NAVY COAT BUTTON SET SCOVILL CIVIL WAR - JACOB REED'S SONS POST CIVIL WAR

Description

Photographs throughout Ad:
Offered for auction from a recent estate sale is an excellent examples of both American Civil War Military History and Post American Civil War History which includes a set of 2 buttons as defined below
Button No. 1 CIVIL WAR UNION NAVY TWO PIECE COAT  BUTTON - HORIZONTAL ANCHOR -  NON DUG  note “ * SCOVILL MF’G CO . * WATERBURY” Backmark -
Button No. 2 POST CIVIL WAR NAVY TWO PIECE COAT BUTTON - HORIZONTAL ANCHOR - NON DUG - “note JACOB REED’S SONS PHILA”Backmark
Below I have added additional information on the history and time period of the buttons in auction.
SCOVILL BUTTON:  From research I believe that the Civil War Union Navy button most likely was manufactured during the Late 1840’s to 1865 period as noted on page 160 of Tice’s Book on Uniform Buttons of the United States.
This wonderful Non - Excavated 2 piece brass button is approximately 22 mm or approximately .875 inches.  Shank in tack and as received from estate sale.  It is as received from estate sale, untouched. It exhibits minor discoloration or old age toning throughout as photo shows. No dents or dings.  It also shows light ware from use, the ends of the breast feathers and chest area show light smoothing out as photo may also shows.  On the back it reads as noted above * SCOVILL MF’G CO. * WATERBURY.   Numerous photos have been taken in varying light conditions as photo show.
JACOB REED’S SONS:  From research again I believe that the Jacob Reed’s Sons Navy Coat Button can be dated as being manufactured after 1880 do to the & being removed from the backmark.
This wonderful Non - Excavated 2 piece brass button is approximately 22 mm or approximately .875 inches.  Shank in tack and as received from estate sale.  It is as received from estate sale, untouched. It exhibits minor discoloration or old age toning throughout as photo shows. No dents or dings.  It also shows light ware from use on the high points of the wings, very light ware though.  On the back it reads as noted above   JACOB REED’S SONS PHILA .   Numerous photos have been taken in varying light conditions as photo show.
Below additional information on both Reed’s Sons and Scovill Mfg. Co.
JACOB REED’S SONS:
The firm of Jacob Reed's & Sons (a clothing-maker) was originally established in 1824, it was out-of-business in 1877. It was re-formed by his sons (without the dad Jacob) around 1880.  It's name then became simply "Jacob Reed's Sons" (without the "&") ...and stayed that way until the firm went out of business in 1983. The Button Backmark on this button for auction as noted above reads as “Jacob Reed’s Sons" so I believe it dates somewhere between the early-1880s to as late 1941, when the US Navy changed the emblem on the button slightly by making the eagle's head look in the opposite direction.
By 1858, Jacob had settled in his location at the corner of 2nd and Spruce, and was becoming increasingly involved with the production of military uniforms.  This practice was something that would continue for decades, as Reed’s and then Jacob Reed’s Sons would produce uniforms for government agencies ranging from the Army and Navy to the Post Office and National Parks.
A historical note on the Jacob Reed’s & Sons early history from the book Jacob Reed’s Sons founded 1824 - One Hundred Year History - the following was noted:
In June of 1861 following Presidents Lincolns call for volunteers, Philadelphia had 10 Regiments in the field, totaling about 14,000 men, five new regiment, which had been accepted by the Government, were in process of formation, one which was commanded by Col. J. K. Murphy.  Col. Murphy returned to Washington on the 10th of June and three days later entered a contract with Jacob Reed for the making of uniforms for his entire Regiment.  The contract called for the complete of all uniforms in 13 days from the date it was single June 13, 1861.  The records show that the contract was completed on time.
SCOVILL MANUFACTURING COMPANY:
Scovill Manufacturing Company:
Founded originally under the name Abel Porter & Co. in 1802, the Scovill Manufacturing Company was officially formed in 1850 when owners James and William H. Scovill consolidated the successful button operation and created a joint stock corporation. Located in Waterbury, Connecticut, the company produced metal plates for daguerreotype photographs, brass lamps, artillery munitions, and coin blanks for the United States Mint, in addition to the brass buttons that they were known for.
Scovill produced millions of military buttons during the Civil War.  Never predisposed to turn aside profits, the firm probably used the misleading backmark “SUPERFIN/PARIS” on Alabama and Kentucky buttons sold to the South.
This information came from Warren K. Tices book.
This is a superb original classic Civil War Navy uniform coat size button. It has the eagle perched on the anchor on the front. Around the edge it has the stars on the lined background. This is the correct Civil War pattern with the tip of the anchor tucked behind the eagle’s wing. The original back and shank are intact with a great look. It has the correct Civil War era maker mark on the back from the firm of Scovill. Scovill was located in Waterbury, Connecticut and was the foremost producer of uniform buttons during the 1800's
I will accept PAYPAL. Items will be shipped First Class Mail usually next day after payment of Paypal, packaging and mail .95