Questions......

[sheepscotrivertraders]

Hi Carol, I am new to button collecting. I became interested in buttons when I was looking for interesting embellishments to use on felted bags that I make. I had no idea that there are so many different kinds of buttons out there!! And many different prices! It is very confusing and it seems that many of the sellers on eBay don't really know much about them either. What is the difference between celluloid and bakelite? Which is more desirable? Do the bakelite "tests" really work? (I can't seem to get any of them to work anyway!) How do you know if you are paying too much? Are big lots a better deal? (I have bought a lot of disappointing junk buttons that way) What do you do with useless junk buttons?just toss them?(I'm starting to think that they just get sold in lots on eBay!:) ) What is the best way to clean old buttons? Is there a book that you would recommend for new button collectors? Thanks for having this group!! I find it all very fascinating!! JackieR

[svengali]

Check out these images of buttons which were ruined by "celluloid disease". For some reason the clear areas of the great hand-tooled 1940's era celluloids are most often affected. They look crackled, which some people think is the way they were made. Nope, this means they've crystalized and will often fall apart from handling or even in the mail on the way to the customer:



Here's an image of healthy vintage hand-tooled celluloids


Carol C

[up_country_crafts]

I have one that I know from these pictures is a celluloid. It is not in the jar. Just one of a big box of buttons I picked up at an estate sale. And it is quite cracked. I thought in it's day it was probably quite pretty. The buttons I saved for my daughter are shirt buttons.

[svengali]

There's a designer who worked for B. Blumenthal Button Co. which marketed many of the fancy hand-tooled celluloids, her name was Marion Weeber. Many of the hand tooled creations were her designs. She provided designs to this firm from the late 1930's into the 1950's. She had her own design firm in Troy, NY and referred to herself as an "industrial designer". Did a line of sterling silver jewelry, some signed, painted and designed housewares. Her family has been in touch with me because I feature an info page about her on my website but none of them seems to know much about her design work for Blumenthal. They marketed buttons under the LaMode line. Weebers designs came on cards with the line name and her name. These were a big deal in those days, selling for large prices and considered "deluxe" buttons even then. All the buttons in the second image I've posted are Weeber designs or very much like her work so as to be indistinguishable from it. -Carol-

[jewelrymaker37]

Does anyone know what style number, or a name for the Swarovski crystal, metal back shank button? It is so hard to find style #'s to be able to purchase. I make jewelry and would like some of these to add to designs... ANY help will be greatly appreciated. thank you so much!

[svengali]

Try this number: 3818 (with shank), 1770 (with shank), 3012 thru 3017 are sew-thrus but very pretty. Try 3025, 3027, these are also sew-thrus. Some sellers are calling this item a button, it isn't but it sure is pretty: 160879. There's a metal backed Swarovski button called Rivoli. I found a UK seller listing it, check item# 104751422118 they didn't list a design number. Here's a type the seller says are Swarovski crystals, with shanks: ad # 260040903109 And another ad showing a different type of Swarovski button: 104751615891 Here's how one designer used buttons as earrings: 30008537490 I found all this stuff with search words "swarovski button" Best of luck, hope you find the ones you want. Please...no shank snipping, it's against our religion in this buttons chat group...or mine at least. -Carol C-

[the_button_exchange]

Woo woo! Nice celluloids Carol. I want to eat them - or at least write about them. Do you ever check your email? We have been trying to contact you for a final PTP. Yes, we are a spirited, perhaps crazy, and VERY CHATTY bunch of button enthusiasts but please don't blow us off just because Stephanie made that nutty comment about button seduction! There is a final draft of "Button Information - Top Sources" waiting in your box. We mention your name in reference to 'button blogging' (which, according to certain members in this group, could use a little fluffing *wink wink*). Please approve or deny personal mention before we pull out the rest of our hair.

[up_country_crafts]

I do have a couple celluloid buttons but not in the jar.

[svengali]

Well it was back in March, so I'm answering this really late, but I did NOT get any such e-mail about an article. If you sent it to the eBay mailbox, those things are very unreliable and I'm not posting my e-mail address here. Once I did that and go so much spam you would not believe it.. Click on my feedback number and there's a place in the feedback area to "contact member", maybe that'll work. -Carol-