Informational Only Waterford Button

[Andylit]

I had posted an inquiry to the Waterford Button company in re a NY Militia button. 

 

Here is the response:

 

Good Morning Andrew,

Thanks for your request.

I'm so sorry at the moment we have no one to help with any history of our buttons.

The person who was in charge has retired.

If you like please visit the below website and you might find something there.

www.nationbuttonsociety.org

Contact Person : Susan Porter.

So sorry for the inconvenience.

 

Thanks 

[Bob B]

Forty years of collecting and have never heard of the Waterford Button Co. Did you mean Waterbury?

[Andylit]

8 hours ago, Bob B said:

Forty years of collecting and have never heard of the Waterford Button Co. Did you mean Waterbury?

 

Never post while asleep.

[Bob B]

Not sure what you had questions about but if it related to dating button backmarks, and you don't desire to buy any of the books showing backmarks, you may want to try www.relicman.com.  Harry Ridgeway has a "Civil War Research Center" on his site. Scroll down past his for sale items and click on the Research Center link. Scroll down past Buttons and click the Button Backmark link. Most of the Civil War era makers are there in alphabetical order. I think he is more specific in dating Civil War and pre-Civil War backmarks. If a backmark is after the CW may just indicate post-CW without specific dates. Haven't looked at it in a while.

[Andylit]

20 hours ago, Bob B said:

Not sure what you had questions about but if it related to dating button backmarks, and you don't desire to buy any of the books showing backmarks, you may want to try www.relicman.com.  Harry Ridgeway has a "Civil War Research Center" on his site. Scroll down past his for sale items and click on the Research Center link. Scroll down past Buttons and click the Button Backmark link. Most of the Civil War era makers are there in alphabetical order. I think he is more specific in dating Civil War and pre-Civil War backmarks. If a backmark is after the CW may just indicate post-CW without specific dates. Haven't looked at it in a while.

 

I've already broken down and purchased the Albert book (very helpful) and am awaiting the McGuinn & Bazelon book. Albert's book has already given me the info needed to refine my questions. I'm hoping the other book goes even further.

 

[Bob B]

Tice's book shows the most, but is around $300 usually, though recently I saw one for $175 and it sold quickly. What is nice about Tice's is besides listing and picturing most of the known backmark variants from the major button makers in a reference section, he also lists all the known backmarks for each specific pre-1865 button. You will find McGuinn & Bazelon's much more informative than Albert's in listing and dating the various button makers, but they don't show a lot of photos of those backmarks. But for years it was the best we had to go by.

[Andylit]

3 hours ago, Bob B said:

Tice's book shows the most, but is around $300 usually, though recently I saw one for $175 and it sold quickly. What is nice about Tice's is besides listing and picturing most of the known backmark variants from the major button makers in a reference section, he also lists all the known backmarks for each specific pre-1865 button. You will find McGuinn & Bazelon's much more informative than Albert's in listing and dating the various button makers, but they don't show a lot of photos of those backmarks. But for years it was the best we had to go by.

 

I was looking at the Tice book prices as well. A bit too rich for my blood, at least at this point. Taking that leap is a decision for the future.