Button Question...???

[nbforrest1863]

I found a button yesterday here in Tennessee and have a question about the back marks. It is still being cleaned or I would post a pic, but, says, "VERY BEST". Then, from what I can make out, on both sides of the backmark are 2 small circles with emblems that look to be trees or plant life.?.?.? It was found with other relics and near a picket. Like I said, would post pics, but, it's in the cleaning process. My question is: What depot or mfr. put those words on their button backmarks? i'm used to the typical "extra quality, good, superior, etc.", but have never seen this wording. Any ideas from those words of years, makers, military button, etc?

Thanks and will post pic when finished cleaning.

 

[RelicDigger1]

Is this a one piece or two piece button? That can give us an idea as to the age range.

I haven't seen a "Very Best..." backmark but there were hundreds of various wordings and patterns. Is this a flat button?

Wish I could tell you more.

Richard

 

[nbforrest1863]

Thanks for responding Richard! Yes, I know for certain now it is a one piece and what we all call penny button basically. i am just stumped about the "VERY BEST" backmark wording. i've never seen this oine before. It was found here in middle Tn on what is a small virgin site (picket maybe?).
Thanks

 

[RelicDigger1]

Post up a picture when you get a chance, 63. Without referring to Bill and Bruce's backmark book, I think it was somewhere around 1796 that England put into place the "quality" chart (Best Quality, Treble Plated, etc) to ensure customers were actually getting a decent product.

Your button falls into this range (and time frame), which extended on to the 1810-1820 window. At that point, the button manufacturing had become reputable enough to actually put the maker's name on the product. Prior, the shanks/loops/eyelets were prone to a high percentage of breakage. Who'd want to put their name on a product that would incur the customer's wrath?

But, with the problem of breaking shanks becoming a thing of the past, you began to see the manufacturer's name or the vendor's name.

Point being, keeping in mind I haven't seen it, this backmark places your button in the late 1790s to 1820, and that is the maximum range. It's probably more along the 1800-1810 range, depending on the button size, construction and a couple of other things.

Sorry to bore you all with this. Some of you are thinking, "Lordy, it's just a button." But when the background of these 200-year-old relics can be understood, IMO, I feel they are very interesting pieces.

Hope this helps, bud

Richard

 

[nbforrest1863]

Wow, I never knew that much about the buttons. Thank you so much for imaprting the "boring" information to me. Definately not boring to me. I will get a pic up today or tomorow, hopefully it will be clean enough by then.

 

[RelicDigger1]

Look forward to the pic and I'm glad you could use the info. Coin/flat/penny buttons can tell a lot of about not only themselves but the site you're hunting.

Most flat buttons can withstand a heated peroxide bath, which usually take most of the loose dirt and mild encrustations away. After, it would require a coat of Vaseline or similar, though.

Richard