✅ SOLVED Early 19th c. Accessory?

[HI-McDunnogh]

I found this guy on a dig yesterday. By the markings "Alfred Benjamin & Co.," "New York," and "1879." I was able to determine that it is a clothing accessory from a clothier in New York (dug in VA) around the first decade of the 20th C.

Two questions... What is it, and secondly, everything I can find on this clothier indicates an early 1900's operation, would 1879 be a patent or some other kind of registration mark?

Big thanks as always!

 

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[Red-Coat]

Cool find. Looks like a waistcoat (vest) buckle, that sits at the back of the garment to help give it a neat fit. Not sure when the company was actually founded, but they're been around since at least 1887:



The '1879' may well be a patent date, but it's a pain tracking them down without a day and month. Also it may not have been filed in their name and/or they could have just been using it on license. If it is a patent date, it will probably be for a 14-year term, so could be from a garment through to about 1893.

 

[HI-McDunnogh]

Cool find. Looks like a waistcoat (vest) buckle, that sits at the back of the garment to help give it a neat fit. Not sure when the company was actually founded, but they're been around since at least 1887:

View attachment 2071058

The '1879' may well be a patent date, but it's a pain tracking them down without a day and month. Also it may not have been filed in their name and/or they could have just been using it on license. If it is a patent date, it will probably be for a 14-year term, so could be from a garment through to about 1893.

Thanks again for the help, Red-Coat!

 

[Nathan W]

Awesome find, I’m starting to find different buckles now.