Horstmann buttons, are they civil war?

[geoluv]

The marking on the back says "HORSTMANN BROS & CO / PHIL".

It has a dot between the "h" in Horstmann and the "p" in Phil. The dot after "Phil" is lower than the dot next to the "p", more towards the edge of the button. It doesn't even look like a dot more like some tiny little marking I can't make out.

I bought them as a gift for my father so he could make cufflinks out of them, our last name is Horstmann with two "n's".

 

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[g-olden years]

I'm not knowledgeable in this area, but they are BEAUTIFUL, will make fine cufflinks. Others on this site are experts & will no doubt chime in soon. Andi

 

[Nirros]

theCannonballguy gave me some insight on these buttons in the following link http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/what/350836-button-help.html Hope this helps

 

[geoluv]

Those buttons in your link are benchmarked "phila" mine are just "phil", that's why I'm having trouble finding info on them.

 

[oldsalty19]

on ID......but nice buttons

 

[smugglersbluez]

http://www.findmall.com/read.php?63,1551064

 

[geoluv]

^ yeh that's the same info I keep running into and according to that info the button was made between 1859 and 1863 but it lists it as "phila" not "phil" and in another post I found someone said that if it doesn't have the "a" then it is post civil war, but I can't find a lick of info on any Horstmann buttons that look like this one that say "phil" without the "a" to corroborate that statement.

 

[smugglersbluez]

I found one Button a week ago mding and used that to date mine. Im sure there is a button expert on here that will eventually chime in. Good luck

 

[Thommy]

Post Civil War

 

[genlee]

I believe these are period however I think they are late war buttons, but period none the less

Button backmarks,  Horstmann Brothers, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

This site is a venerable plethora of information.

John

 

[geoluv]

^yeh I found that site too but again no perfect matches. He does say that some civil war Horstmann buttons were benchmarked "phil" though.

 

[steelheadwill]

Indeed several of Mr Ridgeways listed pre 65s use 'phil', all of which have serifs on the lettering,
your buttons do not, which is consistent with those he lists as post CW.
I have recovered a few buttons with unlisted backmarks.
Using his reference I would say that this BM is a match for yours, aside the offset period/dot.
"HorstmannB06,
Backmark: "HORSTMANN BROS. & CO / (dot) PHIL (dot) " dm large letters with no serifs between two rings of dots, manufactured after after 1880, (HorstmannB06). Note, there is a period after BROS, it is small and may be hard to see on some examples including this one."