Flat Button Help

[RPG]

I'd like a little help with this flat button. I've done a little research and the only thing I can find is that David Hayden, a button maker from Massachusetts joined with the original founders of Scovill Manufacturing Co. in 1808 (at that time known as Abel Porter & Co.). This button was found at a site that has given up relics that date to the 1950's. Could this button be that old?

Thanks for any and all help.
Randy

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Cry Of The Eagle: History And Legends Of The Cherokee Indians And Their Buried Treasure - Grab it through Amazon!

[RPG]

Bump.

Any ideas?

 

[RiverRat3]

Buckle Boy will probably be able to answer your post. If he doesnt reply I would send him a link.

 

[RPG]

Buckle Boy will probably be able to answer your post. If he doesnt reply I would send him a link.

Thanks RiverRat3. I don't know if anyone can date this one. I've been searching the net to no end and have yet to find Haydens & Co. anywhere. Probably a lot of small time button makers out there in the early years that didn't get a lot of recognition. Problem is, David Hayden was a popular button maker in Mass. but I can't find any record of his buttons.

 

[Bramblefind]

A company called "Holmes Booth & Haydens" comes up in the Boston and Waterbury directories - I have found them listed in the Button section.

Found this-

but I'll look some more later on if no one figures it out.

http://www.thelampworks.com/lw_companies_hb&h.htm

Holmes, Booth & Haydens began in 1853 with the partnership of Hiram W. Hayden, Israel Holmes and John C. Booth in Waterbury, Connecticut. The firm was incorporated on February 2, 1853. Henry H. and James A. Hayden were also associated with the firm, hence the plural Haydens in the company name. Holmes was in charge of the rolling mill; H.W. Hayden was in charge of the manufacturing; and H.H. Hayden was in charge of marketing.

The company was engaged in casting, rolling and drawing brass and copper. They were the first to make planished copper-silver plates for daguerreotyping. They were a major "player" in the manufacture of lamps, burners and trimmings. They made brass and copper wire for electrical use. HB&H were among the largest producers of brass, German silver, sheet copper, wire jack chain and tubing. In 1880, they suffered two catastrophic losses as a result of fire: the spoon factory in February, and the rolling mill and lamp factory in October. Both plants were replaced immediately with larger capacity facilities. Holmes, Booth & Haydens operated independently until October 17, 1901, when it became part of the American Brass Company.1

Thumb Wheel Detail
Holmes, Booth & Haydens
thumb wheel detail.
Israel Holmes started with the Scovills in 1820. A consummate entrepreneur, he started more new enterprises in the working of brass than any other individual. Around 1826 he and seven other individuals formed the firm of Holmes and Hotchkiss to begin the manufacture of sheet metal and wire. Holmes and Hotchkiss became Brown & Elton in 1838. Brown & Elton was dissolved in 1856, with half of the business being purchased by Holmes, Booth & Haydens.2 Holmes had earlier sold his interest in 1834, and partnered with Israel Coe, Anson G. Phelps and John Hungerford to establish Wolcottville Brass Company in Wolcottville, Conn., now Torrington. He was president of Waterbury Brass in 1845. He severed his association from Waterbury Brass in 1853 and subsequently formed the firm of Holmes, Booth and Haydens, principally to cut into Scovill's profits from the daguerreotype business. Holmes left the firm in 1869 to form Holmes, Booth and Atwood, later named Plume & Atwood. He died in 1874.3
Early Lip Burner
Holmes, Booth & Haydens
Patented September 16, 1862,
Lewis J. Atwood's #36,493

Hiram W. Hayden was a prolific inventor. In addition to his "thirty-some" lamp and lighting patents, Hiram Hayden's other patented inventions include a breech-loading rifle, a breech-loading cannon, a magazine rifle, patents & designs for buttons, medals, and a machine for making solid metal tubing, which he sold to manufacturing concerns in Pittsburgh.4 While employed as a machinist at Scovills & Co., he inventing a method of making brass kettles by spinning disks of sheet brass through a die in 1851 . This brass-spinning process revolutionized the kettle-making industry. He subsequently sold this patent to The Waterbury Brass Company in 1852 and they dominated the manufacture of brass kettles in the country.....

 

[RPG]

A company called "Holmes Booth & Haydens" comes up in the Boston and Waterbury directories - I have found them listed in the Button section.

Found this-

but I'll look some more later on if no one figures it out.

http://www.thelampworks.com/lw_companies_hb&h.htm

Holmes, Booth & Haydens began in 1853 with the partnership of Hiram W. Hayden, Israel Holmes and John C. Booth in Waterbury, Connecticut. The firm was incorporated on February 2, 1853. Henry H. and James A. Hayden were also associated with the firm, hence the plural Haydens in the company name. Holmes was in charge of the rolling mill; H.W. Hayden was in charge of the manufacturing; and H.H. Hayden was in charge of marketing.

The company was engaged in casting, rolling and drawing brass and copper. They were the first to make planished copper-silver plates for daguerreotyping. They were a major "player" in the manufacture of lamps, burners and trimmings. They made brass and copper wire for electrical use. HB&H were among the largest producers of brass, German silver, sheet copper, wire jack chain and tubing. In 1880, they suffered two catastrophic losses as a result of fire: the spoon factory in February, and the rolling mill and lamp factory in October. Both plants were replaced immediately with larger capacity facilities. Holmes, Booth & Haydens operated independently until October 17, 1901, when it became part of the American Brass Company.1

Thumb Wheel Detail
Holmes, Booth & Haydens
thumb wheel detail.
Israel Holmes started with the Scovills in 1820. A consummate entrepreneur, he started more new enterprises in the working of brass than any other individual. Around 1826 he and seven other individuals formed the firm of Holmes and Hotchkiss to begin the manufacture of sheet metal and wire. Holmes and Hotchkiss became Brown & Elton in 1838. Brown & Elton was dissolved in 1856, with half of the business being purchased by Holmes, Booth & Haydens.2 Holmes had earlier sold his interest in 1834, and partnered with Israel Coe, Anson G. Phelps and John Hungerford to establish Wolcottville Brass Company in Wolcottville, Conn., now Torrington. He was president of Waterbury Brass in 1845. He severed his association from Waterbury Brass in 1853 and subsequently formed the firm of Holmes, Booth and Haydens, principally to cut into Scovill's profits from the daguerreotype business. Holmes left the firm in 1869 to form Holmes, Booth and Atwood, later named Plume & Atwood. He died in 1874.3
Early Lip Burner
Holmes, Booth & Haydens
Patented September 16, 1862,
Lewis J. Atwood's #36,493

Hiram W. Hayden was a prolific inventor. In addition to his "thirty-some" lamp and lighting patents, Hiram Hayden's other patented inventions include a breech-loading rifle, a breech-loading cannon, a magazine rifle, patents & designs for buttons, medals, and a machine for making solid metal tubing, which he sold to manufacturing concerns in Pittsburgh.4 While employed as a machinist at Scovills & Co., he inventing a method of making brass kettles by spinning disks of sheet brass through a die in 1851 . This brass-spinning process revolutionized the kettle-making industry. He subsequently sold this patent to The Waterbury Brass Company in 1852 and they dominated the manufacture of brass kettles in the country.....

Thanks Bramblefind. I too found the same site but nothing about my backmark. Isn't it crazy how a lot of the companies that did brass works ended up joining the Scovills Co.

 

[Bramblefind]

This might be something -

 

[RPG]

This might be something -

Wow Bramblefind. That surely is something. That gives me something to search for. I would love to know what years they were in operation.

Thanks.

 

[Bramblefind]

Here's a little something about that-

 

[vayank54]

I can find no date for Hayden by himself other than the 1840's. There was Leavenworth, Hayden & Scovill from 1811 to 1827 and Kendricks & Hayden about 1825 to 1840. Hayden & Gregg from Charleston SC 1838 to 1843. Evidently there were several Hayden's who were related who were jewelers, sold buttons and sold military goods. I would date your button no later than the 1840's but personally think it is earlier than that more like 1820's

 

[Bramblefind]

Another reference -which might support Vayank's post.

From:
Headline: Cattle Show and Fair; Article Type: News/Opinion
Paper: American Mercury; Date: 10-17-1826; Volume: XLIII; Issue: 2207; Page: [2]; Location: Hartford, Connecticut

 

[RPG]

Another reference -which might support Vayank's post.

From:
Headline: Cattle Show and Fair; Article Type: News/Opinion
Paper: American Mercury; Date: 10-17-1826; Volume: XLIII; Issue: 2207; Page: [2]; Location: Hartford, Connecticut

Thanks for the great research Bramblefind. I think this one needs a green check.

 

[Daniel S.]

Hi guys i'm new here. I was directed here because I found a button like this in the field behind my house here in upstate NY

 

[coinman123]

Your button looks to be 1810's-1830's, my guess is that the buttons that they were producing in the 1850's were newer two piece buttons.