button backmark

[taz42o]

Could anyone tell me the end date Waterbury used the backmark (W.B. CO.) ?

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

A History of Mining on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska - Grab it through Amazon!

[DoranHashemi]

Need a pic. Are you shortening Waterbury or does it actually say w.b. if it says Waterbury co then its 1849 to 1965

 

[taz42o]

It reads exactly W.B. CO.

 

[DoranHashemi]

Can you post a pic by a coin? Could be a coat button from 1850 to 1880

 

[taz42o]

No i can not post a pic.
no its not 1800s, its 1919 or newer, I know that because its patented 1919.
I only want to know the last year waterbury used the backmark, W.B.CO.

 

[DoranHashemi]

Ahhhh totally misunderstood. But I can't seem to find that backmark.

 

[Bryanhashemi]

just curious....is it an american legion button?

 

[Bryanhashemi]

i think it would be 1919 to 1949

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

No i can not post a pic.
no its not 1800s, its 1919 or newer, I know that because its patented 1919.
I only want to know the last year waterbury used the backmark, W.B.CO.

.

What do you mean its patented 1919? You need to tell us exactly what the backmark says. If you cant post a pic, tell me exactly what the complete backmark says. Thanks.

Patents were only good for 20 years but I always thought W.B.Co was a more modern mark but this may show otherwise. Its tough without a pic taz.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Can you post a pic by a coin? Could be a coat button from 1850 to 1880

i think it would be 1919 to 1949 (posted by Bryan)​

Where are you guys getting this information? I hope you are not just tossing it against the wall to see if it sticks like kuger referred to on another thread.

Please state your reference, photos and/or link please. Thanks.

 

[Bryanhashemi]

The organization was founded in 1919 by veterans returning from Europe after World War I. wiki.
heres a button

 

[Bryanhashemi]

should have put info. sorry

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

The organization was founded in 1919 by veterans returning from Europe after World War I. wiki.
heres a button

OK great work. Thanks. Patents were only good for 17 years so based on the patent, the button dateline would be 1919-1936.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

The backmark W. B. Co. may have been used for a broader time period. I dont know the last year this backmark was used. Any supporting reference you guys have will be most welcome so I can add the dateline to my Great Seal thread..

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

For BCH, and any other readers who are interested:
According to the "History" section at the Waterbury Button Company website, that company changed its name to Waterbury Companies (note that it is plural) during World War Two. Thus, the longtime "Co." abbreviation in the backmark became Co's.

I did some additional research to find the exact year, which IF I'm recalling correctly turned out to be 1943. Unfortunately I don't remember where I found that info, so to be sure about the 1943 date you'll need to doublecheck my foggy memory of it. I do feel certain that if you went with 1944 you'd be within one year of the correct date of the name-change to "Companies" and the emergence of the Co's backmark.

Edit: Here are a photos showing two variations of the Waterbury "Companies" backmark. One has "Companies" spelled out, and the other has the abbreviation Co's. Note the "INC" for Incorporated. Also, I've seen a third variation, which says simply Waterbury Co's Conn" (without the "Inc.").

 

[taz42o]

Thanks everyone for the help.
Yes it was an American legion button That got me wondering when Waterbury last used W.B. CO. back marks and I could not find any more information than what TheCannonballGuy posted about the company changing to Waterbury companies inc. so I thought the last year must have been about 43-44.

Bigcypresshunter , could they renew those patents? Or if they renew it will the patent date change on the new buttons?

It shows a couple American legion buttons here about half way down the page One with the W.B.CO. mark but doesnt list the W.B.CO mark in their list of backmarks?

Patents from the USA

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Thanks everyone for the help.
Yes it was an American legion button That got me wondering when Waterbury last used W.B. CO. back marks and I could not find any more information than what TheCannonballGuy posted about the company changing to Waterbury companies inc. so I thought the last year must have been about 43-44.

Bigcypresshunter , could they renew those patents? Or if they renew it will the patent date change on the new buttons?

It shows a couple American legion buttons here about half way down the page One with the W.B.CO. mark but doesnt list the W.B.CO mark in their list of backmarks?

Patents from the USA

I think if the patent is renewed, a new date would be stamped. Here it is renewed in 1935 on a rare Great Seal button backmark turtlefoot gave me for my collection. http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/w...utton-wrong-backmark-war-effort-marriage.html

Im guessing that maybe W B Co was used because there was no room to spell it out but this is just a wild guess and I havent researched it. I like the patent link taz.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

For BCH, and any other readers who are interested:
According to the "History" section at the Waterbury Button Company website, that company changed its name to Waterbury Companies (note that it is plural) during World War Two. Thus, the longtime "Co." abbreviation in the backmark became Co's.

I did some additional research to find the exact year, which IF I'm recalling correctly turned out to be 1943. Unfortunately I don't remember where I found that info, so to be sure about the 1943 date you'll need to doublecheck my foggy memory of it. I do feel certain that if you went with 1944 you'd be within one year of the correct date of the name-change to "Companies" and the emergence of the Co's backmark.

Edit: Here are a photos showing two variations of the Waterbury "Companies" backmark. One has "Companies" spelled out, and the other has the abbreviation Co's. Note the "INC" for Incorporated. Also, I've seen a third variation, which says simply Waterbury Co's Conn" (without the "Inc.").

Thanks Pete. Ill have to update my Great Seal backmark thread datelines with this Waterbury company information.

I could also add the pics if they are Great Seal buttons.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Since we now know the patent was renewed in '35, I think that makes the button dateline as manufactured between 1919-1935. It was renewed before expiration.

 

[taz42o]

OK thanks BigC, That would date the American legion button .

You can find civil war era buttons with W.B.CO marks so Its not just a modern mark. Unless theres a variation between old and newer W.B.CO. marks . I guess the variation would be the rest of the backmark such as (W.B.Co. waterbury) on old buttons versus the W.B.CO. with patent date or number on newer buttons.
Kinda confusing.

So I guess the answer to my original question of last use of W.B.CO.(on any button ) would still be about 43-44.