Ok, time to start the #LHSrescue buttons thread. Friends, there’s TEN containers of buttons. Which one should I dig into first? Keeping each one distinct /may/ help with establishing dates. At least for each tin.

In this post and the next two, clockwise from top left, top vote goes first.

Continuing from bottom right

Last two, lower left

Once I have the buttons sorted, I have to pick /25/ to represent the whole lot. Then document, research, and write up my argument for that mini-collection. This makes complete sense for the scope of the LHS, but wow, I expect it to be a challenge!

With the votes in, here’s the starting lineup:
1 Blue & Orange people
2 Painted Fruit
3 Bluebirds
4 Blue & White
5 White & Gold
6 Plain Red

We’ll get to the rest later.

The tin is c. 1930, from Mrs Snyder’s candy shop in Chicago. The addresses of the branches could narrow that date down nicely.

There’s stuff in here that’s not buttons! Some of it is highly datable!

This gives a super clear date range. All these items are WW2 homefront. I haven’t identified the army those toy soldiers in gas masks are part of, but that’s a Victory alert whistle, a war bonds pin, and an “E” pin for excellence in wartime production.

This also tells us someone connected to the house belonged to the United Electrical Radio & Machine Workers of America, local 202. Which, I have just learned, is in Pittsburgh.

The pen is a c. 1930 Cordell fountain pen. It had some surface ashy residue which wiped clean with a dry cloth and a firm hand, but took zero force to remove fully and reveal a deep glossy pine green. The gold-tone cap fits smoothly.

Ok, @divinecheshire and @burnsbothends, what can you tell me about this ink reservoir and how to detach it? It says Wearever on the side.

And it’s cracked almost completely around the neck:

The ceramic fish has no marks of any kind, the bit of coral is exactly that, and I’m frankly amazed this wishbone is intact.

These are c. 1950. The Judd Kadmilite pin is a hardware store display for eye- hooks, the two-sided molded plastic charms and the cast metal toy tractor are all c. 1950 toys.

Of the non-buttons, these two awls, thread scissors, and tiny ruler seem like they actually belong in a button tin. The scissors are fairly cheaply made, with no marks.

Part of a silver bracelet and a plastic hairpin. The silver could be any time in the 1900s, and the hairpin is probably c. 1970

The silver tone belt buckles are unmarked, could be any time in the 1900s; the large black one /may/ be Bakelite, but I’ll have to test it. The two mother-of-pearl buckles ate older, late1800s most likely.

Ok, that’s all the non-buttons! Tune in tomorrow for the buttons in tin one!

Button time! Here’s the whole lot. I’ll pull out the highlights.

Clockwise from top left: oldest shell, hollow 2-piece plastic, bone, wood, cloth covered, shell, metal, possibly vegetable ivory, older black plastic, ceramic, newer plastic, imitation shell, plastic, glass/sparkle, blue-green-black-red newer plastic, /possibly/ horn.

It’s always nice when a button tells you exactly what it was used for, like the ski jumper on this wooden one.

This is kind of neat: the same motif in shell (top), glass (middle), and plastic (bottom). Front and back.

The glass deco button at the bottom right might be the oldest of this little group.

Something nibbled on these, which is why I’m thinking they’re horn.

Look at the fancitude of these tiny shell buttons!