✅ SOLVED Excelsior Button time frame help

[Nick79]

Hi all,
Dug this Excelsior button today. From what I saw for sale its a New York militia button.
Does any one know when this style was used?
Thanks
Nick

 

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[smokeythecat]

Due to the manufacturing style, I'd say 1830's. Nice find for sure.

 

[CivilWarFan]

1870’s-1900 button because of the shank

 

[smokeythecat]

Hmmm, I was thinking one piece, i.e. earlier than the Civil War. Wish my eyes could see the pic better.

 

[CivilWarFan]

Hmmm, I was thinking one piece, i.e. earlier than the Civil War. Wish my eyes could see the pic better.

The one piece buttons from the pre civil war period look completely different and the shank is much more pronounced. It stands alone and the buttons are either convex or flat like a coin

 

[Nick79]

1870’s-1900 button because of the shank

Great thanks!

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

That NY State Militia Officer button has a version of self-shank back that collectors call a "pierced-dome" self-shank back. To manufature it, a machine pressed an igloo-shaped dome in the thin sheetbrass back's center, which was then pierced all the way through horizontally with a steel needle to make the two holes for sewing thread to pass through. See the photos below. It was patented in the very-early 1900s, if I recall correctly.

BTW:
That button is what collectors call a "false 3-piece." It is made to look like it has an applied rim (the 3rd piece) but in actuality the front's edge is pressed flat to resemble an applied rim. It's done because the "false 3-piece" 2-piece button is much simpler -- and thus cheaper -- to manufacture than an actual applied-rim 3-piece button.

 

[Nick79]

That NY State Militia Officer button has a version of self-shank back that collectors call a "pierced-dome" self-shank back. To manufature it, a machine pressed an igloo-shaped dome in the thin sheetbrass back's center, which was then pierced all the way through horizontally with a steel needle to make the two holes for sewing thread to pass through. See the photos below. It was patented in the very-early 1900s, if I recall correctly.

BTW:
That button is what collectors call a "false 3-piece." It is made to look like it has an applied rim (the 3rd piece) but in actuality the front's edge is pressed flat to resemble an applied rim. It's done because the "false 3-piece" 2-piece button is much simpler -- and thus cheaper -- to manufacture than an actual applied-rim 3-piece button.

Thank you for the detailed clarification. I was guessing around that time frame just based on the patina from other things I found from then. Maybe 1900 to WW1?
PS I think I found a cannonball Id like you to check out!