IDENTIFYING BUTTONS

[tdamurphy]

I just recently inherited over 50 lbs of unsorted vintage buttons. Although very young, I have always loved antiques (I should have been born in the 40's!) and vintage items. Started collecting when I was a teenager so I am somewhat familiar with Bakelite, celluloid, lucite, etc. I am having GREAT difficulty in identifying some of the buttons. The questions I have are like.... How do I KNOW it is celluloid - I know about the bakelite test and have been using simicrome- but what about celluloid? What does Vegetable Ivory feel like - how is it different from Celluloid? I have several buttons that are cold and hard but not glass - almost like the clay vintage pokerchips were made out of and ther is a white film on them? What are they? I also have MANY, especially large that I think are celluloid - metal backs with a thin hollow top to them, what are they called? I need help knowing how to distinguish the early plastics from one another - bakelite is "easy" to me, because of the test, but I can't figure out the difference in the rest. Thanks for any help you can give me. I am always looking to "educate" myself about anything vintage in nature- tdamurphy

[svengali]

You need to hook up with a button club. There's nothing like learning "in person" with people who have collected a long time. They love helping new people to the hobby. But, if you can't get to a button club, study and persistance can pay off in identifying materials. The filmy-looking glass-like material you describe is probably mother of pearl or "pearl" for short. Not pearls like necklaces but from a shell. The film is from washing with detergent that the pearl material didn't like. Very hard to clean those but I'm told a quick soak in a weak bleach solution might work, a very quick soak then scrub with a toothbrush and dry, then apply mineral oil lightly to restore a sheen. Celluloid can be tested with a hot needle but be VERY careful because it can melt right thru the button. A quick poof of smoke and an acrid smell is what to look for. Bakelite won't budge against a hot needle, not much anyway. The type of celluloid button you are describing is usually called a "glow bubble" if it has something inside that gives it a glow (usually a sheet of pearl like celluloid). There are also "tight tops" which is a molded sheet of celluloid that just wraps around the edge with the back holding it in place. Post images if you want help identifying various types. I think we can help. Show fronts and backs. Click "photo albums" to the left to upload. I have to approve all images and I do stop by to check from time to time. I just approved a bunch, let's hear from the posters and see what they wanted to know about the images they posted here. -Carol-

[svengali]

OOPS I forgot, vegetable ivory is a natural material made of a dried palm nut kernel. It will feel light kind of like wood and sometimes shows a deep tight graining like wood but will be very smooth. Look for tiny pockmarks on the back called "chatter lines". A hot needle will produce a sweetish wood smell, some say smells like chestnut shells. Like we've smelled a lot of those huh?