Lyn has shared a mystery with me; a lovely little badge. Does anyone know what it was for?

I have kindly been contacted with the image of the Royal Australian Navy’s Officers’ Mess dress button. Thanks Wayne! There was both a large and smaller button; the small having no backmark but the larger Stokes & Sons.

RAN officers mess dress button

I have been kindly contacted by Steve Benson with some Stokes & Sons buttons from the uniform of the band leader of Barker College. The school was started in 1891 and continues in Sydney today. The cadets were formed from late 1909, and appeared to be still running in 1950.

The Sydney Morning Herald, 6th August 1930.

Here are two Beutron sample cards from the 1980s.

On the back it states “Pattern 3377. ELEGANT PEARL SHELL REFLECTION. Dyed to PRETTY DELICATE PASTELS & RICH JEWEL COLOURS WHICH DOMINATE NEW SEASONS FASHIONS AND COLOUR STORY. BRING NEW EXCITEMENT TO THAT SPECIAL GARMENT.”

“BASIC & CLASSIC. COOL COOL WHITES AND ALSO IN WARM SOFT COLOURS & BRIGHTS. DYED TO COLOUR MATCH WITH FABRICS OF YOUR OWN SPECIAL SELECTION.”

What a beautiful early Christmas  present!

Coronet Button, Buckle and Novelty Co. existed from 1939 until 1946, when they were renamed (or taken over) by Roger Berry. Military styling is a recurring fashion.

Wash Buttons

With plastic starting to take over from other more fragile materials, being washable was a real selling point for button manufacturers. These were labelled British made and date from the 1940s. G. Herring started producing their own plastic buttons around 1957.. Electrical washing machines did not sell in Australia in any number until the 1960s, so  clothes were still hand washed. Not all things were better in the good old days!

Buttons like these casein examples would stand up to washing and ironing, although some old examples show dullness and cracking.

Tailor’s Button

Chas Gilbert, Brisbane

Charles Gilbert was already adverting in 1886, although the below article claims he was trading in Queen Street from1892; presumably an error.He opened a branch in Rockhampton, which was not successful.

Queensland Figaro and Punch, 15th May 1886 p.39

The Bulletin, 23rd march 1905 p.27

The Telegraph (Brisbane), 4th July 1934 p.17

The firm of Findlaysons purchased Charles Gilbert Co P/L in 1950.

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Branded Buttons

Lama/Lamar?

This one is unusual in that it is backmarked Stokes Melb , one piece flat face with a hefty shank. it may date from the 1960s.The brand is possibly Lama, and shows a lamb. Presumably it was a knitwear brand, but I have not found out anything about it.Stokes mainly produced uniform (civilian and military) buttons rather than clothing label buttons.

Saltbush

Saltbush Clothing Co P/L was located in  Burra, near Adelaide, South Australia. It is no longer trading.  There are identical buttons for sale on Etsy, described as from the 1970s, although it was possibly the 1980-90s.

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1950s Beauclaire

Thanks again to Rosemary.

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New Finds

Thanks to Rosemary. Contact me if you have treasure to share!

The following brands were probably both sold by distributor Walkers, and possibly  made by D. C. Quinn.

Cygnet

Delphi

See http://www.austbuttonhistory.com/australian-button-history/ww2-and-onwards-including-leather-buttons-and-obscure-companies/cygnet-delphi-e-walker-son-pty-ltd/

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