"Horstmann Philadelphia" Eagle Button

[asmerri]

I was able to get out for a brief hunt today after work. Went to 1885 honey hole yard where I typically make some pretty sweet finds. About an hour in, I got a solid but deep signal on the Deus. About 8" down I popped out what I could immediately tell was a shanked eagle button.

After cleaning the button I was able to read the backmark. It says "HORSTMANN PHILADELPHIA". I found some similar buttons online but no identical match. "PHILADELPHIA" is spelled out entirely and not abbreviated. "Bros" and "Co." Are also absent.

Can any of you button/Civil War experts help me with an ID and date on this piece? It would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for looking!

 

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[FreeBirdTim]

Not Civil War era. It was made from 1893 to 1935, when Horstmann went out of business.

P.S. You did a great job cleaning that button!

 

[asmerri]

Not Civil War era. It was made from 1893 to 1935, when Horstmann went out of business. P.S. You did a great job cleaning that button!

Well dang! Still a cool find for me though. Thank you for the ID and complement on my cleaning. It's not often that I get a chance dig or clean old buttons.

 

[CSA2K]

Still nice save congrats man

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Your US Army "eagle button" is the 1875-to-1902 version, According to the book "American Military Button Makers And Dealers; Their Backmarks & Dates", the Horstmann Company did not use the full name "Philadelphia" in its backmarks until 1893 (the year Horstmann Brothers & Company changed its name to the William H. Horstmann Company). So, combining those facts, your button was manufactured sometime between 1893 and 1902.

 

[treblehunter]

Very cool button!

 

[asmerri]

Your US Army "eagle button" is the 1875-to-1902 version, According to the book "American Military Button Makers And Dealers; Their Backmarks & Dates", the Horstmann Company did not use the full name "Philadelphia" in its backmarks until 1893 (the year Horstmann Brothers & Company changed its name to the William H. Horstmann Company). So, combining those facts, your button was manufactured sometime between 1893 and 1902.

Man you are good!!! Thank you very much!

 

[BuckleBoy]

Nice find! Have you ever tried aluminum jelly for gilded buttons? See my post in the cleaning and preservation section of the forum called "Cleaning Buttons," or my article by a similar title in a past issue of Western and Eastern Treasures Magazine.

Cheers,

Buck

 

[asmerri]

Nice find! Have you ever tried aluminum jelly for gilded buttons? See my post in the cleaning and preservation section of the forum called "Cleaning Buttons," or my article by a similar title in a past issue of Western and Eastern Treasures Magazine. Cheers, Buck

Thanks Buck! Just checked out you aluminum jelly method. I have a staff officers button that I think will be a perfect candidate for this. Do you fully submerge the button in jelly when swirling the crust off? Check out the button and let me know if you think I should use this method.

 

[Ahab8]

Here is one that I just found and used naval jelly on. Good luck and be careful short cleanings and neutralize with soap and water

 

[asmerri]

Here is one that I just found and used naval jelly on. Good luck and be careful short cleanings and neutralize with soap and water <img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1036988"/> <img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1036989"/>

Wow! That's a beautiful outcome. So I'm still curious, do you fully submerge the button the jelly and swirl it around? Also, what do you consider short cleanings?

 

[Ahab8]

Wow! That's a beautiful outcome. So I'm still curious, do you fully submerge the button the jelly and swirl it around? Also, what do you consider short cleanings?

I took a qtip and dunked it into the naval jelly. Then rolled it across the button for about 20 seconds. At that point I squirted a bit of dish soap on the button and ran warm water on it to neutralize the jelly which can easily eat through the gold gilt if left on too long. Every session with the jelly revealed a bit more gilt until I was happy with the results. It's a long process but be patient. Good luck. Do not submerge the button in the jelly.

 

[Ahab8]

Hey I just found this and it was written be a guy on here who has a LOT more experience that I do.