Interesting button

[Vermont treasure hunter]

I found this in an old dump last week. Have only been able to post till now. I am not sure what it is made of, maybe plastic but it also has this weird orange/yellow stuff on it which seems weird to me. It is not metal. It has some sort of animal on it, maybe a horse or a cow or a sheep? Maybe even a lama? I am not sure. The back mark says N.R. CO GOODYEAR?S PAT. 1851. The shank is seems to be copper. Any info on this button like what type of button it is and what animal is on the front will be very much appreciated.

 

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[pganjon]

The orange is probably rust stain that adhears to plastic in old dumps. Paul

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Your button is not plastic... it is made of Goodyear's Patent rubber-composition "Hard Rubber" -- which is why it has Goodyear's 1851 US Patent-date as the backmark. Because the Patent expires after 17 years, objects were only marked with the Patent info during the patent's lifespan. So, your button was made sometime between 1851 and 1868.

 

[villagenut]

To add to CBG comments, it was made by The Novelty Rubber Company and the Goodyear patent embossing was just a requirement of the patent holder, not that Goodyear made the button.

 

[Vermont treasure hunter]

Thanks CBG and villagenut for info on the date ad who made it. Any idea what type of button it is? A coat button, sportsmen button etc.

 

[fyrffytr1]

It has been described as a dog, doe or cow jumping through a ring, wheel, tire or hoop. My uneducated guess would be a fashion button. I found this little bit of information and hoped it would help date your button.

Marked "N.R. Co. Goodyear's P=T . 1851"


These were produced from 1852 to 1872 by the Novelty Rubber Company


There were 2 major companies producing hard rubber buttons during the period from 1852 to 1872. (Under the Goodyear 1851 patent) One being the Novelty Rubber Company the other being the India Rubber Comb Company. Examining examples from each company, it is noted that the Novelty Rubber Company was the high end market supplier, making buttons of superior quality and design. The India Rubber Comb company is better known for making lower cost, plain buttons, mostly to be used on coats. Novelty Rubber Co. closed their doors in 1886.​

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Vermont treasure hunter (the button's finder) asked:
> Any idea what type of button it is? A coat button, sportsmen button etc.

Going with Fyrffytr1's "dog or doe..." ID of the animal on your button, I'd lean to calling it a Sportsman button.

 

[gunsil]

Many items carried the patent date long after the patent expired, just because the patent expired in 1868 does not necessarily mean buttons were not marked like that later.

 

[Vermont treasure hunter]

It has been described as a dog, doe or cow jumping through a ring, wheel, tire or hoop. My uneducated guess would be a fashion button. I found this little bit of information and hoped it would help date your button.

Marked "N.R. Co. Goodyear's P=T . 1851"




These were produced from 1852 to 1872 by the Novelty Rubber Company


There were 2 major companies producing hard rubber buttons during the period from 1852 to 1872. (Under the Goodyear 1851 patent) One being the Novelty Rubber Company the other being the India Rubber Comb Company. Examining examples from each company, it is noted that the Novelty Rubber Company was the high end market supplier, making buttons of superior quality and design. The India Rubber Comb company is better known for making lower cost, plain buttons, mostly to be used on coats. Novelty Rubber Co. closed their doors in 1886.​

Thanks for the info!

 

[Vermont treasure hunter]

Vermont treasure hunter (the button's finder) asked:
> Any idea what type of button it is? A coat button, sportsmen button etc.

Going with Fyrffytr1's "dog or doe..." ID of the animal on your button, I'd lean to calling it a Sportsman button.

That’s what I was guessing, wanted to see if someone agreed with me on it.

 

[fyrffytr1]

I was going through some of my late brothers buttons and found one just like yours, albeit more worn. It has the same backmark.

 

[Vermont treasure hunter]

I was going through some of my late brothers buttons and found one just like yours, albeit more worn. It has the same backmark.

Cool! Is yours made of the same stuff as mine or some sort of metal? The color in the image looks more coppery.

 

[fyrffytr1]

Cool! Is yours made of the same stuff as mine or some sort of metal? The color in the image looks more coppery.

It is made of the same material as yours. I guess the lighting made mine look different. It has the same backmark as yours but it is worn and hard to get a picture of.