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Author Topic: Real or Replica Civil War Era Button?  (Read 5399 times)

KevinM

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Real or Replica Civil War Era Button?
« on: October 20, 2013, 08:37:39 pm »
I recently got this button in a TS jewelry grab bag and decided to look it up after seeing the Antiques Road Show the other night that had a feature about old buttons.

The button I think is from the Civil War era but I'm not sure, it could be a replica i guess. I did manage to find 1 like it (only 1) that listed it as a "Federal infantry button, eagle with "I", Scovill Co Waterbury, dm between two rings of dots, (15.5mm)" button. This button would have been made between 1840 - 1850. The button I have looks almost too new to be that old that is why I am asking if it's an authentic Civil War era button.

The site that had it listed is http://relicman.com/buttons/zBackmarkScovillsCo.htm with it located on the page at "B5058  Ref: Albert GI85 / 88, Tice GI215As70."

I have some more of these buttons that I got in jewelry grab bags in the past year but never thought twice about them until I saw the Antique Road Show. I'm going to have to find them and look them up now.

Does anyone know if this button is the real deal or is it a replica. I realize I may have to contact that site or some other one to find out but thought I would ask here first.

Thanks!
Kevin

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mart

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Re: Real or Replica Civil War Era Button?
« Reply #1 on: October 20, 2013, 08:48:11 pm »
They are reproducing these but would take someone to hold it and look at it to tell !!  Were all the buttons older or just this one ??
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KevinM

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Re: Real or Replica Civil War Era Button?
« Reply #2 on: October 20, 2013, 08:57:57 pm »
Quote from: mart on October 20, 2013, 08:48:11 pm
Were all the buttons older or just this one ??

Mart, I don't recall if the other ones were older, I never looked them up, just threw them in a box with some other jewelry. Although I know I have a few more buttons like these somewhere around. Going to have to find them and look them up too.
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mart

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Re: Real or Replica Civil War Era Button?
« Reply #3 on: October 20, 2013, 09:42:55 pm »
Go to a site for that period,, Civil War era,, there are many collectors that may be able to tell you what to look for in a repro vs real !!
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bigwull

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Re: Real or Replica Civil War Era Button?
« Reply #4 on: October 21, 2013, 04:11:23 am »
you can check here...buttons $1.50 each....

http://www.fcsutler.com/fcbuttons.asp
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mart

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Re: Real or Replica Civil War Era Button?
« Reply #5 on: October 21, 2013, 06:33:42 am »
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KevinM

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Re: Real or Replica Civil War Era Button?
« Reply #6 on: October 21, 2013, 10:03:48 am »
Quote from: bigwull on October 21, 2013, 04:11:23 am
you can check here...buttons $1.50 each....

http://www.fcsutler.com/fcbuttons.asp

Bigwull, they don't show the backstamp of their buttons... The button I have the back of the button and backstamp does not look modern.

Mart, thanks for the link, the only think I could find there is that it looks like a Type II button.
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Ipcress

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Re: Real or Replica Civil War Era Button?
« Reply #7 on: October 21, 2013, 10:31:38 am »
I'd say repro



The casting is poorer, the lugs look different. Also note the outer circle on the reverse. Much more defined because of how the button was made, whereas repro and fakes have it there for aesthetic reasons only.
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mart

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Re: Real or Replica Civil War Era Button?
« Reply #8 on: October 21, 2013, 11:26:40 am »
Looks repro to me too but look through these !!  Also gives a price range !! Might email this guy !!
« Last Edit: October 21, 2013, 05:53:28 pm by mart »
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KevinM

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Re: Real or Replica Civil War Era Button?
« Reply #9 on: October 21, 2013, 03:37:25 pm »
Thanks Ipcress and Mart. I think I'm going to agree that it's a repro, the casting and the outer circle (and dots) on the reverse side do not seem to have clean lines and seems to have too many imperfections in the backside casting to be real although it does seem to be close to the one I posted in the link in the original post. The method used to attach the back loop seems to be the similar.
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greenacres

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Re: Real or Replica Civil War Era Button?
« Reply #10 on: October 21, 2013, 04:07:21 pm »
I happen to have some of these buttons. Yours do look a little new. If you look at the other button question below mine are on there. I know mine are real by the article it was left with.
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KevinM

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Re: Real or Replica Civil War Era Button?
« Reply #11 on: October 21, 2013, 05:25:30 pm »
Greenacres, yea I was thinking it looked too new to be of that period. I'll have to take a look at your buttons and find the other ones I have stashed away somewhere.... Thanks!
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mart

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Re: Real or Replica Civil War Era Button?
« Reply #12 on: October 21, 2013, 05:55:03 pm »
What happened to my link on the post above ???  Have to find it again !!
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Rauville

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Re: Real or Replica Civil War Era Button?
« Reply #13 on: October 21, 2013, 05:56:35 pm »
I see the term "casting" used a couple times here, but I believe this button is a "stamped" brass two piece type.

The one problem is that even if it turns out to be old...it has been cleaned up to look new.
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KevinM

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Re: Real or Replica Civil War Era Button?
« Reply #14 on: October 21, 2013, 06:22:32 pm »
Quote from: Rauville on October 21, 2013, 05:56:35 pm
I see the term "casting" used a couple times here, but I believe this button is a "stamped" brass two piece type.

Rauville, I think you are right about this Type II. The Type I would be cast I think.

Quote from: Rauville on October 21, 2013, 05:56:35 pm
The one problem is that even if it turns out to be old...it has been cleaned up to look new.

Not cleaned up by me, that would be a big no no!!  ;)
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