stupid button question....?

[prolab69]

Ok, what exactly does the word Tombac mean? is it the alloy the button was made out of? from what i understand the
stainless steel colored one is a tombac, and the other 3 are just colonial coat buttons. is this correct? or is it the small hump where the shank is? .... and what makes a tombac more desirable ? or worth?

 

[dirtlooter]

I guess nobody knows, I was hoping to find out myself

 

[Iron Patch]

Yes, it's the alloy, and the others depend on what your definition of "Colonial" is. Some people usethe term a little more loosely, and what I'm getting at is the buttons with a backmark date a little later than what is considered the Colonial period.

 

[BARKER]

Hi prolab69; Yup, it is the alloy. They are the predececors of the Pewter Buttons. The Colonists found that using Tombac was stronger and more durable than Pewter son they came into favor and Pewter faded out. Pewter was basically gone by about 1720 the Tombac took over. Tombac remained in favor until about 1770 when newer, stronger button metals came into being ok.
The button with the Honeycomb Weave Pattern on it dates from 1780 - 1810.
2 Piece Buttons came into being about 1820 and spelled the end of the one piece button design.
Tombac button value is nominal at best over other buttons unless it has a specific design on it ok. Yours is $3 - $5 ok
I hope this helps. PEACE:RONB

 

[prolab69]

so my tombac dates to about 1770? ... thats awesome. and yes your right, i did use the term colonial wrong, those others do not date back to the 1600s my mistake. thank you for the info, it puzzled me for quite some time.

 

[lookindown]

I never knew that tombac was a material, I thought it was a style of button...now I know.