Monday, August 22, 2011

Walking a dog buttons




I have researched the design on these buttons without much luck. I have all the button books and only found the first (wood) button in 1. It is found in Button Hand Book Supplement 3 by Nicholls..titled "St Hubert's Hounds"..the next button (same design but reversed) (celluloid one piece 30's) is pictured in book Buttons by Fink and Ditzler but no caption was added and the last, burwood/syrocco button pictured in Fun Buttons by Osborne also no caption.
Thanks to Sue Marsh for picture of 3rd button.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Don't call me Barney Oldfield anymore..button


The brass button shown here has been referred to by button collectors for years as the "Barney Oldfield" button. Alas, it has little or nothing to do with Mr. Oldfield. It is, however, a very accurate depiction of one of the very earliest racing automobiles, the Panhard et Lavassor. René Panhard and Émile Levassor in 1887 joined to produce early automobiles for racing and production. These early races were in France, such as the 1895 Paris-Bordeaux-Paris Rally, and in the U.K. and also America. Panhard is still in business. They ceased production of passenger automobiles in 1967 but continure today building military vehicles.

Thank you William James Hentges for your research on this button and for permission to post it here.

Panama Canal button


This two-piece stamped brass coat button commemorates the opening of the Panama Canal in 1913.

Today, the canal continues to be not only a viable commercial venture, but also a vital link in world shipping.