Table of Contents
Disney buttons have been produced in Australia in two eras. Unfortunately, the manufacturers’ identities have not been uncovered.
?1930s
The thick coating of paint makes it uncertain what they are made of; wood ? composition? From Carol’s collection. The examples in Peggy Osbourne’s book are yellow, red and green. Unusual shanks.
Buttons like this were featured in ‘Just Buttons’ (an American magazine) in 1950, where they were described as from ‘overseas’. They are also seen in Peggy Osborne’s book ‘About Buttons. A Collector’s Guide 150 AD to the Present.’ on page 171. There they were described as Australian made from the 1930s. Whether this date is correct or not I have not been able to tell. There is advertising for Disney buttons dating to the 1938, but for the flat plastic cut-out type (see below). None-the-less they are most probably vintage Australian made buttons, and probably rare.
Just Buttons, September 1957.
1948-1953
I have been told these buttons were sold on Coronet cards, perhaps the partial card below is an example. Carol has a card of Bambi buttons on a ” distributed by Rex C. Norris card”. Either way, in both cases, the buttons were distributed, not manufactured, by the firms.
Is this a partial Coronet Disney card?
In her book ‘ About Buttons. A Collector’s Guide, 150 AD to the Present’ Peggy Ann Osbourne reports the Coronet buttons ( Donald, Chip, Goofy and Bambi) as being made in Australia in the early 1940s. I think they were actually produced from 1948-1953 as that’s when they were advertised.
Courier Mail, 26th October 1948 page 2.
Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, 26th May 1950 page 3.
The Advertiser (SA), 5th March 1950 page 11. The listing of “Thumper” is in error. It was actually Chip from the Chip’N’Dale duo.
Cairns Post, 24th march 1953 page 4.
The Cinderella buttons have the same shank as the Disney buttons shared previously, so it may have also been made by Coronet. Unless we find some mounted, we can only guess. However, see the 1951 advert below does mention Cinderella buttons.
Examiner, 13th January 1951 page 13.
The sitting Pluto is an American button.
Notice that some metal buttons are further mounted in a plastic surround to make a more fancy button. The two Donalds with the white surround show variation in the painted finish, as one has an orange bill whilst the other has yellow. This kind of variation is due to the painting being done by hand. The variation in amount of detailing, as well and the changing type of plastic indicates that these buttons were made over a period of time. Hand painting was labour intensive, and therefore became too expensive.
Carol’s collection.
Donald and Mickey walking are American examples.
Embassy
These are glass Mickey Mouse buttons on an Embassy card that dates from around 1947 to 1952. Being made of glass at that time, they probably were made in West Germany.
Overseas Examples
Of course, Disney buttons were made under license in the USA and elsewhere.
The Sun (Sydney), 12th May 1938 page 34.
From Robyn G’s collection.
The Australian Woman’s Mirror, 5th July 1938 page 19.
“Hand painted. Remove before washing. What a bother. Notice the copyright W. D. ENT (Walt Disney Enterprises).
What have fish got to do with Snow White? Nothing; its just marketing. How ever, these cards were used for buttons such as the one below of one of the Seven Dwarfes.
The white Mickey appeared as a “free standing” button around 1938.
In 1985 Belgian designer Marcy Szwarcburt founded Donaldson, who marketed clothing,embroidery,toys, clocks and art-work, under licence from The Disney Company. Donaldson became insolvent in 2008.
Wooden button.
