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.

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.

WW 2 'Kilroy Was Here' Button

A number of 'Kilroy Was Here' souvenirs appeared at wars end this Japanese-made vegetable ivory button was among them.
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from google
There was one person who led or participated in every combat, training or occupation operation during WWII and the Korean War. This person could always be depended on. GI's began to consider him the "super GI." He was one who always got there first or who was always there when they left. I am, of course, referring to Kilroy Was Here. Somehow, this simple graffiti captured the imagination of GI's everywhere they went. The scribbled cartoon face and words showed up everywhere - worldwide. Stories (some even true) abound.
The Legends of Kilroy can be searched on google!

Button poem My Hobby

A hobby in such troubled days
Can pep you up in many ways.
Your worries seem to fade away,
If at a hobby you can play.

Now antique buttons interest me,
All sizes, shapes and kinds I see.
Flowers and birds and ships and trees,
Cats and dogs and bugs and bees.

The story buttons are quit rare,
Historic scenes they sometimes bear;
Or fairy tales or knights of old,
Or moats and castles edged with gold.

The hand carved pearls and rich inlays
And sparkling jewels laid out on trays,
Or fastened neat to card board white,
Are surely an attractive sight.

I find in grandmothers button box,
The calicos that trimmed her flock,
And dainty glass ones which she said
Came off the dress in which she wed.

In boxes old and attic dark
To look for buttons is a lark.
And what a joy it is to find
A button of some rare old kind.

My family thinks I'm somewhat queer,
I'll snip them off their clothes, they fear;
But then they should be very glad
That safety pins can still be had.

Marie Hicks, Just Buttons, Oct. 1944

Antique Blown Glass Buttons

These buttons were actually blown and were hollow. The early ones had clear glass loop shanks; the later (probably after 1900) had metal shanks on metal plates. Color and sometimes bits of tinsel were blown into some of the hollow buttons. Most common are those that imitate pearl color, but there were a few made in pastel colors as well as in deep red, gray, and black; some have been found with cotton or a waxlike substance inside. Blown glass buttons were usually ball-shaped, but a few have been found faceted or oval. They range in size 3/8 to 3/4.
The above information is from the book Collector's Encyclopedia of Buttons by Sally Luscomb.
The piece of delicate material looks to of been cut off a garment to save the buttons..notice the back, the buttons were strung in such a way as to remove them easily before cleaning the garment.
Below this are some of my blown glass..all have the glass shanks.
Click on image to enlarge

Crochet button bracelet..instructions

1.Sixty-six buttons in one color or in harmonizing colors.
2.Gold, silver, or white elastic thread; #7 steel crochet hook.
3.Three rows of buttons, 22 in each row, separated by one row of single crochet.
Chain 44 stitches, join with slip stitch in first stitch of chain.
Chain one single crochet in each chain stitch around; join.
Chain one, join button by inserting hook through shank of button, pull loop through and complete single crochet.
Skip one single crochet, join a button in next single crochet.
Continue around in this way until you have joined 22 buttons; join with a slip stitch in first chain.
Make three rows of buttons with a row of single crochet between them.
Finish off with a row of single crochet to balance the first row made.

The bracelet can also be made by making seven rows of single crochet, and then fastening the buttons on securely with sewing thread.

Laser cut ..Button

This is a modern plastic button. The button design was cut by using a laser light source.

Here are a few tidbits picked up from Google:
--Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. A device that produces coherent light with a narrow range of wavelengths.
--optical device that produces an intense monochromatic beam of coherent light
--A powerful beam of light used in some types of surgery.
--Lasers work as a result of resonant effects. The output of a laser is a coherent electromagnetic field. In a coherent beam of electromagnetic energy, all the waves have the same frequency and phase.
--Lasers are one of the most significant inventions developed during the 20th century. They have found a tremendous variety of uses in electronics, computer hardware, medicine, and experimental science.

Laser cutting has been used on several button materials, including polyester, vegetable ivory, pearl, and possibly others.

If interested I have several of these buttons for sale in black or red in my button store (under the plastic category
@ Pegs Buttons

V for Victoria and 'V' for Victory buttons

'V' for Victoria. There were two periods when buttons were rife with 'V' designs: first during Victoria's reign, and later at the end of World War II when the 'V' stood for Victory. The first one shown here dates 19th century, ('V' for Victoria) engraved brass with cut steels..a double 'V'. The others are World War II ('V' for Victory) 2 are plastic and 2 metals..notice the Morse Code.
Click on picture to enlarge

Panic Button

A popular saying in the 1970's, a time of political unrest and disillusionment, was, "don't push the panic -button"

for sale in my button store (under the plastic category
@ Pegs Buttons

Cartoons: buttons

Animated cartoons were an important part of the movie-going experience. Whether as the feature, or as short fillers between motion picture, newsreels and popcorn advertisements, they were wildly popular. The brand-new film animation companies quickly learned-as was the case with radio serials-that characters with ongoing storylines kept the public returning to the theaters for more.
The cartoon industry was the provence of the limited number of companies. Warner Brothers did the Looney Tunes,(see the 10 buttons together above) starring a number of favorite characters , although Bugs Bunny could be called the leader of the pack. Woody Woodpecker had his own following as well. But no other cartoon character has ever had the success of Mickey Mouse, from the Walt Disney Corporation.
from ABOUT BUTTONS BOOK by Peggy Osborne
I have a few cartoon character buttons available in my ecrater button store under the plastic category
@ Pegs Buttons

Fable button The Goose That Laid the Golden Egg

Aesop fable:
A man and his wife owned a very special goose. Every day the goose would lay a golden egg, which made the couple very rich.
"Just think," said the man's wife, "If we could have all the golden eggs that are inside the goose, we could be richer much faster."
"You're right," said her husband, "We wouldn't have to wait for the goose to lay her egg every day."
So, the couple killed the goose and cut her open, only to find that she was just like every other goose. She had no golden eggs inside of her at all, and they had no more golden eggs.
MORAL: TOO MUCH GREED RESULTS IN NOTHING

St. Patrick's Day buttons, fun card

St. Patrick's Day buttons, my fun card with buttons!
Click on image to enlarge.

"Hail Columbia" Button

"Hail, Columbia" was the unofficial national anthem of the United States until its replacement in 1931 by the officially mandated "Star-Spangled Banner". Columbia is a poetic name for the United States in use during the 18th century. The anthem was originally composed by Philip Phile in 1789 for the inauguration of George Washington, titled "The President's March", arranged with lyrics by Joseph Hopkinson in 1798. It was used in the United States as a national anthem for most of the 19th century, but lost popularity after World War 1.
It is now the entrance march, or the official song, for the Vice President of the United States in a similar fashion as "Hail to the Chief" is for the President. When played in honor of the Vice-President, the song is always preceded by four ruffles and flourishes. In addition, the song has been used as a slow march during military ceremonies, often while the band counter-marches. This song is not to be confused with Columbia, the gem of the Ocean.
The button is antique, brass, large size.

Satsuma Buttons (continued

When you mention the word "Satsuma" to a button collector, the word "Japan" also comes to mind. This Japanese faience (glazed pottery),which is noted for its finely crackled underglaze, its cream, yellow-cream, or gray-cream color, and its decoration of raised enamel, is so popular with button and ceramic collectors that the name has become synonymous with Japan.
Much has been written about determining the age of Satsuma buttons by the shank. The oldest buttons have a curved needle shank, next were the slightly raised with the top of the shank unglazed but rounded on the edges. As the years pasted, the shanks got higher and higher and the edges of the shanks became sharper. Many people like to try and determine age by the backmark, but this is not an accurate method as backmarks in Japan, both written and incised, were bought, sold, traded and copied as common practice. In other words, if a buyer found that a line of buttons marked with a certain backmark was popular, he might conceivably go to another maker and order similar buttons at a cheaper price but with the same backmark. Therefore, even though there are valid backmarks, backmarks on these buttons cannot be taken too seriously and for the most part, they cannot be used to determine age or authenticity.

The above 3 buttons are my favorite..ball shaped with birds, the 2 ex large..7 gods, and Satsuma temple.

Satsuma (earthenware pottery) Buttons

Originally made in the province of Satsuma, it was also made (or at least decorated) in Kyoto and Tokyo.
Click on picture to enlarge.

President's Day buttons

George Washington, born Feb. 22, 1732
Abraham Lincoln, born Feb. 12, 1809

Happy Valentines Day buttons

Phaethon mythology button

This is an old identification, although some feel that the title of Apollo would be just as suitable. Phaethon was the son of Apollo by the nymph Clymene. Tormented by the taint of illegitimacy, Phaethon begged his father to let him drive the sun chariot to prove his paternity. However, the youth could not control the plunging horses and lost control of the chariot, letting it come to close to the earth, so that the green fields were scorched and the forests were set ablaze. Zeus was forced to intervene to save earth from destruction. He hurled his thunderbolt at the boy, Phaethon fell to the ground, and the maddened horses plunged into the sea.
SOLD: This handsome brass button is available in my ecrater button store under the METAL category
@ Pegs Buttons

China buttons Bird Cage

What is this shank you call a "bird cage?" you may be asking, "what kind of buttons have them?". Actually the button itself, as well as the shank, is called a bird cage.
The buttons are made of two (in some shapes three) separate pieces. The cap is dish-like with large mouthed opening on the under side. The shank portion (a hollow cone pierced by four slits) fits over the opening like a lid.
The above are not for sale but I just listed several, they are
available in my ecrater button store under the CHINA category
@ Pegs Buttons

China buttons Bull's- Eye 1800's

Button collectors call these bull's-eyes..they are a gaiter button, dome shaped with a metal loop shank and plate.
There are 15 different Bull's-Eye patterns on gaiter buttons.
They are from the late 1800's.
The above are not for sale but I just listed several, they are
available in my ecrater button store under the CHINA category
@ Pegs Buttons

Watch Crystal Buttons 1840-1870

A clear glass unrimmed face disc which may be convex or flat and which may or may not have a beveled edge: it has a wide metal shank-plate fastened to the front disc, with black adhesive material: a pattern (sometimes hit or miss) which must be inserted between the glass disc and the shank plate, never on the observe side of the disc.
These are very fragile buttons..believed to be dated between 1840-1870.
The largest button someone has repaired with a self shank. The transparent blue glass with pearl chips is constructed the same as the others. Click on picture to enlarge.

Madonna and Child and Pensive Cherubs buttons, postcard

Postcard showing Raphael's painting of the Madonna in the Sistine Chapel.
The large button is one piece brass with border of winged cherub heads and stars..the 2 larger pensive cherubs are also brass..those 3 buttons are antique..the 2 small buttons are modern.
Click on picture to enlarge.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Laplander Driving a Reindeer button

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas in my part of Idaho.
Sure thought I spotted Rudolph and Santa!!?
Alas..tis not..upon further investigation the name of this button is "Laplander Driving a Reindeer " antique, brass
Merry Christmas!

Visit of Dr. Stork button

The stork is wearing top-hat, ribboned glasses and carrying cane advances with dignity as the butler announces him.
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from the big book of buttons
"A beautifully detailed button of stamped brass. Children must have recognized these characters instantly in the 1880's but the identity of the story is not known at present."
I did a little research and couldn't find anything about this story..the button is antique and scarce.

Fable button The Ant and the Grasshopper

The Ant and the Grasshopper, also known as The Grasshopper and the Ant or The Grasshopper and the Ants, is a Aesop fable providing a moral lesson about hard work and preparation.
The fable concerns a grasshopper who has spent the warm months singing away while the ant (or ants in some editions) worked to store up food for winter. When winter arrives, the grasshopper finds itself dying of hunger, and upon asking the ant for food is only rebuked for its idleness. The story is used to teach the virtues of hard work and saving, and the perils of improvidence. Some versions of the fable state a moral at the end, along the lines of: "Idleness brings want", "To work today is to eat tomorrow", "Prepare for want before it comes".
There are many versions, here is one.

In a field one summer's day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart's content. An Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest.
"Why not come and chat with me," said the Grasshopper, "instead of toiling and moiling in that way?"
"I am helping to lay up food for the winter," said the Ant, "and recommend you to do the same."
"Why bother about winter?" said the Grasshopper; we have got plenty of food at present." But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil. When the winter came the Grasshopper had no food and found itself dying of hunger, while it saw the ants
distributing every day corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer. Then the Grasshopper knew:
It is best to prepare for the days of necessity

Turkey buttons Happy Thanksgiving!

Turkey buttons are extremely rare..I only have 3, first is a modern plastic, second is a antique 2 piece brass and last is a Arita porcelain.
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Legend has it that if Ben Franklin had had his way, the turkey would have been our National bird. It seems that on July 4th 1776, the Continental Congress resolved that Dr. Franklin, Mr. Adams and Mr. T. Jefferson form a committee to prepare a device for the seal of the new U.S. of America.
Although Dr. Franklin had strong feelings about the turkey since he was a native bird, his idea was overridden by Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Adams who felt the Americal bald, or white-headed, eagle more nearly symbolized the solidarity they wished to convey in the national seal. After all, the eagle had been used since antiquity as a symbol of strength and freedom. In contrast, the turkey was not known for bravery and was known for its unwillingness to fly - and even then only in short bursts of flight!
The turkey has a strange history. It is a native of the North American continent; however, the Indians were superstitious about the bird and did not hunt it for food. The Spaniards found it in Mexico and took it back to Europe in the 16th Century, where it was domesticated. It became very popular in England, where it was named Turkey-Cock after the Guinea fowl of Islam or Turkey. When the Pilgrims came to Plymouth in 1620, they brought the turkey back to its native land.
Technically, the turkey is of the pheasant family (order of galliformes in the meleagridae gallopavo). The fleshy growth on the front of the throat is a snood or dewbill; the pauch-like area at the front of his throat is a wattle; the small reddish growth of skin at the base of his throat is the carancle. The male of the species is a tom; the female is a hen, and the young turkey is a poult.
And so, even thought the turkey lost his opportunity to become our National emblem, he has become dear to the hearts and stomachs of Americans as the symbol and star of our Thanksgiving feast.
my thanks to the late Freddie Speights for this article published in the N.B.B. 1984

Transportation..to the MOON button

The button and this article are in the National Button Society bulletin May 1946.
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The story of transportation may be said to be the story of civilization. In these modern times the world has become criss-crossed with railroads and steamship lines and motor highways and air routes and man has begun to understand how transportation has enriched human life. Without these facilities as we know them today, there could be little progress.
England had the satisfaction of opening the first railroad over which passengers and freight were carried by a locomotive. The U.S. was not far behind, experimenting in several parts of the country between 1827 and 1838. France developed its system in 1842; Belgium and the Netherlands followed but Germany, Austria and Russia were somewhat behind the Western nations in their railroad development.
The moon in all of its phases, together with the "Man in the Moon" has always been a popular theme in verse, song, story and picture. And it seems that the designers for our buttons must have found it appealing also since the subject was used either alone or in combination with scenic views or other celestial bodies.
This button picturing a locomotive and passenger cars entering the secondary planet, the MOON, with a mere glimpse of EARTH some 237,000 miles away is one piece brass, antique.

Bald Eagle acrylic paint on wood button

Ralph DeCew is a polymer clay artist experienced in creating wonderful reproductions of Kate Greenaway and many other fine picture buttons. His workshop is located in Sterling Heights, MI where he has the encouragement of his wife, Sheri, who is an avid button collector and source of inspiration. Ralph's work is now expanding by intermingling metal and other materials into his polymer clay creations, and he has also begun painting in acrylic on wood. He is an up and coming Studio Artist for 2010. All pieces are signed and dated.

RalphStudioButtons

contact him at rdeq1955@yahoo.com

222 snap-together buttons listed

I now have a separate category for these fun realistic plastic buttons in my ecrater button store, you will find animal life, plant life, transportation, objects, plus more.
look under category SNAP-together buttons.
@ Pegs Buttons

Fashion pins

I have heard these called..tac-back scatter pins, pinch backs, snap-backs, clutch pins, clutchettes, fashion pins and clasp pins. These are whimsical clothing accessories, popular from the 1940's to the 1960's. Click on picture to enlarge.
I have several cards for sale in my ecrater store, look under the category STUFF tac-back pins.
@ Pegs Buttons

Fashion pins back

this is what the back of the pins looks like

Mother Goose Tales BUTTONS

Ceramic buttons with transfer designs of eight of the most beloved Mother Goose Tales. These sets, with four buttons apiece, were made in Japan for American button dealer Lois Calkins. Lois advertised these buttons in the National Button Society booklet..the first ad appears in the March 1955 issue for Hey Diddle Diddle, $1.00 per set. Lois died in 2002.
Here are the 8 sets (click on picture to enlarge) Hey Diddle Diddle, King Cole, Jack & Jill, Humpty Dumpty, Three Little Kittens, Mary Had a Little Lamb, Goose that Laid the Golden Egg, Sing a Song o'Sixpense

CLOWN buttons

Queen Victoria and black glass buttons

Click on picture to enlarge.
Many black glass buttons available in my ecrater store under the black glass category
@ Pegs Buttons

Edelweiss flower buttons

The Edelweiss Flower is found in the Alpine countries of Europe, and is highly prized by mountaineers as a sign of victory over the mountains and its dangers. Many a mountaineer has fallen trying to pluck one from the steep rocks.
These are silver colored metal with a loop shank, size 11/16 and 7/8..both have a GESCH backmark.

Objects you find in button tins what to do with them?

Here is one idea someone had in the late 1800's..the pitcher was decorated using putty..there are buttons, coins, scissors, 2 old teeth, buckles, dolls, keys, thimbles, screws and many other various objects.
I have this pitcher now, the last owner sprayed it with gold paint..it sits on my computer desk on a turn table in a large glass dome..so I can spin it around to see all!
I don't have a camera, only a scanner so can't show you the real thing..but here it is on the cover of Just Buttons magazine.
Click on picture to enlarge.

Aluminum Stencil buttons Salemans sample card

The six buttons on the lower left are not aluminum stencils.
Thank you to BJ Smyers for sharing this vintage card

Aluminum Stencil buttons

Aluminum stencil buttons were made in the 1930's..in many colors and several patterns. The picture shows the patterns you mostly find as the other patterns are scarce.

Hawaii -inspired -buttons

Hawaii became the 50th state in 1959. All things Hawaiian were a great interest and popularity on the mainland, and buttons such as these became available.
Part of the Hawaii craze, 'Gooney birds' became part of the vernacular.
The enameled brass orchid is lovely.

KOKESHI (wooden doll-like) BUTTONS

Button collectors often find small, painted wooden doll-like buttons, but few realize what they are..tiny KOKESHI. Very popular in Japan as household ornaments, Kokeshi there are avidly collected. Always of wood in a stylized, cylindrical body form, Kokeshi have a distinct head, but no limbs (the arms, hands, and legs are not carved, but inferred) and the hair and features are painted without detail to "preserve and further exaggerate the basic simplicity of the piece". NON-button Kokeshi range in size from 1 inch to 24 inches.
If you are lucky enough to find a Kokeshi button, look at it very carefully--a very few lucky collectors have discovered that the head of their little button-doll unscrewed, and within the hollow body were tiny ivory dice.
Info. from "About Buttons Book" by Peggy Ann Obsorne

Happy 4th of July buttons

July 4TH..buttons

Happy 4th..both cards are available in my ecrater store under the mixed materials category
@ Pegs Buttons

SNOOPY and the Peanuts Gang..BUTTONS

Original JHB card, thanks to BJ Smyers for sharing the card.
Click on picture to enlarge.

Snoopy and friends BUTTONS

Charles Monroe Schulz 1922-2000
American cartoonist, whose comic strip PEANUTS is considered to be one of the most popular and influential in the history of the medium.

Here's my fun cards of snoppy and friends!
Oops..how did Mickey Mouse get on the first card?
I have many snoopy and other cartoon character buttons for sale in my button store..look in the plastic category @Pegs Buttons