South Carolina Buttons

[Will Rumsey]

Pards , need some help with some info on SC Buttons found on ebay..The buttons have a SC on each side with a palmetto tree in the center with the words " animis opibusque parat" inscribed around the lower edge.The buttons back mark is hortsman bros & co. phila and one says scovil mfg co. waterbury.I was wondering if anyone had any info on these buttons or hortsman brothers. mfg co. I was wondering about there authenticity as well as some history on SC buttons. I tried a search but found nothing.Any help would be great as i dont know much about buttons..thanks ...Neill Rose where are you?? will

[ewtaylor]

Re: South Carolina Buttons

It would help if you would copy and paste the ebay link in your post. Then we could see for ourselves. Horstman produced buttons pre and post war. So did Scovill.
everett taylor

[tarheelmilitia]

Re: South Carolina Buttons

I believe these are the buttons in question. I think they are post war. http://cgi.ebay.com/CIVIL-WAR-ERA-SO...QQcmdZViewItem

[Will Rumsey]

Re: South Carolina Buttons

Yea thats them but I didnt want to post any pics or links as I think thats a no, no. Not sure but thanks for your help..What makes you say post war? Do you have anymore info on hortsman??

[Jimmayo]

Re: South Carolina Buttons

Yea thats them but I didnt want to post any pics or links as I think thats a no, no. Not sure but thanks for your help..What makes you say post war? Do you have anymore info on hortsman??

It's not just the back mark but the style of the button. I could not find any 3 piece SC buttons in Tices book for CW use and have never seen a dug one from the CW.

IMO these are post war and were worn by outfits such as the one pictured.

[ewtaylor]

Re: South Carolina Buttons

"American Military Button Makers and Dealers; Their Backmarks and Dates"
William F. McGuinn and Bruce S. Bazelon

The Horstmann family produced buttons from 1816-1890's

Buttons were made differntly at different times, and the backmarks were too. This is how buttons are dated. The book I listed above is a must for button collectors

everett taylor

[Will Rumsey]

Re: South Carolina Buttons

Thanks for all yalls help . Ill check into the book for sure..this might sound dumb but how was it that a button maker in the north supllied south carolina or did they have most of the buttons before the war..did the supply ever stop to the south? Why didnt the north stop it? .I never heard of a buttton shortage in the south . Also was there any button makers in south carolina at the time that supplied the troops.How was it done??thanks again for all yalls help . will

[Jimmayo]

Re: South Carolina Buttons

Thanks for all yalls help . Ill check into the book for sure..this might sound dumb but how was it that a button maker in the north supllied south carolina or did they have most of the buttons before the war..did the supply ever stop to the south? Why didnt the north stop it? .I never heard of a buttton shortage in the south . Also was there any button makers in south carolina at the time that supplied the troops.How was it done??thanks again for all yalls help . will

If you are going to be in the vicinity of the Museum of the Albermarle this Sat. stop by and we can chat. I will be set up in one of the class rooms.

[NC1862]

Re: South Carolina Buttons

The buttons in question also appear to be "muffin" style. The repro SC buttons that I have are more flat

[Will Rumsey]

Re: South Carolina Buttons

That would be great Jim. Like to meet you..Any particular time?? Also the owner of the buttons emailed me and said that they were aquired about 30 years ago from a estate sale in Philly.Not much help there..

[ewtaylor]

Re: South Carolina Buttons

The buttons in question also appear to be "muffin" style. The repro SC buttons that I have are more flat

A good deal of the repro Kentucky buttons out there are also flat, however they are repros of Post-War buttons. The Ky state buttons were "muffin" styled and the KMI (Ky Military Inst.) were more of a flatter 2pc.
There are good repros and bad ones. For some reason people want to put original buttons, not repros, on their uniforms. I guess because the repros aren't made as good. Usually I tell them to buy Post-War/Indian War buttons instead. This way you still have a good quality button for a fraction of the cost.
everett taylor