HELP WITH BUTTON I.D. PLEASE

[-=METAL=-]

Hello guys,

Can anyone tell me anything about these buttons? I don't know anything about them so any information is welcome. Thanks in advance.

 

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[TheCannonballGuy]

The first button is a New York State Militia Officer button, used from the 1850s through 1890s. Civil war era ones had a narrow rim (like yours), and postwar ones almost always had a wider rim. If your button has a backmark, please post a closeup photo showing it, so we can time-date your button more narrowly.

I do not immediately recognize the second button. However, the lettering on it appears to say CNSS. Usually when a button's lettering includes the letters SS, it is a Steam Ship company crewman's button. As above, if it has a backmark, please post a closeup photo showing it.

 

[-=METAL=-]

Cannonball guy, you're awesome, I tried my best to get decent shots of what you asked for. Here you go, but awesome info already! First pic is the back of the militia button, hard to make out the lettering.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Thank you for the photos of the backmarks. Although they are heavily encrusted/corroded, I can see enough in the New York State Militia button's backmark to be able to tell you it says:
*&* STEELE *&* JOHNSON
That dates it to the 1850s/60s.

I cannot make out enough of the other button's backmark to tell you the name on it. In your photo, I see an indented star at 6 o'clock, the continuing clockwise, an O, and S, then a blank area, then an R (with unreadable ones in between those letters). I think I also see an N (or maybe M) to the right of the star (at approximately 5:30 on a clockface).

Since you can examine the backmark in real-life, please do your best to tell us all of the letters you can make out. Please use a dash for unreadable letters, and an underscore for a blank space.
Example:
*_ ---O-S_-_----R-----

It might say BROOKS BROTHERS * NEW YORK *

 

[Bramblefind]

It might say BROOKS BROTHERS * NEW YORK *

Super deciphering! Here's another one with that backmark.

I think the seller's correction indicates it is a Canadian National Steamship Company uniform button...?

CNRR RR Button VAN Court 89 26 2 Piece Brooks Brothers 1 20 | eBay

Canadian National Steamship Company

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Super research by Lady Bramblefind.

The Canadian National Steam Ship Company (CNSS Co.) was created by the Canadian National Railway Company, which was founded in 1918.
Canadian National Railway - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
So, the CNSS button cannot be any older than 1918.

 

[-=METAL=-]

You guys are awesome. My decipher came out as *_BROOKS-_ENOU-NS_*_----N_, lol So obviously, I can't read this thing.. Again guys, great work, so cool to find out where the buttons came from. Thank you!

 

[je177]

Was there any final confirmation on the CNSS button ID? A friend of mine just pulled one up and we are curious. Any internet links to a similar button? I've found nothing so far. Thanks!!!