dating a button

[Yellow Beard]

I found this button within thirty feet of the spot that I found the 1778-1784 ish reale and the musket ball. However, I was wondering if anyone knew a general idea on how to date buttons.

 

[dirtdigginlady]

I never dated a button b4 but I did once date a man with a glass eye.

 

[hang7575]

Date it by the backmark if it has one and by the constuction and way shank is attached , just a guess would be late 1700 early 1800

 

[Yellow Beard]

Dirtdigginglady, did you one eyed boyfriend always have a eye out for you? Had to go there


Hang7575, Yea I was looking online to see if I could date it and read something about how the shank is attached to the button. I'm also guessing a date of late 1700 early 1800 because of the general are of the find and what has been found there too. thank you.

 

[Neil in West Jersey]

I would say it is post-1800 because it appears to have "feet" where the shank was soldered onto the button. This is known as an Omega shank due to its resemblance to the Greek letter omega. Older buttons lack the feet and were known as Alpha Shank buttons.

 

[etracmick]

If you have back marks here is one site that gives many manufacturers and general dates.

http://pw1.netcom.com/~jimyce/bm.html

 

[dirtdigginlady]

was that you?????

 

[Carolina Phil]

I can't remember where I got this but it might be of some use.

Good luck.

 

[Yellow Beard]

Thank you, that is a great chart.