Ridgeway Civil War Research Center A virtual examination of artifacts of the American Civil War |
|
Civil War Buttons | |
by Harry Ridgeway |
Backmark-000-Page4 Backmarks, page 4, S to End. Research Center: Backmark-000-Page4 . Backmark summary, page 4. Backmarks S to end. Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-000-Page4.html |
Backmark-Schuckmann000 Philip Schuckmann, Charleston SC. Research indicates that this retailer or outfitter operated during the Civil War, however buttons bearing his name seem to have been produced after the Civil War mostly for cadets. Research Center: Backmark-Schuckmann000 . Reference: Tice, Dating Buttons, page 139. Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-Schuckmann000.html |
Backmark-SchurBland000 Schur & Bland, (Bernard D Schur) operated inCharleston South Carolina during the war. Not much is known about this maker. Research Center: Backmark-SchurBland000 . Reference: Tice, Dating Buttons, page 111. Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-SchurBland000.html |
Backmark-Schuyler000 Schuyler, Hartley, and Graham were partners engaged in the military goods service from 1854 to the 1880s. This firm was a retailer or outfitter, their 1864 catalog illustrated the broad range of goods available. Research Center: Backmark-Schuyler000 . Reference: Tice, Dating Buttons, page 139. Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-Schuyler000.html |
Backmark-Scovill000 Scovill was by far the most dominant of the Civil War era button manufacturers. The firm was formed in approximately 1850, as a combination of the already substantial Scovill partnerships in business preceding that date and continued until the 1970s. They changed backmark styles frequently, and we are able to generally date the buttons by these changes. Scovill also produced many custom contracts for other outfitters, supplying buttons stamped with the outfitters name, or in other cases with blank or generic stock backs. Two brothers J. M. Lamson Scovill and William Henry Scovill operated the business as a partnership from 1827 to 1840. Buttons of this period are generally marked some variation of JML Scovill .. or Scovills. The Scovill family united with outside partners to form Scovills & Co, which operated from around 1840 to 1850 (when Scovill Manufacturing was formed. Backmarks of this period generally bear some form of Scovills Co. The use of Scovill MG. dates to the early 1850s, it then evolved into Scovill MF'G sometime in the mid 1850s. Backmarks with raised mark depressed channel (rmdc) date to the 1850s, and depressed mark (dm,) backmarks after that. Dates are approximate at best, and some late 1860s marks could be transitional. Further, it is evident that Scovill did not coordinate the company name changes entirely with the names used on the backmarks. For example, names like Scovill, Scovills, and Scovill Co, were simply used as abbreviations of the name in substitution for Scovill Manufacturing Company, this to accomodate the limited space available on smaller size buttons. In addition, some smaller orders were apparently filled using backs left over as surplus from earlier runs, or old dies were reused where new dies or custom designs were not needed.Scovill produced for both the North and the South until hostilities began. It appears that they may have completed some button orders for the South for at least a short period of time after the conflict began, although the extent of that has not been determined and is subject to estimate at best. Research Center: Backmark-Scovill000 . Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-Scovill000.html |
Backmark-ShannonMiller000 Shannon & Miller, tentative attribution. Shannan & Miller operated 1866 to 1867 according to Tice. Research Center: Backmark-ShannonMiller000 . Reference: Tice, Dating Buttons, page 140. Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-ShannonMiller000.html |
Backmark-SilveredSurfaceWarranted000 Silvered Surface Warranted, generic or trademark backmark, maker is not determined. Research Center: Backmark-SilveredSurfaceWarranted000 . Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-SilveredSurfaceWarranted000.html |
Backmark-SimmonsGW000 George W Simmons & Co operated in Boston from 1830's to 1896, all buttons bearing his name were manufactured after the Civil War. Research Center: Backmark-SimmonsGW000 . Reference: Tice, Dating Buttons, page 140. Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-SimmonsGW000.html |
Backmark-SmithJS000 James S Smith & Co New York. Research Center: Backmark-SmithJS000 . Reference: Tice, Dating Buttons, page 140. Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-SmithJS000.html |
Backmark-SmithKempWright000 Smith Kemp Wright, Birmingham England. Research Center: Backmark-SmithKempWright000 . Reference: Tice, Dating Buttons, page 177, six backmarks listed, count then to correlate with this listing. Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-SmithKempWright000.html |
Backmark-SmithWH000 William H. Smith operated generally from the 1830s to around 1858. Research Center: Backmark-SmithWH000 . Reference: Tice, Dating Buttons, page 141, five backmarks listed but not numbered, so count them to correlate with this listing. Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-SmithWH000.html |
Backmark-SmithYoung000 Smith Young & Company operated in New York from approximately 1830 to around 1858. Backmarks from the partnership generally bear both names but in either order. W H Smith also sold buttons bearing his name solely. Research Center: Backmark-SmithYoung000 . Reference: Tice, Dating Buttons, page 143, (Young Smith) backmarks listed here are "Smith Young". Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-SmithYoung000.html |
Backmark-SpiesAW000 Adam W Spies immigrated from Birmingham England in the late 1820's and sold buttons in New York until about 1835. The buttons were probably made in England. Research Center: Backmark-SpiesAW000 . Reference: Tice, Dating Buttons, page 141, seven backmarks listed, count them to correlate with this list. Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-SpiesAW000.html |
Backmark-StandardColourTrebleGilt000 Standard Colour Treble Gilt, generic or trademark backmarks denoting quality, maker not determined. Research Center: Backmark-StandardColourTrebleGilt000 . Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-StandardColourTrebleGilt000.html |
Backmark-Starkey000 Josh Starkey and Samuel Starkey provided buttons to the Federal Navy, and operated in England. Research Center: Backmark-Starkey000 . Reference: Tice, Dating Buttons, page 164. Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-Starkey000.html |
Backmark-StateArsenal000 State Arsenal Pennsylvania was a custom backmark used by the Pennsylvania state arsenal after the Civil War. Research Center: Backmark-StateArsenal000 . Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-StateArsenal000.html |
Backmark-SteeleJohnson000 Steele & Johnson Manufacturing Co operated in the 1850's followed by Steele & Johnson Button Co from the late 1850's to 1875. This maker was very active, but most buttons producedby them bore the names of the outfitters or other nondescript quality denoted backmarks. Research Center: Backmark-SteeleJohnson000 . Reference: Tice, Dating Buttons, page 86, thirty five backmarks listed, count them to correlate with this listing. Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-SteeleJohnson000.html |
Backmark-StoutMortonC000 Morton C Stout & Co., operated Baltimore Maryland, late 19th century and later. Research Center: Backmark-StoutMortonC000 . Reference: Tice, Dating Buttons, page 141. Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-StoutMortonC000.html |
Backmark-StrongGilt000 Strong Gilt, was a generic or trademark backmarks denoting quality, maker not determined. Research Center: Backmark-StrongGilt000 . Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-StrongGilt000.html |
Backmark-SuperbImperialStandard000 Superb Imperial Standard, a generic or trademark backmark, maker not determined. Research Center: Backmark-SuperbImperialStandard000 . Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-SuperbImperialStandard000.html |
Backmark-SuperExtraStrongStandard000 Super Extra Strong Standard is generic or trademark backmark, maker not determined. Research Center: Backmark-SuperExtraStrongStandard000 . Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-SuperExtraStrongStandard000.html |
Backmark-SuperfineColour000 Supefine Colour is generic or trademark backmark, maker not determined. Research Center: Backmark-SuperfineColour000 . Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-SuperfineColour000.html |
Backmark-SuperfineGoldPlated000 Superfine Gold Plated, a trademark backmark. Research Center: Backmark-SuperfineGoldPlated000 . Reference: Tice, Dating Buttons, page 82, (Waterbury Button Co. Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-SuperfineGoldPlated000.html |
Backmark-SuperfineStrongLondon000 Superfine Strong London, generic or trademark, manufacturer not determined. Research Center: Backmark-SuperfineStrongLondon000 . Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-SuperfineStrongLondon000.html |
Backmark-SuperfinParis000 Superfin Paris, a generic or trademark backmark, this is believed to have been manufactured by Scovill. Research Center: Backmark-SuperfinParis000 . Reference: Tice, Dating Buttons, page 71. Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-SuperfinParis000.html |
Backmark-SuperiorPlated000 Superior Plated is generic or trademark backmark, maker not determined. Research Center: Backmark-SuperiorPlated000 . Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-SuperiorPlated000.html |
Backmark-SuperiorQuality000 Superior Quality is a generic or trade mark backmark, makers not determined. Research Center: Backmark-SuperiorQuality000 . Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-SuperiorQuality000.html |
Backmark-SuperiorQuality-English000 Superior Quality is a generic or trade mark backmark, English manufacture. Research Center: Backmark-SuperiorQuality-English000 . Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-SuperiorQuality-English000.html |
Backmark-SuperiorQuality-SteeleJohnson000 Superior Quality is a generic or trade mark backmark, this series is believed to have been manufactured by Steele & Johnson. Research Center: Backmark-SuperiorQuality-SteeleJohnson000 . Reference: Tice, Dating Buttons, page 87, (Steele & Johnson), backmarks are not numbered, Superior Quality marks are items 30 to 33, count them correlate with this listing. Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-SuperiorQuality-SteeleJohnson000.html |
Backmark-SuperiorStrongPlated000 Superior Srong Plated is generic or trademark backmark, maker not determined. Research Center: Backmark-SuperiorStrongPlated000 . Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-SuperiorStrongPlated000.html |
Backmark-TaitP000 P Tait & Company, Limerick Ireland is best known for its patented floating shank backs. Research Center: Backmark-TaitP000 . Reference: Tice, Dating Buttons, page 177. Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-TaitP000.html |
Backmark-Tiffany000 Tiffany, operated New York 1852 to present. This company is well known for artistic metal working, which included a limited offering of miltary buttons around the Civil War. Research Center: Backmark-Tiffany000 . Reference: Tice, Dating Buttons, page 142. Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-Tiffany000.html |
Backmark-TrebleGilt000 Treble Gilt, generic or trademark backmarks denoting quality, maker not determined. Research Center: Backmark-TrebleGilt000 . Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-TrebleGilt000.html |
Backmark-TrebleGiltOrange000 Treble Gilt Orange, generic or trademark backmarks denoting quality, maker not determined. Research Center: Backmark-TrebleGiltOrange000 . Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-TrebleGiltOrange000.html |
Backmark-TrebleGiltOrangeColour000 Treble Gilt Orange Colour, generic or trademark backmarks denoting quality, maker not determined. Research Center: Backmark-TrebleGiltOrangeColour000 . Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-TrebleGiltOrangeColour000.html |
Backmark-TrebleGiltRichOrange000 Treble Gilt Rich Orange, generic or trademark backmarks denoting quality, maker not determined. Research Center: Backmark-TrebleGiltRichOrange000 . Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-TrebleGiltRichOrange000.html |
Backmark-TrebleGiltStandard000 Treble Gilt Standard Colour, generic or trademark backmarks denoting quality, maker not determined. Research Center: Backmark-TrebleGiltStandard000 . Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-TrebleGiltStandard000.html |
Backmark-TrebleGiltStandardColour000 Treble Gilt Standard Colour, generic or trademark backmarks denoting quality, maker not determined. Research Center: Backmark-TrebleGiltStandardColour000 . Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-TrebleGiltStandardColour000.html |
Backmark-TreblePlated000 Treble Plated, generic or trademark backmarks denoting quality, maker not determined. Research Center: Backmark-TreblePlated000 . Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-TreblePlated000.html |
Backmark-TreblePlatedLondon000 Treble Plated London, generic or trademark backmarks denoting quality, maker not determined. Research Center: Backmark-TreblePlatedLondon000 . Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-TreblePlatedLondon000.html |
Backmark-TrebleRichStandard000 Treble Rich Standard, generic or trademark backmarks denoting quality, maker not determined. Research Center: Backmark-TrebleRichStandard000 . Reference: Tice, Dating Buttons, page 179, unidentified European makers. Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-TrebleRichStandard000.html |
Backmark-TrebleStandard000 Treble Standard, generic or trademark denoting quality. Research Center: Backmark-TrebleStandard000 . Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-TrebleStandard000.html |
Backmark-TrebleStandardExtraRich000 Treble Standard Extra Rich, generic or trademark denoting quality, English manufacture for the Confederacy. Research Center: Backmark-TrebleStandardExtraRich000 . Reference: Tice, Dating Buttons, page 179, (unidentified European makers). Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-TrebleStandardExtraRich000.html |
Backmark-TrelonWeldonWeil000 Trelon, Weldon et Weil, operated in Paris France after 1844. Research Center: Backmark-TrelonWeldonWeil000 . Reference: Tice, Dating Buttons, page 165. Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-TrelonWeldonWeil000.html |
Backmark-UnitedStates000 United States backmarks were custom backmarks used on 1830's buttons, manufactured for the Federal government. The actual manufacturer is not determined. Research Center: Backmark-UnitedStates000 . Reference: Tice, Dating Buttons, picture of an example is included in Plate B-4, there does not seem to be a text section explaining these backmarks. Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-UnitedStates000.html |
Backmark-VanWart000 Van Wart Son & Co was an English manufacturer operating from the 1820's. It is not determined as to whether they actually made these buttons, or if either Smith Kemp Wright or C Rowley could have made them. Buttons were clearly made for the Confederacy. Updated research suggests that these buttons were seized by Federal authorities from a captured blockade runner. There are no credible recoveries from southern battlefields or camps. Research Center: Backmark-VanWart000 . Reference: Tice, Dating Buttons, page 178. Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-VanWart000.html |
Backmark-Wadhams000 Wadhams, Wolcottville, Connecticut, (now Torrington), operated various partnerships 1830's and 1840's. Research Center: Backmark-Wadhams000 . Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-Wadhams000.html |
Backmark-WallisWilliam000 William Wallis, Birmingham England, operated 1790 to 1830's. Research Center: Backmark-WallisWilliam000 . Reference: Tice, Dating Buttons, page 166. Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-WallisWilliam000.html |
Backmark-Walton000 Walton Brothers operated in New York from 1858 to beyond the Civil War. They obtained a patent for a hat in 1862 and they seemed to have dealt exclusively with the US Marines, they probably subcontracted the buttons with Scovill and sold hats and uniforms. After the Civil War they made industrial machinery and the production of military goods appears to have been limited to the Civil War and not beyond. (Bazelon & McGuinn). Tice states in his backmark book that they probably did not sell buttons bearing their name until after the Civil War. Research Center: Backmark-Walton000 . Reference: Tice, Dating Buttons, page 142. Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-Walton000.html |
Backmark-Wanamaker000 Wanamaker & Brown, Philadelphia, 1861 to 20th century. This well known retailer began operations during the Civil War, however buttons bearing their name all post date the Civil War. Research Center: Backmark-Wanamaker000 . Reference: Tice, Dating Buttons, page 142. Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-Wanamaker000.html |
Backmark-WarrantedBestQuality000 Warranted Best Quality, generic or trademark, maker not determined. Research Center: Backmark-WarrantedBestQuality000 . Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-WarrantedBestQuality000.html |
Backmark-WarrantedDoublePlated000 Warranted Double Plated, generic or trademark, maker not determined, likely English manufacture. Research Center: Backmark-WarrantedDoublePlated000 . Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-WarrantedDoublePlated000.html |
Backmark-WarrantedRichOrange000 Warranted Rich Orange, generic or trademark, maker not determined. Research Center: Backmark-WarrantedRichOrange000 . Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-WarrantedRichOrange000.html |
Backmark-WarrantedRichTreble000 Warranted Rich Treble, generic or trademark, maker likely R & W Robinson. Research Center: Backmark-WarrantedRichTreble000 . Reference: Tice, Dating Buttons, page 53, (R & W Robinson). Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-WarrantedRichTreble000.html |
Backmark-WarrantedSuperior000 Warranted Superior, generic or trademark, maker not determined. Research Center: Backmark-WarrantedSuperior000 . Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-WarrantedSuperior000.html |
Backmark-WarrantedTreblePlated000 Warranted Treble Plated, generic or trademark, maker not determined. Research Center: Backmark-WarrantedTreblePlated000 . Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-WarrantedTreblePlated000.html |
Backmark-WaterburyButtonCo000 Waterbury Button Co. began producing buttons under its own name in 1849 and is the only Civil War button producer operating today. WBC did not produce any buttons for any of the southern states before the war or for the Confederacy, but they did produce large quantities for the north. Research Center: Backmark-WaterburyButtonCo000 . Reference: Tice, Dating Buttons, page 82, 55 backmarks listed, not numbered count the lines to correlate with this listing. Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-WaterburyButtonCo000.html |
Backmark-WaterburyJewelryCo000 Waterbury Jewelry Co. acquired Steele & Johnson in 1856, and produced expensive jewelry along with a very limited offering of military buttons. It ceased operations in 1858, when Steele & Johnson formed a second partnership and acquired it. Research Center: Backmark-WaterburyJewelryCo000 . Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-WaterburyJewelryCo000.html |
Backmark-WCT000 WCT, probably means Waterbury or Waterville, Connecticut. This is mark used by one of the early Waterbury producers before 1820. Which maker is yet to be determined. Research Center: Backmark-WCT000 . Reference: Tice, Dating Buttons, not listed. Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-WCT000.html |
Backmark-Webb000 C. Webb operated in London England. Research Center: Backmark-Webb000 . Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-Webb000.html |
Backmark-WeldonCharlesJeremiah000 Charles & Jeremiah Weldon, London. Research Center: Backmark-WeldonCharlesJeremiah000 . Reference: Tice, Dating Buttons, page 166, and partial duplicate list page 179 Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-WeldonCharlesJeremiah000.html |
Backmark-WendlingerC000 Casper Wendlinger operated during the Civil War, but most of his buttons are definite post war. However there are some backmarks that may be period. Research Center: Backmark-WendlingerC000 . Reference: Tice, Dating Buttons, page 142. Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-WendlingerC000.html |
Backmark-WhitlockBM000 Benjamin M Whitlock New York, late 19th century. Research Center: Backmark-WhitlockBM000 . Reference: Tice, Dating Buttons, page 142. Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-WhitlockBM000.html |
Backmark-WildtW000 William Wildt was listed as a jeweler in Richmond Va from 1852 until well after the Civil War. One of his sons, Julia Wildt, moved to Columbia SC and partnered with a German named Klein. Not enough is known about these producers, the shop in Columbia was burned during the war. It is not entirely clear whether buttons were produced at both locations or if the button making was subcontracted with another producer. Research Center: Backmark-WildtW000 . Reference: Tice, Dating Buttons, page 185. Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-WildtW000.html |
Backmark-WilliamsWR000 William R Williams, operated New York, NY, 1840's. Research Center: Backmark-WilliamsWR000 . Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-WilliamsWR000.html |
Backmark-WilsonJH000 James H Wilson, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, operated 1870's to around 1900. Research Center: Backmark-WilsonJH000 . Reference: Tice, Dating Buttons, page 143. Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-WilsonJH000.html |
Backmark-WilsonRE000 R E Wilson, Winston NC. This maker is not listed, CSA buttons bearing this name may have been produced for veterans or the tourist trade, early 20th century. Research Center: Backmark-WilsonRE000 . Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-WilsonRE000.html |
Backmark-WiseBielbyHyde000 Wise Bielby Hyde & Co is an English producer operating in Birmingham 1818 to 1825. Research Center: Backmark-WiseBielbyHyde000 . Reference: Tice, Dating Buttons, page 167. Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-WiseBielbyHyde000.html |
Backmark-YoungSmith000 Young, Smith & Company operated in New York from approximately 1830 to around 1858. Backmarks from the partnership generally bear both names but in either order. W H Smith also sold buttons bearing his name solely. Research Center: Backmark-YoungSmith000 . Reference: Tice, Dating Buttons, page 143, twenty backmarks listed, count them to correlate with this listing. Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-YoungSmith000.html |
Backmark-zblankEnglishManufacture000 Blank backs, (no text), English manufacture, brought in through the blockade . Research Center: Backmark-zblankEnglishManufacture000 . Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-zblankEnglishManufacture000.html |
Backmark-zblankNoText000 Blank backs, (no text), northern USA manufacture. Research Center: Backmark-zblankNoText000 . Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-zblankNoText000.html |
Backmark-zblankSouthernManufacture000 Blank backs, (no text), southern manufacture. Many of the local buttons produced in the many shops of the south employed backs that were unmarked. There are many distinct variations of the unmarked backs and these details of construction will offer clues as to their origins Research Center: Backmark-zblankSouthernManufacture000 . Reference: Tice, Dating Buttons, page 187. Details click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-zblankSouthernManufacture000.html |
Ridgeway Civil War Research Center, A virtual examination of artifacts of the American Civil War Buttons Research center, buttons, click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Button0000-Index.html. Research center, buttons, click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Button0000-Index.html. |
Ridgeway Civil War Research Center, A virtual examination of artifacts of the American Civil War Button backmarks. Research center, button backmarks, click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-000.html. Research center, button backmarks, click: http://relicman.com/buttons/Backmark-000.html. |
Civil War Relicman, Harry Ridgeway, Civil War buttons, Relicman sales catalog. Click here, buttons for sale: http://relicman.com/buttons/RelicmanSalesButton1.html. Sale listings, click: http://relicman.com/buttons/RelicmanSalesButton1.html. |
Civil War buttons, Relicman sales catalog. Sale listings click: http://relicman.com/buttons/RelicmanSalesButton1.html Sale listings click: http://relicman.com/buttons/RelicmanSalesButton1.html |