Police Button?

[quicksilver]

Hi,
I was metal detecting at a college and found a brass button about .75" around with an Old English letter "P" on the front and the back contains: Waterbury Co's Inc. Conn. I included front and back photos of the button. I think this may be from the 1940's/50's, but I will welcome the opinions of the experts for this one. Let me know the possible value, age and history of this piece. Thank you.

Matt

Wisconsin

 

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[yurt_boy]

Found this site, if that's any help

http://mattatuckmuseum.org/collections/buttonmus/buttonmuseum.htm

 

[Monty]

It's a generic issue uniform police button. The started using these in the early 1960's. I've replaced a dozen of them that some jerk tore off my uniform! Early police uniform buttons will have the name of the department on them. I have an Ike jacket issued in the late 1940's that is complete with all the buttons and the early buttons are collectable. A button collector once told me tht one button was worth more than the jacket itself! JIM

 

[David@Dixie]

Re: Hi Matt

Actually, your button (front) has existed since the 1870s if not earlier. The back is what we use to determine age, and yours does look 20th century, not 19th. Most of the "P" buttons (coat and cuff size) we dig here in TN are Silver plated; have an early back mark and are found around Civil War camps or old home sites. There doesn't appear to be much of a market for them as of yet but you never know, as button collecting has many facets. Nice example, David@Dixie

 

[JakePhelps]

I have the same button! but it says "superior Quality" on the back instead. is it older or newer? Oh yea and it has silver gilt too.

 

[lonewolfe]

Nice find!

HH

Lonewolfe

 

[King Midas]

In case any one might be researching this particular button, this design is listed in the Waterbury Button Co's 1900 catalog - Military and all metal buttons : army, navy, police, fire department, school and livery .. : Waterbury Button Company (Waterbury, Conn.) : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive

 

[King Midas]

In case any one might be researching this particular button, this design is listed in the Waterbury Button Co's 1900 catalog - Military and all metal buttons : army, navy, police, fire department, school and livery .. : Waterbury Button Company (Waterbury, Conn.) : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive

 

[steelheadwill]

This same button (a gilt version) is on the 1890s police uniform coat on display in Portsmouth NH station,
they have an extensive array of historic police items in the lobby,
well worth taking a look if you happen to be in the area. (after making your bail )
I recovered a 'PP' version in the city, was likely used prior to this one, my research showed these dies were commissioned
for the Peabody Ma Police, (about 60 miles distant) and I'm thinking Portsmouth may have shared the costs or just adopted the Peabody design for a period in the 1870s. Nice Find !@!!

 

[steelheadwill]

In case any one might be researching this particular button, this design is listed in the Waterbury Button Co's 1900 catalog - Military and all metal buttons : army, navy, police, fire department, school and livery .. : Waterbury Button Company (Waterbury, Conn.) : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive

it may be #190 here on page 26,

 

[steelheadwill]

I have the same button! but it says "superior Quality" on the back instead. is it older or newer? Oh yea and it has silver gilt too.

Post your button front and back in a new topic, and we'll see

 

[Mherly34]

I found 3 button same one in great conditions..

 

[Mherly34]

I found 3 but Tom same with P also in great condition

 

[A2coins]

That's a great I'd. Nice find makes you wonder how it got there

 

[Mherly34]

Do you think it worth money? do bought an older lady's jewelry box it was included.