Who is this Man? Is it a Political Button?

[Bigcypresshunter]

This is a long shot but maybe someone will recognize this mans picture. It looks like the old photographs that are brown and yellowing. Could this be a political button? Its exactly 1 inch diameter. I found it in a dump pile of personal belongings back in the 80's. What is it and who is it?

 

[Montana Jim]

Re: Who is this Man on the Button?

Found in Florida I presume?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Who is this Man on the Button?

Found in Florida I presume?

I used to love searching the dump. I made some unbelievable finds but unfortunately sold most of the good stuff. It would seem that when someone died, the family would dump all the belongings, often the entire dresser with contents still in the drawers. I would pick through and keep anything I thought was interesting or had value. This was found in a Miami Lakes dump but almost every South Florida resident in the 80's was from "up north". I used to find a lot of WWII era stuff.

 

[nebstater]

Re: Who is this Man on the Button?

I have absolutely no idea who your guy is. It could be political, but I really doubt it. It used to be fairly common for people to have their pictures taken and then put on buttons. They then would give them to other family members, or sweet hearts, etc. I've collected politicals for over 35 years, and have a cigar box almost full of unknown photo and no words pins. Hope you luck out and are able to identify your unknown, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

 

[Atticus Finch]

Re: Who is this Man on the Button?

I used to love searching the dump (BIGCYPRESHUNTER)


And your mother always asked "Why can't you keep a girlfriend.."

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Who is this Man on the Button?

I have absolutely no idea who your guy is. It could be political, but I really doubt it. It used to be fairly common for people to have their pictures taken and then put on buttons. They then would give them to other family members, or sweet hearts, etc. I've collected politicals for over 35 years, and have a cigar box almost full of unknown photo and no words pins. Hope you luck out and are able to identify your unknown, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

OK thanks. I was afraid of this. Can you put an approximate date on it?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Who is this Man on the Button?

I used to love searching the dump (BIGCYPRESHUNTER)


And your mother always asked "Why can't you keep a girlfriend.."

You wouldnt believe the finds I made including gold and silver. Entire collections often went to the dump. There used to be neighborhood areas that were like a trash transfer area where the neighborhood would dump household goods and it would be collected later. They still have them but now they dump into containers and the area is fenced off. It is a lot harder to search trash dumpsters and they also contain undesirables, like food, that wasnt allowed to be dumped in the older transfer areas. I found more antiques and relics in dumps than I ever will metal detecting.

 

[nebstater]

Re: Who is this Man on the Button?

I have absolutely no idea who your guy is. It could be political, but I really doubt it. It used to be fairly common for people to have their pictures taken and then put on buttons. They then would give them to other family members, or sweet hearts, etc. I've collected politicals for over 35 years, and have a cigar box almost full of unknown photo and no words pins. Hope you luck out and are able to identify your unknown, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

OK thanks. I was afraid of this. Can you put an approximate date on it?

Most of the ones that I have, date between 1900 and 1920. The first celluloid buttons (pins with a paper picture or writing under celluloid) didn't come into great use until 1896. The process wasn't discovered until about 1894. In political collecting, the period 1896 to about 1920 is called the "Golden Age" for them, as they came out in many different sizes, and the color graphics on them were just outstanding.

 

[IronSpike]

Re: Who is this Man on the Button?

Here is a link with some early examples of photo pins.

http://www.morninggloryantiques.com/collectVictPhoto.html

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Who is this Man on the Button?

Here is a link with some early examples of photo pins.

http://www.morninggloryantiques.com/collectVictPhoto.html

Nice link. Thats what it is, a button photo pin. I dont think its political. Thanks a bunch. I think this is as solved as its gonna get. Too bad the family tossed it away.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Who is this Man on the Button?

Mine has the same back as one called Victorian but is missing the writing and paper.

 

[72cheyenne]

Re: Who is this Man on the Button?

BCH, I gotta ask, and I'm sure in a post long, long ago you explained it....but where in the heck did you come across that clipped mercury dime? Its so unusual.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Who is this Man on the Button?

BCH, I gotta ask, and I'm sure in a post long, long ago you explained it....but where in the heck did you come across that clipped mercury dime? Its so unusual.

Found it in the dump I think. My guess is that someone clipped off a piece of silver to solder repair a piece of jewelry. Just my guess.

 

[72cheyenne]

Re: Who is this Man on the Button?

BCH, I gotta ask, and I'm sure in a post long, long ago you explained it....but where in the heck did you come across that clipped mercury dime? Its so unusual.

found it in the dump.

Figures

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Who is this Man on the Button?

You would not believe the items I found in the bottom of boxes or in dresser drawers tossed in the trash back when I did this type of treasure hunting.

 

[TimC]

Re: Who is this Man on the Button?

Florida dumps must be surface things. I think I heard somewhere that the water table is only about ten feet down. Up here in Wi, and most other places, bulldose a large hole and start filling it with garbage. Then cover it with dirt. Sometimes they burn the contents to reduce the bulk before covering.

One time while I was talking to the dump guy, after they started burning, a jar in the pile exploded from steam build up. A piece of the hot glass whipped past the guys neck and caught the collar of his coat and dropped in. I don't know the tune he was dancing to, but his legs were hopping to something between an Irish Jig and a Polka.

The point is BE CAREFUL, even dumps should be explored with caution.

TimC

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Who is this Man on the Button?

Yes surface dumps. The water table here is about 2 feet down. Before the swamps were drained it was higher. I actually only searched the neighborhood transfer stations. Mostly household items, clothes, furniture and appliances. Everything was picked up from there and taken to the larger county dumps where they create huge mountains of trash. Yes these dumps are extremely dangerous and unsanitary. Thousands of years from now these mountains of trash may be preserved.

When I was a kid they would mine the coral rock creating a manmade lake. Then they would charge people to dump until the lake was full, put a layer of dirt on top and build over it. Now they just build lakefront homes and make huge mountains of trash elsewhere.

 

[juju]

Re: Who is this Man on the Button?

Thats me before I started smoking, and hanging out with the wrong crowd.

JuJu

 

[wildheart]

Looks kinda similar to this young man, no?

The celluloid collar definitely places it in Victorian era, likely 1900-1920.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Looks kinda similar to this young man, no?

The celluloid collar definitely places it in Victorian era, likely 1900-1920.

Maybe thanks. I notice the tie is different. Does that mean anything?