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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[BobinSouthVA]

Thanks BigCY for all the hard work.

I don't have one to add but your list help me identify the one I found today as a number 14

Thanks

Bump

 

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[SgtJim]

BigCy - I sent you a PM concerning a backmark on a Great Seal button that I got today.

Doug

It may be an error but Ill add it as rare. PAT. 54296 RENEWED '35

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,354486.0.html

This is a WWII army dress uniform button commonly known as the cookie cutter style as you can see the eagle is cut out of brass then applied too the lined field.
PAT. 54296 RENEWED '35 this back mark means the purchase order or army regulation was renewed in 1935 allowing the manufacture of this button. So this button was in use during WWII.

Jim

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

BigCy - I sent you a PM concerning a backmark on a Great Seal button that I got today.

Doug

It may be an error but Ill add it as rare. PAT. 54296 RENEWED '35

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,354486.0.html

This is a WWII army dress uniform button commonly known as the cookie cutter style as you can see the eagle is cut out of brass then applied too the lined field.
PAT. 54296 RENEWED '35 this back mark means the purchase order or army regulation was renewed in 1935 allowing the manufacture of this button. So this button was in use during WWII.

Jim

thanks

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I have a tub full of GS buttons but this one caught my eye. Its a tin back. (sticks to magnet)

HANDY BUTTON MACH. CO. * NEW YORK *

 

[fyrffytr1]

BCH,
I was looking for some info about a Great Seal button you already have listed and found the dates for the Company.
It is the "Unique Art MFG. Co. Newark N.J." and it was in business from 1916 to around 1952. They were big into tin toys.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

BCH,
I was looking for some info about a Great Seal button you already have listed and found the dates for the Company.
It is the "Unique Art MFG. Co. Newark N.J." and it was in business from 1916 to around 1952. They were big into tin toys.

Thanks. I added it.

 

[Tony (NC)]

Re: Great Seal Buttons....here we go again

I came across a few more Great Seal backmarks for the list. The first one is "Horstmann Philadelphia *" with the full "Philadelphia". This is a big overcoat size button.

The second is "Handy Button Mach. Co. * Chicago *" BCH posted one from "Handy Button Mach. Co. * New York *" This one is coat size.

The last one is "Taunton Pearl Wks . Taunton ." This one is a cuff size.

Merry Christmas everybody!

 

[IronSpike]

Great thread

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Great Seal Buttons....here we go again

I came across a few more Great Seal backmarks for the list. The first one is "Horstmann Philadelphia *" with the full "Philadelphia". This is a big overcoat size button.

The second is "Handy Button Mach. Co. * Chicago *" BCH posted one from "Handy Button Mach. Co. * New York *" This one is coat size.

The last one is "Taunton Pearl Wks . Taunton ." This one is a cuff size.

Merry Christmas everybody!

Cool. Ill add them to the list when I get a chance. Ive been in the woods for almost a week.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

updated list as requested:



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 CT. WWI (1870s-? backmark)
4- SCOVILL M'FG CO. WATERBURY (ring of dots) 1902 (1860-1880 backmark)
5- SCOVILL MF'G CO. * WATERBURY * 1902-1960? (1870s-1960? 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
12- CITY BUTTON WORKS- NEW YORK- 1877-1923 (moved to NJ 1923-55)
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- HORSTMANN PHILADELPHIA. * copper face- brass back overcoat size
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. 1916-1952 approx.
25- THE ART METAL WORKS, NEWARK, N.J.
26- ART METAL WORKS INC -NEWARK, N.J.- 1902-1930 approx.
27- METAL SPECIALTIES Co. ATTLESBURG, MASS. 1940-1945 (painted black)
28- CHAS. FISCHER SPG. CO. NEW YORK WWII?
29- FINE * 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. (red back) 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 1877-1948
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 & CIE 23 M PARIS
64- B.PASQUALE CO., S. FRAN., CAL. in business 1854-1970's
65- GEMSCO, N.Y.
66- SHIELDS INC. ATTLEBORO, MASS.
67- FINE QUALITY
68- ZELL PRODUCTS CORP. N.Y.C.
69- S.N. MEYER WASHINGTON D.C. in business 1890-1925
70- BADGER MFG. CO. RACINE, WI.
71- JOHNSON * MILANO * WWI (made in Italy)
72- MARSHALL FIELD & CO. CHIC ILL
73- U.S ARMY STANDARD *
74- JACOB REEDS SONS PHIL.
75- HEIBERGER WASHINGTON
76- D. KLEIN & BRO PHILA. PA. (copper)
77- E.A. ARMSTRONG MFG. CO. CHICAGO
78- KREMENTZ LIBERTY BRONZE
79- J.R. GAUNT LONDON
80- L.&R. METAL PROD. N.Y
81- CHESHIRE BUTTON * CT. USA *
82- L & R MEDAL PROD. N.Y.
83- MAURICE BOURDON PARIS
84- * (vegetable ivory) WWII
85- WOLCOTT MF'G CO. PROVIDENCE RI. in business 1906-1922
86- PAT. 54296 RENEWED '35 rare 1935-46 manufacturers error of 1919 patent
87- ATTLEBORO
88- (blank)
89- ARNSTEIN SIMON & CO. * S.F. * WWI
90- TAUNTON PEARL WKS. TAUNTON 1912- ?
91- HANDY BUTTON MACH. CO. * CHICAGO * tin-backed
92- HANDY BUTTON MACH. CO. * NEW YORK * tin-backed
93- GOLD PLATED * * *
93- LIBERTY MFG. CO. LOS ANGELES CAL. PATENT PEND. locket button WWII



Tony, is there a dot after PHILADELPHIA before the star?

Is your HANDY MACH. CO. button also a tin back? (ferrous)


New backmarks added in red.

 

[Tony (NC)]

Here's a better shot.....

This is much clearer.....on the Horstmann Button........ and YES....the "Handy Button Mach. Co. * Chicago *" likes the magnet!

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

PHILADELPHIA. *

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

This is not my button... found it online... but I want to add it because its the coolest.

 

[Tony (NC)]

That is SO COOL!

I want one of those! Hey...BCH...here's another one I ran across....

 

[Joe Hoo?]

very informative post.... thanx for posting HH

 

[Tony (NC)]

BCH.....

Are number 29 and 42 the same? I think I'll have some more for the list soon.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: BCH.....

Are number 29 and 42 the same? I think I'll have some more for the list soon.

There are many errors. I corrected it.

With almost 8000 views, this thread is climbing higher on the list when googling the 3 key words "great, seal, button" http://www.google.com/search?q=grea...ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7GGLL_en

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Another cool Great Seal button. http://www.greatwar.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=1311047

a standard US Army tunic button that opens up to insert a photo, rather scarce personal item used by soldiers in combat since they were not allowed to carry any personal letters, photos, diaries, etc. into combat. Made(backmark) by "LIBERTY MFG. CO. LOS ANGELES CAL PATENT PEND."

 

[Tony (NC)]

This thread won't die! More for the list.....

A couple of these are just slight variations, but different none the less....More posts to follow

Rosenfield & Rapkin . Boston . Looks like 23mm

 

[Tony (NC)]

Another one

J.R. Gaunt & Son Inc. . New York . Made in England - 23mm