Is this a Navy button?

[cudamark]

I know, I should have a button book to look this up, but, I don't. I don't really find that many old buttons to warrant buying one. This one is 15mm in diameter and appears to have an eagle holding an anchor. The back mark looks to be Waterbury Button Co. I don't know if it's old or new or even if it's military. Hoping a button expert will know without having to do any serious research. Thanks.

 

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[smokeythecat]

Marine Corps. Nice.

 

[cudamark]

Do you know about what year range they were used?

 

[smokeythecat]

If it does say "Waterbury Button Co." it is 1870-1890.

 

[cudamark]

Really? Great, thanks!

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Smokeythecat is almost always correct in her replies. However, in this case I have to speak up with a well-intended correction. It involves what many people would view as a very small detail. Please notice that this button's "Waterbury Button Co." backmark is written in what is called Plain-Block lettering... not the "serifed" lettering used in pre-1890 Waterbury backmarks. Therefore, Cudamark's US Marines button dates from sometime between 1890 and 1942, when the Waterbury Button Company changed its name to Waterbury Companies (plural), and therefore changed the backmark to say Waterbury Co's. (abbreviation of companies).

For anybody who doesn't already know:
The diagram below shows Plain-Block letters in black, with Serifs added in red to show what Serifed lettering looks like. (Credit: this educational diagram was created and posted by our esteemed What-Is-It? forum ID-helper BigCypressHunter.)

 

[cudamark]

Thanks for the correction and explanation! It actually makes a bit more sense considering where it was found.......and old, but, not extremely old dirt parking lot. This area didn't have much activity before the 1930's.