Tiny anchor flat button and big decorative flat button

[K1DDO1979]

Quick hunt and only got two flat buttons but they are nice ones. I've never seen a anchor button so small yet. Thanks for looking! [emoji2]

 

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[DirtStalker]

Good digs. Can't wait to see those cleaned up

 

[Hot diggity]

Very cool design! The one with the anchor is really cool too. I like old buttons! Excellent finds.

 

[Iron Patch]

The Navy is 1700s, and have seen it listed as Merchant Navy. Actually a fairly common button.

 

[K1DDO1979]

The Navy is 1700s, and have seen it listed as Merchant Navy. Actually a fairly common button.

Cool. I've just never got one that tiny. It's very small.

 

[Iron Patch]

Cool. I've just never got one that tiny. It's very small.

They are all that size, 13mm or so. No bigger ones at all, never seen even one and I have seen a lot of these and anchor buttons in general.

 

[K1DDO1979]

So it's a different type than this one I found awhile ago for example because today's one is half the size?

 

[gwdigger]

So it's a different type than this one I found awhile ago for example because today's one is half the size?
View attachment 1170479

LMAO. Awesome button there too!

 

[Iron Patch]

So it's a different type than this one I found awhile ago for example because today's one is half the size?
View attachment 1170479

As different as different can get. That's a British Royal Navy Officer button and in the early days that type was only worn by captains. It has a chain around the anchor, where the little ones have nothing.

PS: That has the potential to clean up much better. It can be very surprising how much gilt may be hiding under there. Thing is you never know until you try. No going back, but rarely would it be a worse result even if there was not much gilt.

 

[K1DDO1979]

As different as different can get. That's a British Royal Navy Officer button and in the early days that type was only worn by captains. It has a chain around the anchor, where the little ones have nothing.

PS: That has the potential to clean up much better. It can be very surprising how much gilt may be hiding under there.

Cool. That's kinda what I was thinking. Just double checking. I got to dig many buttons out of the collection and try to see what gilt is hiding under there. I prob asked before but what do you recommend for cleaning them up?

 

[texjim]

Sweet buttons.

 

[ironhorse]

You're on a decent site, perfect age for something really good to show up!
Yeah those little anchor buttons show up here and there, always a good find and I like your design button too!

 

[rodarian]

Buttons always fascinate me. Great finds!

 

[K1DDO1979]

I almost forgot that I dug this lead thing beside the buttons. Any idea what it is?

 

[K1DDO1979]

Here the decorative flat button washed up a little. Any idea of its age?

 

[ironhorse]

Here the decorative flat button washed up a little. Any idea of its age?
View attachment 1170502View attachment 1170503

Your button is 1700s, just like the anchor button
The lead piece is a fishing or net weight, we find them all the time at old fishing spots on the coast

 

[K1DDO1979]

Your button is 1700s, just like the anchor button
The lead piece is a fishing or net weight, we find them all the time at old fishing spots on the coast

Thanks. I found other lead weights around the area but this was a little different so I thought I'd ask! [emoji2]

 

[Iron Patch]

Here the decorative flat button washed up a little. Any idea of its age?
View attachment 1170502View attachment 1170503

Damn, that's a nice one.

Lemon juice soak for the big Navy. Watch the progress, and maybe give it a little brush with a toothbrush every 10 minutes or so. You'll likely get an idea within 20 minutes or so how much effort it will take. The button I showed the before and after went very fast, over 90% cleaned in that first 20 minutes, but yours appears it might be tougher... but only one way to find out. And again it's hard to say how it will turn out, but usually the worse case scenario is no gilt, but much more detail than now.

 

[pepperj]

Nice couple of early buttons, hope they'll clean up well.

 

[K1DDO1979]

Damn, that's a nice one.

Lemon juice soak for the big Navy. Watch the progress, and maybe give it a little brush with a toothbrush every 10 minutes or so. You'll likely get an idea within 20 minutes or so how much effort it will take. The button I showed the before and after went very fast, over 90% cleaned in that first 20 minutes, but yours appears it might be tougher... but only one way to find out. And again it's hard to say how it will turn out, but usually the worse case scenario is no gilt, but much more detail than now.

Thanks. A stop at the store for some lemon juice tomorrow. Does it work on all old gilt buttons? I heard things about naval jelly I think as well. You ever try that?