Late 1700s early 1800s flat buttons? Please help with ID not much information found

[austin_luker]

Late 1700's early 1800's flat buttons? Please help with ID not much information found

I have found these 2 flat buttons in the same area as other 1700's/1800's flat buttons but can't seem to find any information on the web even though these 2 have clear markings on them. I am going to guess they are not military but I could be wrong about that. Attached are 2 images that show the front and back of each button. Any information to point me in the right direction would be much appreciated.

Thank you!

 

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[nhbenz]

By "clear markings" do you mean you can read the one on the left? I can read "London", but not the other portion. It seems to have text on the front, which I think is more interesting than the one on the right with what seems to be a common star pattern, and I'm guessing said "Williams" originally.

 

[austin_luker]

By clear "Markings" I mean that you can read "London" on the left button and "IAM'S . PAT" on the button on the right. I see nothing on the front side of either one lol... I guess your eyes are better then mine man!

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Brass 1-piece flatbuttons with an indented-lettering backmark date from about 1810 into the early-1840s. Yours saying "London" of course means it was made in Britain. Many flatbuttons were imported into the US until the young American button-making industry became capable of mass-producing them, by the late-1820s. So, your London-marked flatbutton most probably dates from about 1810 to the late-1820s.


Your other 1-piece flatbutton:
Ones with a raised-lettering backmark date a bit earlier, starting around 1790 or perhaps a bit sooner. I agree with Nhbenz that the "IAMS" on your raised-lettering button is probably the latter part of "Williams." The webpage at the following link lists a J. Williams as a button-maker in London from 1791 to 1800.
Button Makers and their backmarks n to z - ukdfd

 

[nhbenz]

I squinted some more at the back of the one on the left, and it also includes "EXTRA FINE" I believe. Just not as boldly as London.
However, what I thought I was seeing on the fronts may well have been my imagination.

 

[austin_luker]

wow you guys/girls are pretty amazing at this!! Thank you