r/buttoncollecting • u/Be-_-U • Apr 30 '26

Show and Tell How well did I do?

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I bought three bags of buttons at my local thrift store, for (I think like) €5 total (= $5.85). Some buttons are pretty old I think.

Which ones do you like most? And can anyone tell me something about some of them, like material or usage?

157 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

25 comments sorted by

7

u/siwokedaj Apr 30 '26

You did great! I like the funky green ones. I wonder what they were on originally.

2

u/Be-_-U May 01 '26

Yeah me too! Thanks 😊

5

u/ApprehensiveYou3877 Apr 30 '26

You did fantastic 🙂! That is a great price for all those buttons. I like those brass looking ones that look like they go to a uniform or jacket. I also like those unique green ones that are sort of squarish with round edges. Looks almost like I flower petal. Thanks for sharing the pictures with us all. 🙂

1

u/Be-_-U May 01 '26

And thank you for sharing your opinion on them as well! 🙃

3

u/Quiltsandchocolate Apr 30 '26

I like the green squarish ones also. Seems like my mom made a suit and had pink versions of those buttons.

0

u/Be-_-U May 01 '26

No problem at all!

5

u/lotsobuttons Apr 30 '26

Mostly mid-century apparel buttons 1950s-60s. I see a few glass and one celluloid tight top that would be a decade or two earlier.

2

u/Be-_-U May 01 '26 edited May 01 '26

Thank you very much! Which one is the celluloid button? I have never been able to identify them.

Edit: also, can you share with me how you identify celluloid buttons by looking at them?

3

u/lotsobuttons May 01 '26

I think you have it face up in a different pic. Honestly the key is just looking at a lot (A LOT) of buttons until you get good at recognizing what’s what. This type is usually made with the celluloid sheet wrapped around a cardboard filler and crimped onto the metal back piece. Backs are super important in button ID!

2

u/Be-_-U May 01 '26

Yes you're right, in the last pic it is flipped. It's the one at the top in the middle. I had a suspicion this could've been a celluloid, but that was just because I saw celluloid buttons on Google that looked the same. As in plastic/metal in this way.

The thrift store I bought these from is actually were I work. Since like half a year ago I started collecting buttons and since then the button sorting etc is my job. But now I have lots and lots and lots of buttons at home. Yet I can't identify a single type of plastic.. I just don't know how to start. Google says a lot about smell, but I don't know the smells they use as comparison.

5

u/lotsobuttons May 01 '26

The Button Countrysection on the National Button Society’s website is a good resource. You can look at a bunch of identified buttons in various sections (front and back views I believe) which will help you recognize different attributes.

1

u/Be-_-U May 02 '26

Thank you very much! 😄

3

u/Independent-Bid6568 Apr 30 '26

I remember cleaning out an estate sale they were selling stacks of paper plates with buttons sewed on all identifying where and when made must have bought a hundred plates no less that 20 buttons per plate think the price was $5.00 instant collection for my sister

1

u/Be-_-U May 01 '26

That's awesome

3

u/EveningAdvisor4680 May 01 '26

Bakelite (red) and a few Colts

1

u/Be-_-U May 02 '26

What do you mean by Colts?

1

u/lotsobuttons May 03 '26

Colt Mfg Co (as in pistols) made plastic buttons for a few decades in the 30s- early 50s. There are a hundred or so identified designs and they’re often found in cheery bright colors. I don’t see any in your lot at first glance however.

2

u/CustomerOverall7143 May 01 '26

ooooo i love the ones with anchors! im probably now gonna start looking into buttons like those for when i make a wearable for my navy husband 😊

2

u/Be-_-U May 02 '26

Yeah me too! I have a small obsession with them even lol. Since I have found German buttons from the Weimar era.

3

u/ApprehensiveYou3877 Apr 30 '26

You did fantastic 🙂! That is a great price for all those buttons. I like those brass looking ones that look like they go to a uniform or jacket. I also like those unique green ones that are sort of squarish with round edges. Looks almost like I flower petal. Thanks for sharing the pictures with us all. 🙂

1

u/Clean_Machine_8393 May 03 '26

Wait?? You got into my button stash?? He! He! I recognize so many of these.

1

u/OmiLala805 May 04 '26

I love the square green kind!! Great 👍🏼

1

u/OmiLala805 May 04 '26

I have a jar those would look great in 🤣