Great Seal Button Backmarks Help

[Bigcypresshunter]

I am assembling a list of US Army Great Seal button backmarks 1902-present.. This seems to be the most complete list available anywhere. With the help of TN members, I am occasionally adding and improving upon it. So far I have over 100 different backmarks. Anyone with a Great Seal button backmark or backmark variation not listed please post the pic and Ill add it. The thread is already so long its not necessary to add anything already pictured. Thanks.

This is how it all started:


I bought 2 bags of small Great Seal of US buttons for a buck at a flea market. Can someone help me date these backmarks? I believe they are all post 1902. I cant find anything else online.

1- Top row SCOVILL MF'G CO WATERBURY (back ungilted)
2- SCOVILL MF'G CO WATERBURY
3- Bottom CITY BUTTON WORKS - N.Y.
4- WATERBURY BUTTON CO.

 

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[Bigcypresshunter]

I suspect this was answered somewhere in this thread. I found a great seal button with no back mark. What does this mean?

Sorry I had no time lately to reply. It means we will have a hard time dating it lol. It may be military issue or it may be not.

Post a pic front and back.

 

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[Bigcypresshunter]

Unusual FRANK BROS / SAN ANTONIO TEXAS one piece buttons.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Pictures compliments of Indian Steve. RIDABOCK & CO. / NEW YORK 1902-1910. not on list

 

[rockermike17368]

Looking to purchase particular Great Seal Buttons. You can contact me at emt44210@aol.com.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Looking to purchase particular Great Seal Buttons. You can contact me at emt44210@aol.com.

Hello Mike. I dont believe I have any doubles on that list.
Do you have a DENVER UNIFORM CO / DENVER, COLO?
I just picked one up from Denver. I believe they were made only in 1907-1908.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

I'm sending you a PM about an Ebay auction which may be of interest to you.

 

[rayscott]

Found another backmark on a Great Seal button I dug up in an old coast artillery fort burn pit. The company still exists as the Irvin Hahn Co. in Baltimore. They still make badges and insignia.

1- SCOVILL MF'G CO WATERBURY (back ungilted) WWI (1850-1865 backmark)
2- SCOVILL MF'G CO WATERBURY WWI (1850-1865 backmark)
3- SCOVILL MF'G CO. * WATERBURY * 1902-1918 (1870s-? backmark)
4- SCOVILL MF'G CO. WATERBURY CT. WWI (1870s-? backmark)
5- SCOVILL M'FG CO. WATERBURY (ring of dots) 1902 (1860-1880 backmark)
6- WATERBURY BUTTON CO. * 1849-1965
7- WATERBURY BUTTON CO. *CONN.* pre 1965
8- WATERBURY COS INC CONN post 1965
9- W W W W (waterbury) modern
10- W.B. CO.
11- CITY BUTTON WORKS - N.Y.- WWI (Erlanger & Liebmann),
12- CITY BUTTON WORKS- NEW YORK- 1877-1923
13- US PRODUCTS CORP
14- R. LIEBMANN MFG CO WWI
15 R. LIEBMANN MFG. CO.-NEWARK NJ- WWI-?
16- R.L. MFG Co Newark N.J. WWI-?
17- THE AUSTIN CO. PROVIDENCE R.I.
18- HORSTMANN *** PHILA *** 1893-1935
19- ARNSTEIN SIMON & CO. * S.F. * WWI
20- N.S. MEYERS * NEW YORK * 1906-2000 (in business in NY)
21- AMERICAN BUTTON CO. *NEWARK N.J.* 1901-1920
22- AM. BUTTON CO *NEWARK, N.J.* 1902-1917
23- AMERICAN EMBLEM CO. UTICA N.Y. WWI
24- UNIQUE ART MFG CO. NEWARK, N. J.
25- THE ART METAL WORKS, NEWARK, N.J.
26- ART METAL WORKS INC -NEWARK, N.J.- 1900-1930 approx.
27- METAL SPECIALTIES Co. ATTLESBURG, MASS. 1940-1945 (painted black)
28- CHAS. FISCHER SPG. CO. NEW YORK WWII?
29- * SUPERIOR QUALITY *
30- GREENWOOD CO * DETROIT MICH *
31- COL BUT WKS RUTHERFORD N.J. WWI
32- COLUMBIA BUTTON WKS*RUTHERFORD,N.J.* WWI
33- NEW YORK BUTTON WORKS WWI (found in France)
34- S & J WATERBURY CT. WWI (found in France)
35- STEELE & JOHNSON * WATERBURY CT * WWI (found in France)
36- JEWELERS PRODUCTS CORP. PROV. R.I. WWI (found in France)
37- SUPREME 172 QUALITY
38- REX PRODUCTS CORP * NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. * 1902-WWII
39- D. EVANS & CO. * NO. ATTLEBORO, MASS. 1848-1945
40- D. EVANS & CO. N.A. WWI (found in France)
41- D. EVANS & CO ATTLEBORO FALLS WWI
42- * SUPERIOR QUALITY *
43- MADE IN ENGLAND (anodized aluminum front)
44- S. EISENER CO. RED BANK N.J. WWI (in business1859-1925)
45- SIGMUND EISNER RED BANK N.J WWI " " " "
46- Art in Buttons U S U. S. A. (vegetable ivory)
47- ? N.Y. (pressed vegetable ivory) war years
48- C KENYON CO. NEW YORK WWI- 1930
49- BROOKS.BROTHERS *NEW YORK* ENGLAND 1902-1910.
50- L.A. MYERS. JR. INC. NEWARK N.J.
51- H.V. ALLIEN & CO. NEW YORK
52- DUSENBURY & SCHWAB INC. NEW YORK 229 4TH AVE.
53- LUXENBERG NEW YORK MADE IN ENGLAND
54- ROSENFIELD & RAPKIN * BOSTON, MASS.
55- WARNOCK UNIFORM CO *NEW YORK* (made from horn)
56- G J & F PARIS
57- H W I SCHWAB INC NEW YORK
58- THE J.E. MERGOTT CO. NEWARK, N. J.
59- JAMES C. DORAN & SONS PROVIDENCE R.I.
60- CORD 22
61- TIFFANY & CO. MAKERS ** M ** (14K gold blazer) 1907-1947
62- JACOB REED'S SONS * PHILA. * in business 1880-1983
63- A M & Co. 23 M PARIS
64- S.N. MEYER WASHINGTON D.C. in business 1890-1925
65- BADGER MFG. CO. RACINE, WI.
66 - J.H.F. HAHN * BALTIMORE
Another backmark for the list. This appears to be the best list you will find online for Great Seal button backmarks. Many still to add. http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.p...topicseen.html

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Found another backmark on a Great Seal button I dug up in an old coast artillery fort burn.
J.H.F. HAHN * BALTIMORE

Thats a good one. I need to update to one complete list.

 

[rayscott]

Another one for the list. THE STRATTON CO. NEW YORK (and in smaller font inside the ring it says Made in England). The collection pictured earlier in the thread includes a Stratton button but I don't think the name has found it's way to the master list yet.

 

[rayscott]

Found some Great Seal buttons that have had new faces pressed on. In the pic, you can see the original front of the buttons under the broken refacing. Does anyone know which companies did this? Did the soldiers send their old buttons in to have it done or did the button company just sell them as refurbished?

 

[DoranHashemi]

Horstmann made military buttons after 1902 also

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Another one for the list. THE STRATTON CO. NEW YORK (and in smaller font inside the ring it says Made in England). The collection pictured earlier in the thread includes a Stratton button but I don't think the name has found it's way to the master list yet.View attachment 762972

Its not on my list but its on the list above on reply #243. Its a good one.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Found some Great Seal buttons that have had new faces pressed on. In the pic, you can see the original front of the buttons under the broken refacing. Does anyone know which companies did this? Did the soldiers send their old buttons in to have it done or did the button company just sell them as refurbished?View attachment 763449

I have never heard of refurbished buttons. Would like to hear more about this. What do the backs look like? What company?

 

[rayscott]

Refurbished Great Seal Buttons

I have never heard of refurbished buttons. Would like to hear more about this. What do the backs look like? What company?

On the back you can see two circular lines around the edge where the facings have been pressed on. Backmarks vary... including Scoville, RL Mfg, Gaunt, D. Evans.
I've removed the refacing from about 10 buttons. The original faces underneath are invariably worn.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

On the back you can see two circular lines around the edge where the facings have been pressed on. Backmarks vary... including Scoville, RL Mfg, Gaunt, D. Evans.
I've removed the refacing from about 10 buttons. The original faces underneath are invariably worn.

Thats interesting. Maybe you could determine the dateline from the backmarks. Im not an expert on Great Seal buttons and I could not find anything on a google search.

I do however recall seeing these types sold on eBay from Latvia I think. I thought someone was fraudulantly changing the faces.

Where did you say you found these?

 

[rayscott]

Found them in the burn pit at an old artillery fort. The fort closed in 1940. I'm pretty sure they're from the 20's and 30's.

Thats interesting. Maybe you could determine the dateline from the backmarks. Im not an expert on Great Seal buttons and I could not find anything on a google search.

I do however recall seeing these types sold on eBay from Latvia I think. I thought someone was fraudulantly changing the faces.

Where did you say you found these?

 

[nhbenz]

Are they possibly just delaminating from being in or near the fire pit?

 

[rayscott]

I don't think so. The original face and the refacing aren't always aligned. I'll try to get some better pictures posted.

QUOTE=nhbenz;3329776]Are they possibly just delaminating from being in or near the fire pit?[/QUOTE]

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I wish I had saved the old eBay pics. I think I posted it here at TN because it was odd but its kinda hard searching thru 22.000 old posts. Maybe I posted it here.

 

[rayscott]

I could mail an example to you. My email is rfs1920@hotmail.com