Waterbury button for review

[jim young]

I bought this at an antique store. I just started looking for similar buttons but so far have not found any. Thought I would post here while I am researching and see if you guys have any info on this. Thanks.

 

[UCVRelics]

They are known as Patriotic buttons and were popular during and after the CW

 

[Tanglewood]

That is a beautiful patina on your button.

 

[Salterr]

I bought this at an antique store. I just started looking for similar buttons but so far have not found any. Thought I would post here while I am researching and see if you guys have any info on this. Thanks. View attachment 460674View attachment 460675

According to the military button makers and backmarks book the back mark written out as Waterbury button co. Waterbury is a post 1900 back mark. There are a ton of back marks for this company but in the formation of spelling out Waterbury button co like yours it would also need to say Conn for Connecticut to make it war time according to the book. One tiny thing to look at is the eagles face. This style of eagle with the blackened feathers near the eyes is mostly seen at the turn of the century. I refer to these eagles as more of a war eagle and it has sharper edges in its design than earlier patriotic eagles that have smoother features.

 

[jim young]

Thanks Salterr. So you put it late 19th or early 20th century

 

[bobinwmass]

Tice's button book also identifies it as a 20th century backmark, but I would think very early.

 

[UCVRelics]

I bought this at an antique store. I just started looking for similar buttons but so far have not found any. Thought I would post here while I am researching and see if you guys have any info on this. Thanks. View attachment 460674View attachment 460675

Since I can't post Tice's or Alberts books, here is a list of button makers and dates for you. Keep in mind that the Waterbury buttons had different back marks some with stars, dots, channel etc that narrow down their dates.

 

[Salterr]

Thanks Salterr. So you put it late 19th or early 20th century

I would probably venture to say early 20th century based off the book. It's not a general service button which still would have the eagle and shield similar to civil war buttons by the late 1800's.

 

[jim young]

I got an email from a Button collector and dealer who said it was a Indian War Illinois staff officer's coat button. He sent me a link to one like mine on eBay. From what I can find, I over paid a bit for it. I paid 35 and they seem to go for around 20 to 25 with shipping. Mine has just enough wear to have been there, but not so much it detracts. https://www.ebay.com/itm/304646994170

 

[Salterr]

The face die is correct for that identification but the backmark dates it. His button of mclilly is most likely from the 1880's and 90's with its high dome and is probably earlier than yours as the die is slightly different. I'd say it's a score to grab an early military button civil war or not. I like the look of the one you have more than his actually. I can shoot you a picture of what the button books say when I get home if you want. I picked up a small handful of post war state buttons on a trip to Montana once, I was very excited to see anything out there.

 

[jim young]

That would be great, my email is [email protected]

 

[Salterr]

That would be great, my email is [email protected]

It never even crossed my mind to be a staff button I'll send over the photos in a few hours

 

[Salterr]

That would be great, my email is [email protected]

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