Help with button I.D !!

[theswamplilly]

Hi everyone! Found some buttons while detecting. I was able to find info on the LH Scovill button but not much on the others…where do I begin looking? What book is best for military and non military identification of buttons? Is there a website that can give me history and dayes? Thank you!

 

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[Blackfoot58]

This chart is a good tool for helping with the age of a button. We have several knowledgeable folks who can help with manufacturing IDs, etc. I’m sure some will respond. 👍🏼

 

[vpnavy]

Hi everyone! Found some buttons while detecting. I was able to find info on the LH Scovill button but not much on the others…where do I begin looking? What book is best for military and non military identification of buttons? Is there a website that can give me history and dayes? Thank you!

1st - I noticed this was your very first post - so, Welcome Aboard! You didn't list your state (or country) in your profile. So, you might consider jumping over to Sub-Forum: Select Your Area.... for information (i.e., clubs, hunts, finds, legends, maps, etc.) directly related to your state (or country).

2nd - If no one can identify your find - you might consider posting your pictures on BUTTONS for additional exposure...

 

[Almy]

Those are nice, old buttons. There are people on this site who are much more expert on them than I am. Buttons like those were made by many manufacturers, first in England and imported to its colonies and later in North America. I'd guess yours are either English or early North American dating to the early 1800s. Birmingham, England, had a big button industry at that time. I've seen listings of the firms and some of the labels they put on their buttons on a website quite awhile ago. If you can find it, I think it would be helpful.

 

[ncsuwolf]

Tice or Albert are my “go to” for buttons, but there are others. I’ll take a crack at some of these…..

First one, with no name, is British made. It uses “u” in spelling “colour”. American is color

Second is Hammond turner and sons. UK maker

Taking a guess on the third (based on what I think I can see) that it says LH & scovill…..if so it dates 1815-1820. If that’s not what it says on the back, then disregard.

4th-Haydens & co is from Waterbury. 1820-40

No idea on last 3…..sorry

 

[fyrffytr1]

The Haydens & Co. backmark was probably used by Hiram W. Hayden, Waterbury Ct. He was a die sinker ( a person who engraves dies for striking coins, buttons etc.) for Scovill Mfg Co. c1848-1853. The rest of the backmark reads "treble gilt" which means it was dipped in gold 3 times.
The last button reads "treble.............." and the depressed lettering would date it to c1820-1840s.

 

[theswamplilly]

1st - I noticed this was your very first post - so, Welcome Aboard! You didn't list your state (or country) in your profile. So, you might consider jumping over to Sub-Forum: Select Your Area.... for information (i.e., clubs, hunts, finds, legends, maps, etc.) directly related to your state (or country).

2nd - If no one can identify your find - you might consider posting your pictures on BUTTONS for additional exposure...

Thank you! I will try that!

 

[theswamplilly]

The Haydens & Co. backmark was probably used by Hiram W. Hayden, Waterbury Ct. He was a die sinker ( a person who engraves dies for striking coins, buttons etc.) for Scovill Mfg Co. c1848-1853. The rest of the backmark reads "treble gilt" which means it was dipped in gold 3 times.
The last button reads "treble.............." and the depressed lettering would date it to c1820-1840s.

So the H in the LH Scovill Button stands for Hayden. Im wondering if Hayden & Co and LH and Scovill were making things at the same time.

 

[theswamplilly]

This chart is a good tool for helping with the age of a button. We have several knowledgeable folks who can help with manufacturing IDs, etc. I’m sure some will respond. 👍🏼View attachment 2179165

Thank you! That is helpful!

 

[theswamplilly]

1st - I noticed this was your very first post - so, Welcome Aboard! You didn't list your state (or country) in your profile. So, you might consider jumping over to Sub-Forum: Select Your Area.... for information (i.e., clubs, hunts, finds, legends, maps, etc.) directly related to your state (or country).

2nd - If no one can identify your find - you might consider posting your pictures on BUTTONS for additional exposure...

Tice or Albert are my “go to” for buttons, but there are others. I’ll take a crack at some of these…..

First one, with no name, is British made. It uses “u” in spelling “colour”. American is color

Second is Hammond turner and sons. UK maker

Taking a guess on the third (based on what I think I can see) that it says LH & scovill…..if so it dates 1815-1820. If that’s not what it says on the back, then disregard.

4th-Haydens & co is from Waterbury. 1820-40

No idea on last 3…..sorry

Thank you so much!

 

[theswamplilly]

Those are nice, old buttons. There are people on this site who are much more expert on them than I am. Buttons like those were made by many manufacturers, first in England and imported to its colonies and later in North America. I'd guess yours are either English or early North American dating to the early 1800s. Birmingham, England, had a big button industry at that time. I've seen listings of the firms and some of the labels they put on their buttons on a website quite awhile ago. If you can find it, I think it would be helpful.

Thank you!

 

[theswamplilly]

Thank you so much!

Ive heard of the Tice and Alberts books. Tice I think was for military buttons…but what exactly is the title of the Alberts books?

 

[theswamplilly]

Thank you so much!

Tice or Albert are my “go to” for buttons, but there are others. I’ll take a crack at some of these…..

First one, with no name, is British made. It uses “u” in spelling “colour”. American is color

Second is Hammond turner and sons. UK maker

Taking a guess on the third (based on what I think I can see) that it says LH & scovill…..if so it dates 1815-1820. If that’s not what it says on the back, then disregard.

4th-Haydens & co is from Waterbury. 1820-40

No idea on last 3…..sorry

Thank you! The Tice book I think is for military buttons. I’ve heard of Alberts…but is that the auther’s name or is that the part of the title?

 

[fyrffytr1]

So the H in the LH Scovill Button stands for Hayden. Im wondering if Hayden & Co and LH and Scovill were making things at the same time.

There was more than one Hayden in business at the time. The Hayden in Leavenworth, Hayden and Scovill was David. And this button predates the Hiram Hayden one.
I have to admit I am a little confused because one source "American Military Button Makers;Their Backmarks and Dates" by William F. McGuinn and Bruce Bazelon date the Haydens & Co. button from 1848-1853, but another source "Dating Buttons" by Warren K. Tice says that Hiram joined the LH and Scovill co sometime after 1827, and left in 1838 to work for Wadhams and Co. in Wolcotville, but he returned to Waterbury 3 years later to practice die sinking. THe book doesn't say that he rejoined LH and Scovill.
In 1853 he patented a process to make brass kettles.

 

[fyrffytr1]

Thank you! The Tice book I think is for military buttons. I’ve heard of Alberts…but is that the auther’s name or is that the part of the title?

The title of Albert's book is: "Record of American Uniform and Historical Buttons Bicentennial Edition" By Alphaeus H. Albert. So you can see why everyone refers to it as just Albert's. This book came out in 1976 and for a long time was considered the best. However, in recent years other references have come out that have much more information and many buttons that weren't known or included when Albert published his book.
I still use Alberts as a quick guide but amd leaning towards the other two references I mentiond earlier as they have dates for the different backmarks as well as more information on the makers.