Anyone familiar with buttons?

[Alaskan Distractions]

I found this button on the beach last night..I have no clue what it’s made of or how old it might be..it seems like metal or stone..but has tiny sparkles in the material..heavier than a plastic button in the same size..but not a whole lot heavier..the suds turned grey when I washed it, as well...would love to find info on it! Thanks!

 

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[creskol]

Greetings Mandy .. Welcome to the forum. Your button looks like a Goodyear Rubber Button or perhaps a Gutta-percha button.

 

[Alaskan Distractions]

Do old rubber buttons sparkle? It really doesn’t feel like a rubber button..but I’m no expert

 

[Alaskan Distractions]

It almost feels like, I’d imagine, a really dense charcoal briquette would feel like..if that makes sense lol ��

 

[fyrffytr1]

Goodyear rubber buttons were hard.

 

[smokeythecat]

I'm with them. I think a Goodyear button. Being in the ground a long time would make it feel odd and look odd for sure.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Yup, creskol nailed it... or shall I say 'rubbered' it.
The example you found was likely made by the Novelty Rubber Co.
Dave

"Hard Rubber buttons generally made between 1853 and 1872 carrying the Goodyear Patent. The vulcanization of rubber was discovered in 1839 by Charles Goodyear. Information regarding patent date start and expiration is shown a few paragraphs below. The most common back mark found on hard rubber buttons is from the Novelty Rubber Co. which usually shows as "N.R. Co." abbreviated on buttons. N.R. Co. was founded 1853, incorporated 1855 and produced until 1886. Other marks found on hard rubber buttons and objects are: India Rubber Comb Co. (IRC Co.) and American Hard Rubber Co. (AHR Co.) and there may be others including "India Rubber". The "India Rubber" mark does not have the Goodyear patent information and may have been made in England or France or could be considered a "pirated" item lacking the required patent info.

Hard rubber buttons will differ from other look-alike materials because they are back marked. Some dyed, pressed horn buttons are also back marked but they should not be confused. The company names shown above will appear on hard rubber buttons and objects, horn has different marks. Collectors call any hard rubber buttons "Goodyear buttons", Charles Goodyear held the patent but did not make any buttons. A relative of Charles Goodyear did produce pewter metal buttons much earlier than rubber buttons made an appearance, his name was Amasa Goodyear. Charles Goodyear's vulcanization patent expired in 1865. However, the Goodyear hard rubber patent of May 6, 1851 (covering buttons, combs, etc.) was extended (by Nelson Goodyear) in 1865 and did not expire until May 6, 1872. After the patent expired in 1872, the largest manufacturers still put their names on items they made. Many later Novelty Rubber Co. buttons are marked with only "Novelty Rubber Co." Additionally, the India Rubber Comb Co. (IRC Co.) used their name along with "Goodyear 1851" as a trademark and their successor, The American Hard Rubber Co., filed this as an official trademark in 1906 and used it at least through 1917."

 

[Noah_D]

I didn't even know goodyear made buttons... thats a very interesting find!