didnt even realize there are indeed 4 fireman buttons. Good work.
I see an anchor button on the right side.

 

[allen]

I still think the first one in the second row is a military button.
Its definetily a cannon, sword and cannon balls.

 

[DCMatt]

Update:
I checked through the seven pages of antique Fireman's buttons at the Waterbury Buttons website. As I suspected, four of Pike1313's buttons are Fireman's button. Also as suspected, the "cannon" on one of them is a firehose-nozzle. For proof, note the (single) loop on the nozzle's side. No cannonbarrel had a "single" loop on its side.

The first Waterbury button photo (below) shows the helmet with crossed Fireman's axes, as shown on one of Pike1313's buttons.

The second Waterbury button photo shows the distinctive firehose-nozzle (and other unidentified object) shown on the "cannon" button.

Edit: I see BigCypressHunter posted a photo while I was typing my post. Seems we were on the same track at the same time.

The unidentified object is one of these:

But I can't find a description for it.

DCMatt

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

The unidentified object is one of these:


But I can't find a description for it.

DCMatt

I see it in CannonballGuys last fireman button at 11 oclock.



But what are the 3 items that resemble cannonballs? They dont look like the usually stacked cannonballs but what are they?

 

[steelheadwill]

I figure I'm stating the obvious when I say the item with no description is an oillamp on a handle
Maybe a tool for starting 'backfires' or 'firebreaks' (whatever it's called when you perform a controlled burn in the fires path)
Love the Crossed broadswords button

 

[DCMatt]

I figure I'm stating the obvious when I say the item with no description is an oillamp on a handle
Maybe a tool for starting 'backfires' or 'firebreaks' (whatever it's called when you perform a controlled burn in the fires path)
Love the Crossed broadswords button

Sorry, I was in a hurry when I posted the previous pic. I should have added that the item was included in a display of antique firefighting equipment. It is described as a "parade torch". Here's another:

DCMatt

 

[DCMatt]

Here is a picture from an 1876 NYC newspaper showing parade torches:



DCMatt

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

I've now researched the unusual "style" of the fireman's helmet shown on Pike1313's crossed-axes button. I found the exact helmet at an antique-fireman-equipment website. It is a British style fireman's helmet, dating from the 1880s era. You can view a modern Reproduction of one here: http://www.comfortmarket.com/wlmgc0325.html?mr:referralID=4a48865f-ae3d-11e0-891e-001b2166c2c0

The odd part (which looks like a spear-blade) below the helmet on Pike1313's button is the helmet's chinstrap.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Sorry to have to contradict one of the previous posters ...but the swords on the Pike 1313's crossed-swords button are not Broadswords -- which are the sword-type used by the heroes in the Braveheart, Robin Hood, and King Arthur movies. The swords on the button are Roman short-swords, called "Gladius" ...which is the Latin word for sword. The term gladiator comes from gladius, referring to the type of sword they used. I'm posting this info not to be picky ...but because the distinctive type of swords on that button is relevant to identifying it.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

I've put some thought into how-&-why Firemen would use the "parade torch."

As seen in the photos, it is a lamp mounted on a swiveling base at the end of a pole. Remember, it is from the era before electric lights. Firemen often had to do their work at night, both outdoors and indoors inside a dark house or building. A fireman using his axe (or other equiment) cannot simultaneously hold a lantern. The "parade torch" allows a guy standing behind the axe-man to put light on the work-area, without getting in the axe-man's way ...particularly in a narrow hallway or staircase situation. The torch-lamp's swiveling base allows it to be used with the shaft held at any angles. It also allows the (lit) torch to be mounted on the fire-wagon, without the lamp swinging wildly while speeding over rough roads at night.

Speaking of speeding to the fire-scene... the Fireman's Trumpet (seen on the Waterbury button along the fireman's hook, ladder, and hose-nozzle) was the forerunner of the Firetruck's siren.

 

[DCMatt]

I've put some thought into how-&-why Firemen would use the "parade torch."

As seen in the photos, it is a lamp mounted on a swiveling base at the end of a pole. Remember, it is from the era before electric lights. Firemen often had to do their work at night, both outdoors and indoors inside a dark house or building. A fireman using his axe (or other equiment) cannot simultaneously hold a lantern. The "parade torch" allows a guy standing behind the axe-man to put light on the work-area, without getting in the axe-man's way ...particularly in a narrow hallway or staircase situation. The torch-lamp's swiveling base allows it to be used with the shaft held at any angles. It also allows the (lit) torch to be mounted on the fire-wagon, without the lamp swinging wildly while speeding over rough roads at night.

Speaking of speeding to the fire-scene... the Fireman's Trumpet (seen on the Waterbury button along the fireman's hook, ladder, and hose-nozzle) was the forerunner of the Firetruck's siren.

Check out Currier and Ives print " The Night Alarm ". The guy leading the way for the fire wagon is carrying a parade torch.

DCMatt

 

[pike1313]

Okay so most of the backs on the buttons are extremely rusty. I actually found these in a sandbox at a park in Utah.

So from the replies this is what has been figure out.
Pic#1- Fraternity, Reunion or Crown? On the back of one is the word EXTRA

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Pic#2- Crossed Swords on the back letter at the top is F on the left side is K on the right side is AS and on the bottom is AS

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Pic#3- Fireman or Military with fire nossle and Parade Torch and 3 unknown balls

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Pic#4- "CS" may be a railroad company. Also on the back of the right button there is some sort of non-metal disk attached (Can't make out words on back)

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Pic#5- Two crossed "hammers." One has a pointed side other does not. (Can't make out words on back)

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Pic#6- Letter P on front? Words on back say "Superior Quality"

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Pic#7- Top- Fireman button. The helmet is 1880's style British helmet with Chin Strap (Can't make out words on back)
Bottom- Number 5 on front. Foreign? No Words on back

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Pic#8- Top- Fireman? (Can't make out words on back)
Bottom- Two crossed "hammers" similar to button in pic#5 but no surronding "plant" and more details on hammers. On the back is the letters W I E N M and a small plant

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Pic#9- Five plain Buttons. On the backs from left to right,1- EXTRA, 2-nothing,3- a small IA? followed by QUALIT(A?)Y also with a bird, 4-nothing, 5- E X T R A R

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Pic#10- is the one with the anchor. Back has design but i can't see any words

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