Possible Railroad Button, Need Backmark Info!

[curbdiggercarl57]

Dug this Monday with a 1926 Merc, and a 53 Roosie.
Looks like the letters "P,C", or vice-versa.

The back-mark appears to be "C. A. BROPHY AURORA ILL

Can't seem to find it in Albert's Record of Historical Buttons, nor online.
Once again, I'm calling on all you detecting experts!
Thanks in advance,
Carl

 

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[diggummup]

I find a reference for him in the 1909 Municipal Journal and Engineer, Vol.27. He is listed as C.A.Brophy Hinsdale Ill., Uniform Buttons and Badges. This was in reference to the manufacturing of Fire Dept. supplies. I have found references for police and RR buttons too made by him. I have seen 3 different backmarks too, Aurora, Hinsdale and Chicago. I believe the button is from the Central Pacific Railroad, which used a superimposed CP on their staff buttons.

 

[Tony (NC)]

Central Pacific R.R.

Here is a link to another one. (Hope it works)That's a nice button!
http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/antique-railroad-button-1867-central-pacific-5

 

[Mackaydon]

And another similar reference regarding fire department buttons made by this company:
http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/aurora-police-dept-brass-uniform-buttons-x3+1-police

 

[curbdiggercarl57]

Thank you all. Had a feeling it was railroad related, or at least hoped.
Was looking through my list of Colorado railroad, but couldn't find anything.
One of the first good conditioned items to come out of this site, everything is burned,
partially burned, or corroded. Thanks again, and back to the site I go!
Carl

 

[PikesPeakCharlie]

Very nice Button Carl !!!!!!!!!!

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

I've found your button's very-specific ID, as well as dating info about the backmark. To help you, I searched through the book "American Military Button Makers; Their Backmarks & Dates" by William F. McGuinn and Bruce S. Bazelon. (As a button-digger, you might want to get a copy of that book.) It says:
"Charles A. Brophy, Aurora Illinois. [...] Backmark is on Chicago Park police button, and others."

That backmark dates from 1896 and a bit later.

 

[curbdiggercarl57]

I've found your button's very-specific ID, as well as dating info about the backmark. To help you, I searched through the book "American Military Button Makers; Their Backmarks & Dates" by William F. McGuinn and Bruce S. Bazelon. (As a button-digger, you might want to get a copy of that book.) It says:
"Charles A. Brophy, Aurora Illinois. [...] Backmark is on Chicago Park police button, and others."

That backmark dates from 1896 and a bit later.

Thanks, that book is now on the buy it for me Christmas list.
I have the Albert's, but that's it for button books.
Thanks again, all,
Carl