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BUTTON MAKERS AND THEIR BACKMARKS

During the second half of the eighteenth century, manufacturers of metal buttons began to ‘brand’ their products by marking the backs with their names and often their addresses. These ‘backmarks’ can provide useful information for dating the buttons, as details of the various companies, and when they were operating, can be found in contemporary trade directories and other documentary sources. The marking is invariably produced by die stamping, which is an inherent part of the manufacturing process, and backmarks produced in this way continue to be used to the present day.

The list that follows identifies British manufacturers and the backmarks they used from the earliest ones recorded until about the middle of the twentieth century. They have been collated from a large number of sources over a long period of time, both documentary and from the buttons themselves, most of which have been recovered by metal detectorists. In general, dates should be regarded as approximate, and not exclusive unless the context indicates otherwise. It is also the case that there are some differences in respect of dating between the secondary sources that have been consulted. Where it has not been possible to reconcile such differences, the various dates and date ranges encountered are all shown in the applicable ‘Date’ field.

The listing is in alphabetical order, by company name. During the period concerned, this is invariably the surname(s) of the founder(s). Where various members or generations of the same family worked for the business, they are listed under the common surname. Where double or multiple names apply, each name is listed separately, but cross-referenced back to the main company name. This has been done to facilitate faster tracing of a company when backmarks are partially illegible, as they often are on buttons recovered from the ground.

In addition to listing backmarks, any relevant information concerning the button makers is shown in summary form. This typically includes dates when the companies were established, taken over or ceased trading. Known button types, associated with the maker, or with particular backmarks, are also noted where it is considered that they might be helpful. The backmarks consist of the company’s name (or initials) alone, or the name and address together. They also occasionally include a pictorial trademark, such as the Prince of Wales plume found on Jennens’ buttons from 1860. In the list, the backmark is always the combination of the ‘Name’ and ‘Address’ fields. If the address is not part of the backmark, the ‘Address’ field will be empty.

It is not always clear from the sources whether the name and address are actual backmarks used by the companies, or simply their details, as obtained from trade directories and other primary sources. For this reason, those backmarks that have actually been seen by the writer - either by viewing the buttons directly, or photographs of them - are shown in an emboldened font. It is the intention that the list will be periodically updated, as more of the backmarks are confirmed. It should be noted that confirmation of a backmark does not imply confirmation of any dates associated with them.

It is also inevitable that the list will contain errors, both as a result of transcribing the information, and because of the use of secondary sources, which, as indicated above, are sometimes at variance with each other. Similarly, there will be omissions from the list, both in respect of the names of companies, and the backmarks for those that are listed. It is intended that the periodic updates will also include amendments and additions, as more information becomes available.

If details seem rather sparse in some cases, it should be borne in mind that the information shown might have been gleaned from a single button or a single documentary reference. In other cases, of course, there is a wealth of published information, and further details are often available from the sources cited at the end of the listing.

[ A - B - C - D - E - F ]--- [ G to M ] -- [ N to Z ]
ALLEN & MOORE
(See also MOORE)

Date(s)

Name

Address

Related Information

1848-1854

 

 

Company manufacturing counters and commemorative medals

1855-1870

Allen & Moore

36 Great Hampton Road, Birmingham

Company manufacturing buttons

ANDERSON

Date(s)

Name

Address

Related Information

c.20th C

Wm Anderson & Son

Edinburgh

 

ARMFIELD

Date(s)

Name

Address

Related Information

1763

 

 

Company established in Birmingham

1783

 

 

Company first listed as a button maker

1790

Armfield & Co

Holloway Park

 

1790-1855

E Armfield & Son

Birmingham

 

1790-1890

Edward Armfield

Newall Street, Birmingham

 

1818

 

 

 

Wrightson's Triennial Directory, 1818:  ‘Edward Armfield & Son, button makers, Bath Row’.

 

E Armfield

Birmingham

Livery buttons with VR

1891

Armfield & Co

Newall St

 

1891

Armfield & Co

St Paul’s Square, Birmingham

 

1891-1910

Edward Armfield

St Paul’s Square, Birmingham

 

Late 19th C- early 20th C

Edwd Armfield

Birmingham

Livery buttons

1911-1940

Edward Armfield & Co Ltd

St Paul’s Square, Birmingham

 

1911-1975

E Armfield & Co

Birmingham

 

20th C

Armfield & Co Ltd

Birmingham

 

1940

 

 

Company’s premises destroyed by a bomb

1970’s

 

 

Company operating at this date

ARMY & NAVY

Date(s)

Name

Address

Related Information

1873-1889

Army & Navy
Co-operative Society

117 Victoria Street

London address

1889-1934

Army & Navy
Co-operative Society

105 Victoria Street

London address

 
ASTON

Date(s)

Name

Address

Related Information

Before 1876

William Aston

Princip St

Birmingham address

BADDELL

Date(s)

Name

Address

Related Information

Before 1739

Badell

Old Square, Birmingham

 

BARTLEET

Date(s)

Name

Address

Related Information

20th C

Bartleet & Sons Warranted

 

 

BARWELL, BECK & THOMAS

Date(s)

Name

Address

Related Information

1800’s

Barwell, Beck & Thomas

 

 

1800-1850

 

 

Sir Edward Thomas. Partner?

BECK
(See BARWELL, BECK & THOMAS) 

BIELBY
(See WISE)

BLOCK

Date(s)

Name

Address

Related Information

Late 19th C

H E Block & Co

15 King Street, Covent Garden

 

BOGGETT
(See also REYNOLDS for later history)

Date(s)

Name

Address

Related Information

1824-1835

George Boggett

St Martin’s Lane, London

 

1824-1835

G Boggett

St Martin’s Lane, London

Livery buttons

1835-1838

George & William Boggett

 

 

1838-1842

Boggett & Co

 

 

1838-1842

George & William Boggett & Co

 

 

1843-1861

Boggett & Reynolds

St Martins Lane London

 

1843-1861

William Boggett & Joseph Reynolds

 

 

BOULTON

Date(s)

Name

Address

Related Information

1756-1759

Matthew Boulton

Soho Works, Staffordshire

 

BRATT
(See LESDAM, BRATT)

BROUGHTON
(See also NORTZELL for earlier Broughton partnership)

Date(s)

Name

Address

Related Information

 

Broughton

Fenchurch Street

 

1840-1845

Broughton & Noakes

London

 

1840-1845

Broughton & Noakes

Fenchurch Street, London

 

BUCKLEY

Date(s)

Name

Address

Related Information

1861-1865

S Buckley & Co

Birmingham

American Civil War buttons
(S = Samuel)

BULLIVANT
(See also TIPSON)

Date(s)

Name

Address

Related Information

c.1800- 1840

 

 

Makers of plain buttons during this period.

1818

Bullivant & Tipson

Great Charles Street, Birmingham

Button-maker recorded in trade directory

 

Bullivant & Tipson’s Superfine

 

 

 

G H Bullivant

Birmingham

 

BUSHBY

Date(s)

Name

Address

Related Information

c.1800-1824

Bushby

London

 

c.1800-1824

Robert Bushby

St Martin’s Lane, London

Successor to I Williams

1806 - 1824

R Bushby

St Martins Lane

Livery buttons

BUTTONS LTD

Date(s)

Name

Address

Related Information

1907

 

 

 

Formed when several of the largest button companies merged. Buttons include British Army, RAF, Royal Artillery

1913

 

 

 

Sites in Birmingham making buttons, buckles and stampings:
Portland Street, Worstone Lane & Clissold Street

1907-1959

Buttons Ltd [crossed swords trademark]

Birmingham

 

 

Buttons Ltd

B’ham

 

 

Buttons Ltd

London

Note London manufacturing facility

Late 20th C

 

 

Became a division of Francis Sumner Engineering Ltd

C H C & S

Date(s)

Name

Address

Related Information

 

C H C & S

Birmingham

British Army buttons

CADBURY
(See GREEN, CADBURY & RICHARDS)

CAIRNS

Date(s)

Name

Address

Related Information

1782-1820

Cairns & Frear

 

Merchants

Mid 1790s-1810

Cairns, Frear & Kirmikell

 

Manufacturing buttons

c.1795-1810

Cairns & Co

Birmingham

 

c.1795-1820

Cairns

Birmingham

 

CAMPBELL
(See ISAACS)

CARLYLE

Date(s)

Name

Address

Related Information

1875

Carlyle (Thomas) Ltd

Birmingham

 

CHATWIN

Date(s)

Name

Address

Related Information

 

Chatwin & Son

Birmingham

 

CHATWYN
(CHATWIN? – see above)

Date(s)

Name

Address

Related Information

1851

Chatwyn J & T

Birmingham

 

CHENEY

Date(s)

Name

Address

Related Information

20th C

Cheney

B’ham

British Army and utility buttons

CLANCY

Date(s)

Name

Address

Related Information

1817-1847

Clancy

Dublin

 

COOK & PALMER

Date(s)

Name

Address

Related Information

1890’s

Cook & Palmer

Woolwich

 

CROWDER(See MORTEN & CROWDER) DAIN, WATTS & MANTON

Date(s)

Name

Address

Related Information

1850’s

Messrs Dain, Watts & Manton

Regent Works, Birmingham

 

DAWES
(See also Sherlock)

Date(s)

Name

Address

Related Information

Before 1837

Dawes Patented

15 King St Covent Garden London

Livery buttons

Before 1837

Dawes & Sherlock

14 King St London Covent Garden

 

DEAKIN, DUNCOMBE & EGGINGTON 

Date(s)

Name

Address

Related Information

1800’s

Deakin, Duncombe & Eggington

 

 

1800’s

Duncombe, Eggington & Bingley, Lesdam

 

 

DEWAR
(See McCLYMONT) 

DICKENSON
(See HAMMOND) 

DOBSON
(Probably an error reading of HOBSON)

Date(s)

Name

Address

Related Information

 

Dobson & Sons

 

 

DONLER
(Probably an error reading of DOWLER)

Date(s)

Name

Address

Related Information

 

William Donler

42 Cherry Street

 

DOUGHTY

Date(s)

Name

Address

Related Information

 

Benjamin Doughty

103 St Martins Lane, London

 

19th C

Doughty & Co

London

Livery buttons

DOWLER

Date(s)

Name

Address

Related Information

1774

 

 

 

Company founded, probably as Thomas Dowler of Great Charles Street, Birmingham.

 

William Dowler & Sons

Birmingham

 

1861-1865

W Dowler
Superior Quality

 

American Civil War buttons

1946

 

 

 

Company address in 1946:
Graham Street Works, Birmingham 1

1969

 

 

Amalgamated with Firmin

DUNBAR

Date(s)

Name

Address

Related Information

Early 19th C

H Dunbar [crossed floral sprays below]

 

Silver-plated livery buttons

DUNCOMBE
(See DEAKIN, DUNCOMBE & EGGINGTON) EDWARDS

Date(s)

Name

Address

Related Information

19th C

Robert Edwards

Birmingham

 

 

Henry Edwards

Birmingham

 

 

R Edwards

London

 

EGGINGTON
(See DEAKIN, DUNCOMBE & EGGINGTON) 

ELLIOT

Date(s)

Name

Address

Related Information

1717-1800

William Elliot & Son

Regent Street, Birmingham

 

1837

William Elliot & Son

Frederick Street

 

 

William Elliot & Son

38 Noble Street, Foster Lane, London

 

FIRMIN

Date(s)

Name

Address

Related Information

1677

 

 

 

Company established in London this year by Thomas Firming (sic).
Address: Three Kings’ Court

1763-1768

Samuel Firmin

Opposite New Church

 

1769-1782
1771
1770’s – early 1790’s

Samuel Firmin

Near Somerset House

 

1770s – early 1790’s

S F

Near Somerset House

 

1771-1780

S Firmin

Strand

 

1783-1796
1875

Firmin & Sons

153 Strand

Livery buttons (c. early-mid 19th C)

1793

Samuel Firmin

153 Strand

 

1793-1796

Samuel Firmin

Strand London

 

1794-1812

Firmin & Westall

153 Strand London

 

1794-1812
1797-1799
1797-1811

Firmin & Westall

 

.

1800
c.1800-1811

Firmin & Co

 

 

Early 19th C

Firmin & Co

London

Plain gilt buttons

1811-1821
1815-1823

Firmin & Langdale

 

 

1812
1812-1814

Philip Firmin

 

 

1815-1821

Firmin & Langdale

153 Strand &
10 Clare Court

 

1822-1828

Firmin & Sons

153 Strand &
10 Clare Court

 

1824
1839
1853
1850’s-1875

Firmin & Sons

 

 

c.1825

Firmin

Strand London

 

1826

Robert Firmin

153 Strand & Clare Court, Drury Lane

 

1826

Robert Firmin

 

 

1829-1834

P & R Firmin

153 Strand & White Horse Yard

 

1835-1837

P R & S Firmin

153 Strand & White Horse Yard

 

1837

P & S Firmin

 

 

 

P & S Firmin

153 Strand London

 

1838

Firmin & King

 

 

1838

Firmin & King

153 Strand &13 Conduit St

 

1839

Samuel Firmin & Sons

153 Strand & White Horse Yard

 

1839

Firmin & Sons

153 Strand & White Horse Yard, Drury Lane

 

1839-1849

Philip & Samuel Firmin

153 Strand &
13 Conduit St

 

1841

Philip & Samuel Firmin

 

 

1850-1854

Philip Firmin & Sons

153 Strand &13 Conduit St

 

1852-1875

Firmin & Sons

153 Strand London
& 13 Conduit St

Types include American Civil War buttons

 

Firmin & Sons

13 Conduit St London

 

1855

P V Firmin & Sons

153 Strand & 13 Conduit St

 

Mid 19th C
Late 19th C

Firmin & Sons

London

Two-hole buttons

1856-1860

Firmin & Sons

153 Strand & 13 Conduit St

Livery buttons

1861-1863

Firmin & Sons

153-154 Strand &
13 Conduit Street

 

1864-1879

Firmin & Sons

153-155 Strand &
13 Conduit Street

 

1875

Firmin & Sons

153 Strand London

 

1875

 

 

 

 

Firm became a Ltd company and occupied these addresses:
153 Strand &
13 Conduit Street &
12 White Horse Yard &
20 Stanhope Street, Clare Market

1876-1894

Firmin & Sons Ld

153 Strand London

Livery buttons

1876-1894

Firmin & Sons Ld

135 Strand London

Error in address: 135 for 153

1879-1904

Firmins

47 Warwick Street W London

 

c.1880-1904

Firmin & Sons Ld

47 Warwick St, Regent St London

Livery buttons

1880-1894

Firmin & Sons Ld

153 Strand & 47 Warwick St London

 

1880-1894

Firmin & Sons Ltd

153-155 Strand &
47 Warwick Street

 

 

Firmin & Sons Ld

155 Strand, London

Livery buttons

1882-

Firmin

London & Birmingham

 

1882-

Firmin’s

London & B’ham

 

1882-

Firmin Ltd

London & Birmingham

 

1882-

Firmin & Sons Ld

Birmingham

 

1882-

Firmin & Sons Ld

Halesowen

 

1884-

Firmin & Sons Ltd

London Patent 2346

 

1894

 

 

Company moved from Strand to 108 & 109 St Martins Lane

After 1894

 

 

 

Company opened in Globe Works, Hockley, Birmingham, 6 Warwick Street

1895-1904

Firmin & Sons

108-109 St Martins Lane & 47 Warwick Street

 

1895-1915

Firmin & Sons Ld

St Martins Lane London

 

1895-1915

Firmin & Sons Ld

108 St Martins Lane, London

 

Early 20th C

Firmin & Sons Ld

London

 

Early 20th C

Firmin & Sons Ltd

London

 

1905-1915

Firmin & Sons Ltd

108-109 St Martins Lane &
6 Warwick Street

 

 

Firmin & Sons Ltd

6 Warwick St.
Regent St London

 

1915

 

 

 

Company moved to Cork Street, which became head office and sole London address

1916-1968

Firmin & Sons Ltd

8 Cork Street

 

20th C

Firmins Ltd

London

 

Mid 20th C

Firmin

London

 

Mid 20th C

Firmin

England

 

1968

 

 

81 Ford Road became head office in London

1971

 

 

Birmingham factory moved from Globe Works to New Town Row

FREAR
(See CAIRNS) 

Back to top ---[ A - B - C - D - E - F ]--- [ G to M ] -- [ N to Z ]

Bibliography

Books

Bailey, Gordon - Detector Finds
Blair, Dennis G - British Buttons
Hughes and Lester - Big Book of Buttons
Luscomb, Sally C - The Collector’s Encyclopaedia of Buttons
Meredith, A & G & Cuddeford, M - Identifying Buttons
Peacock, Primrose - Discovering Old Buttons
Read, Brian A - History Beneath Our Feet
Squire, Gwen - Buttons, A Guide for Collectors
A Dictionary of English Costume
The Encyclopaedia of Fashion
The Magpie’s Companion

Periodicals

British Button Society Journal
Treasure Hunting Magazine
The Searcher

Internet websites

Diana’s Buttons - http://www.angelfire.com/wa/dianaspage/DianasButtonsWelcome.html
The Oldcopper Website - http://www.oldcopper.org/button_makers.htm
UKDFD - http://www.ukdfd.co.uk
UKDN - http://www.forumukdetectornet.co.uk/phpBB2/portal.php

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