A little detour around the World:
Current Button Manufacturers.
Sometimes I stumble upon information that surprises me: not only for its content, but for the fact that it exists at all. For example, the “Metal Button Industry – 2023 Market Research with Size, Growth, Key-Players, Segments and Forecast Till 2031”. Unfortunately I would have to pay for the actual report. However, they reported that global key metal button producers include Waterbury Button Co., Gritti Group, SDA Fashion, Sankei Co., Ltd, Polsan Button, Eurobuttons, Bottonificio Bap, Lion Button and Lozio Spa, Polkom Button Co., Garrorelli, TYSSA, Final Button, and others. Apart from the clothing industry, these buttons are also produced for products such as bags.
Waterbury Button Company
In 1812 Aaron Benedict was producing bone and ivory buttons in Connecticut. He also started producing brass and pewter buttons for military uniforms as supplies from England were interrupted by the 1812 war. He apparently melted down pewter pots and pans to mold into the buttons. In 1829 he started producing brass buttons on an ongoing basis. During the Civil War, both sides used Waterford buttons on the uniforms. The company supplied the buttons for the White Star Line, including for the crew of the Titanic.
In 2000 the button branch of Waterbury Companies, as it became in 1944, was sold to OGS Technologies Inc. under the old name of the Waterbury Button Company. It continues to supply uniform buttons in Connecticut for all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, as well as modern fashion items and reproduction uniform buttons. It supplies golf clubs, railways, police departments and Disneyland. In 2005 it was reported that it employed around 60 people making buttons with brass, gold and silver.
The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, 21st June 1877 page 4.
The Emporia News Kansas 8th April 1870 p1.
Backmark: WATERBURY BUTTON CO.
National Museum of Australia https://collectionsearch.nma.gov.au/icons/piction/kaui2/index.html#/home?usr=CE&umo=68710381
Eurobuttons
This company has its factory in Bulgaria, producing buttons and other products. They produce polyester, urea, coconut, corozo, MOP, wooden, bone, horn, metal, and fabric covered buttons. They make brass and “lock” metal buttons (by which I think they mean tack buttons for jeans).
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