GRAY GHOST
New member
hello all, i found this strange button last weekend near an old slave/ sharecropper's cabin. not far away from it was found a u.s. boxplate, although i don't know if the button itself is civil war era. an old black man used to live there in the 1920's through the 1930's, being a well known chauffeur in the petersburg, va. area for many years. i found one of his badges, so i know that much is true, and might have something to do with his line of work.
on the front of the small cuff sized button is a triangle with the capital letters " GS " inside it. it's silverplated, and the backmark is "pettibone mfg., cin. " from what little info i can gather, it's a firm in cincinnatti, ohio, that still makes buttons and uniforms to this day. i've showed it to several knowledgeable people, but to no avail. it's got us all stumped! the firm doesn't show up in tice's book, either.
whatever help i can get from ya'll would be appreciated. thanks, and hh,
on the front of the small cuff sized button is a triangle with the capital letters " GS " inside it. it's silverplated, and the backmark is "pettibone mfg., cin. " from what little info i can gather, it's a firm in cincinnatti, ohio, that still makes buttons and uniforms to this day. i've showed it to several knowledgeable people, but to no avail. it's got us all stumped! the firm doesn't show up in tice's book, either.
whatever help i can get from ya'll would be appreciated. thanks, and hh,