+++SOLVED+++ I know its a button but how old ?

[NHBandit]

+++SOLVED+++ I know it's a button but how old ?

Found a pair of these while out scouting for new places to hunt today. Fat little round buttons that seem to be made of mostly hard black rubber with a metal backing that has "Treble Plated" cast into the metal (raised up, not stamped). Doing a search on Google and on here only comes up with that marking for military buttons which these are not. Please excuse the crappy pics. I'm still learning how to take closeups with my digital camera. Thanks

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: I know it's a button but how old ?

I cant see your pics so I cant help. Treble plated is a generic term used on guilded buttons.

 

[CRUSADER]

Re: I know it's a button but how old ?

Globe or ball button, mid-19th C

 

[NHBandit]

Re: I know it's a button but how old ?

OK update. Here's another picture. I know the detail still isn't what it should be but it does give a good idea of the shape. The size is roughly the same diameter as a penny, and after using electrolisis on the worst of the 2 buttons I'm now pretty sure they are all brass, not partly hard rubber. From the weight I would guess they are hollow. Markings on the back as I said earlier are "Treble * Plated * " with the asterisk or 6 pointed star between the words as shown. I know the pictures leave alot to be desired but I'm not looking to know who's coat they fell off just a rough idea of how old they might be. Can anyone offer any constructive advice ? Thanks. PS.. Thank you Crusader. You & I must have been posting at the same time.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: I know it's a button but how old ?

LOL Do you have a Macro lens on your camera? Look for a flower icon.

I am just now realizing that I am probably looking at the back of the button.
Does it look like this? Is it a domed button?

 

[NHBandit]

Re: I know it's a button but how old ?

LOL Do you have a Macro lens on your camera? Look for a flower icon.


I am just now realizing that I am probably looking at the back of the button.
Does it look like this? Is it a domed button?

That's exactly what it looks like from the front. I was trying to get a pic of the back where the markings are. And it was so black when I first brought it home it made it appear to be made of hard rubber. One I started poking at it with sharp objects I realized it might be solid metal of some kind. After a bit of Electrolisis it appears to be brass. I did try the macro setting on the camera. The problem I'm having is that with the flash the glare makes it impossible to see anything at all. If I hold my finger over the flash window I can get a picture but the detail is lost. I'll have to mess with it some more.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: I know it's a button but how old ?

Turn the flash off and use a different light source or wait and take it outside. But I dont think the flash is the problem. It appears your camera cannot focus so close. Try backing up and crop.

It looks like a ball button or Zouave type button but I do not know anything about them. Treble Plated is a generic term.

 

[vayank54]

Re: I know it's a button but how old ?

Are you sure they are hard rubber and not brass? Treble plated is a generic term but shows that the button would have been silver plated. I've never seen a plated hard rubber button. that doesn't mean there aren't any though.

 

[NHBandit]

Re: I know it's a button but how old ?

Are you sure they are hard rubber and not brass? Treble plated is a generic term but shows that the button would have been silver plated. I've never seen a plated hard rubber button. that doesn't mean there aren't any though.

I posted already that I used a little electrolisis on it and discovered that it was solid brass. Thanks for all the help guys.

 

[Woodland Detectors]

Re: I know it's a button but how old ?

Are you sure they are hard rubber and not brass? Treble plated is a generic term but shows that the button would have been silver plated. I've never seen a plated hard rubber button. that doesn't mean there aren't any though.

I posted already that I used a little electrolisis on it and discovered that it was solid brass. Thanks for all the help guys.

"Can anyone offer any constructive advice "? I'd say you got about the best constructive advice you could get considering the guys who replied.

What is it a Zouave??

And just to let you know, The gilt process is an actual gold mix that was brushed on and baked hence,
"gilt" One brushing then baked, "double gilt" twice brushed and so on. Treble or triple same

 

[NHBandit]

Re: I know it's a button but how old ?

You guys are the best. I guess it's safe to say I'll be returning to that site and hitting it hard. Thanks again.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: I know it's a button but how old ?

Nice Zouave button pics 4H. Ill want to save that pic.

 

[CRUSADER]

Re: I know it's a button but how old ?

You guys are the best. I guess it's safe to say I'll be returning to that site and hitting it hard. Thanks again.

Don't get the wrong idea, these are very common Civilian buttons as well.

 

[CRUSADER]

Re: I know it's a button but how old ?

Are you sure they are hard rubber and not brass? Treble plated is a generic term but shows that the button would have been silver plated. I've never seen a plated hard rubber button. that doesn't mean there aren't any though.

I posted already that I used a little electrolisis on it and discovered that it was solid brass. Thanks for all the help guys.

"Can anyone offer any constructive advice "? I'd say you got about the best constructive advice you could get considering the guys who replied.

What is it a Zouave??

And just to let you know, The gilt process is an actual gold mix that was brushed on and baked hence,
"gilt" One brushing then baked, "double gilt" twice brushed and so on. Treble or triple same

You should always put a health warning on these (commonly called ball or globe not Zouave). I found over 200 last year alone & no American CW in my part of the country!

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: I know it's a button but how old ?

You guys are the best. I guess it's safe to say I'll be returning to that site and hitting it hard. Thanks again.

Don't get the wrong idea, these are very common Civilian buttons as well.

I agree. Yes of course its a civilian button as well I should have clarified. Thats why I said "ball button or Zouave type." I just now realized you already IDed it up top. Do you think it would be just as old? I think it could be. We need more info on where it was found and with what other items..

Its just like the PARIS SOLIDE belt buckles worn by the Zouaves were also worn by civilians.

 

[CRUSADER]

Re: I know it's a button but how old ?

You guys are the best. I guess it's safe to say I'll be returning to that site and hitting it hard. Thanks again.

Don't get the wrong idea, these are very common Civilian buttons as well.

I agree. Yes of course its a civilian button as well I should have clarified. Thats why I said "ball button or Zouave type." I just now realized you already IDed it up top. Do you think it would be just as old? I think it could be. We need more info on where it was found and with what other items..

Its just like the PARIS SOLIDE belt buckles worn by the Zouaves were also worn by civilians.

Exactly many of these could be late 18th century if they have an iron shank, the range on these is pretty big. Mid 19th C is a good starting point for copper-alloy shanks.

 

[NHBandit]

Re: I know it's a button but how old ?

Great info guys and I was never under the impression that I had stumbled across an unknown Civil War battlefield in New Hampshire.. Just wanted to get a rough idea of the age of these so I could decide if I had a good spot to do further hunting. The only other thing I found that day in that area was a 1970 memorial cent but there are signs of logging activity in recent years. I also found the rotted remains of a mid 50s Ford truck cab upside down in the middle of the woods. Looks like people have been going into those woods for a long time. I was actually on my way somewhere else and the road sign I passed made me turn around and have a look. "Old stagecoach road" These are the subtle little things people drive past everyday and don't even notice but when I see something like that it gets my attention. Driving down the road I found a public hiking trail that's on town owned property so I had to investigate.