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Posted by David Stacey on May 04, 2006 at 23:46:00:

In Reply to: Tombac Buttons posted by David Stacey on November 01, 2005 at 05:31:06:

As research goes, It is believe that I have found the definitive description of Tombac used in button manufacture. Tombac, invented in the late 17th Century was used in manufacture up to but not after 1800. Tombac was a combination of Copper, Zinc and arsenic metal. It was known as "White Copper" according to David Johnson in his Uniform Button books published in the 1940's. As it goes, the Tombac metal was never white. It always turned out with a yellow sheen to it. In any case it was not used for button manufacture after 1800. One or two examples may have been found after 1800, but no signs of continued manufacture. This confirmed with Sally Luscomb's Button Collectors Book. The primary design on Tombac Buttons was made with a Lathe. The metal was brittle and would break instead of bend. By 1830 plain brown one piece buttons were being manufactured with design and phrases such as "Treble Gilt" or Standar Gilt or something simlar. They were continually made from a base metal with the design and words stamped on the back. So in identifying Tombac keep in mind that it was called "White Copper" that always came out to look as if it had a yellow sheen on it. Pewter buttons were made later and can be distinguised from Tombac. Refer to David Johsons book or Sally Luscombs book for confirmation. I guess this answers my own inquiry on this tough subject.

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Comments:
: As research goes, It is believe that I have found the definitive description of Tombac used in button manufacture.  Tombac, invented in the late 17th Century was used in manufacture up to but not after 1800. Tombac was a combination of Copper, Zinc and arsenic metal. It was known as "White Copper" according to David Johnson in his Uniform Button books published in the 1940's. As it goes, the Tombac metal was never white. It always turned out with a yellow sheen to it. In any case it was not used for button manufacture after 1800. One or two examples may have been found after 1800, but no signs of continued manufacture. This confirmed with Sally Luscomb's Button Collectors Book. The primary design on Tombac Buttons was made with a Lathe. The metal was brittle and would break instead of bend. By 1830 plain brown one piece buttons were being manufactured with design and phrases such as "Treble Gilt" or Standar Gilt or something simlar. They were continually made from a base metal with the design and words stamped on the back. So in identifying Tombac keep in mind that it was called "White Copper"  that always came out to look as if it had a yellow sheen on it. Pewter buttons were made later and can be distinguised from Tombac. Refer to David Johsons book or Sally Luscombs book for confirmation. I guess this answers my own inquiry on this tough subject.



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