Tailor’s Button

Chas Gilbert, Brisbane

Charles Gilbert was already adverting in 1886, although the below article claims he was trading in Queen Street from1892; presumably an error.He opened a branch in Rockhampton, which was not successful.

Queensland Figaro and Punch, 15th May 1886 p.39

The Bulletin, 23rd march 1905 p.27

The Telegraph (Brisbane), 4th July 1934 p.17

The firm of Findlaysons purchased Charles Gilbert Co P/L in 1950.

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Branded Buttons

Lama (?)

This one is unusual in that it is backmarked Stokes Melb , one piece flat face with a hefty shank. it may date from the 1960s.The brand is possibly Lama, and shows a lamb. Presumably it was a knitwear brand, but I have not found out anything about it.Stokes mainly produced uniform (civilian and military) buttons rather than clothing label buttons.

Saltbush

Saltbush Clothing Co P/L was located in  Burra, near Adelaide, South Australia. It is no longer trading.  There are identical buttons for sale on Etsy, described as from the 1970s, although it was possibly the 1980-90s.

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1950s Beauclaire

Thanks again to Rosemary.

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New Finds

Thanks to Rosemary. Contact me if you have treasure to share!

The following brands were probably both sold by distributor Walkers, and possibly  made by D. C. Quinn.

Cygnet

Delphi

See http://www.austbuttonhistory.com/australian-button-history/ww2-and-onwards-including-leather-buttons-and-obscure-companies/cygnet-delphi-e-walker-son-pty-ltd/

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A Treasure Hunt

I was recently part of an international group of button sleuths hunting down the identity of this button. It was part of a collection of British and Colonial prison uniform buttons. It was dated ‘May 24, 1896’.

The backmark is David Jones & Co, Sydney. This dates to (unfortunately) a wide time frame; 1833 – December 1906. David Jones was a haberdashery store that grew into a chain of department stores, but they were not button manufacturers. Their tailoring department must have had the tender to produce the uniforms these buttons adorned.

An initial red herring was the name ‘Toga’ as there is a Polynesian Island of that name that is currently part of the nation of Vanuatu. However, This island has too small a population to have needed specific uniforms. The gentleman heading the hunt was under the impression that Toga was an island in the Torres Straight, and that this was a jail uniform button from that island. The Aussies on the hunt firmly dissuaded him of that notion.

The original “incorrect” notion that the button related to Tonga turned out in fact to be correct, as any philatelist (stamp collector) would know! Stamps printed with the name ‘Toga’ date from 1897 -1948. Apparently the letter ‘G’ in Tongan is pronounced as ‘ng’, so there was no need to have the letter ‘N’ in the word. But sometime in the 1940’s it was decided to include the letter, possibly to help English-speaking, non-Tongans to pronounce the word as a Tongan would. Thus the word ‘TONGA’ has appeared since then on stamps and presumably uniform buttons (thanks Tony).

https://www.linns.com/news/world-stamps-postal-history/tonga-stamps-last-south-pacific-monarchy-stamps-down-under.html

As can be seen, the crown of the button matches the Tongan crown.

Crown of Tonga

The word ‘Jela’ remained a mystery; we have recently been informed that it is the phonetic spelling of the Togan word for jailer!

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Beutron Tub Buttons

Dating to the mid 1940s, it is rare to find a whole card, and even rare to find one not trimmed in size sadly. I keep hoping!

The logo at the bottom left on the card shows 3 fish; in particular, herrings. The company was G. Herring Pty Ltd, so this was a visual pun.

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Tailor’s Buttons

Percy Gadd, Sydney

Percy Stanley Gadd was born in Frankston, Victoria in 1892. He had moved to New South Wales by 1912. Unfortunately, he did not advertise whilst working in Sydney.

Percy moved to  Woollongong in 1945, and set up in the old Woolthorpes building. He advertised ladies’ and men’s clothing, and also drapery. He offered alterations and bought second hand clothing and drapery for “highest prices”. Sadly, he died soon after, aged only 53 years. The business was continued until the following year.

South Coast Times and Woollongong Argus, 17th August 1945 p.9

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Tailors’ Button

John & Cleary, Fremantle

In February 1893 the partnership of Moore & Co was dissolved, with  William Thomas John and Mary Agnes Cleary continuing as John & Cleary. They stocked clothing and fancy goods, including electroplated silver ware, cutlery and grocery, clothing and drapery.

Mr John retired from the firm soon after, and took over the Coronation Hotel in Woodlupine. He unfortunately died in 1908, aged only 53 years.

The West Australian (Perth), 14th February 1893 p.3

In 1896 “… great excitement was occasioned in the vicinity of John and Cleary’s establishment, 79 High-street, Fremantle, by a revolver shot at the rear of the shop premises.” A thief had been interrupted by the manager, who lived on site and who nearly got shot for his efforts!

“The ‘Emporium’ continued until 1903 when it was sold to new owners. Mary Cleary, spinster, died in 1939 in Subiaco aged 93 years.

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Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade

The backmark is Millers Badges Sydney with a phone number. This is a new variant to the known Millers backmarks. It appears in Trove from 1981-1991, and is listed on ASIC as a current business name.

http://www.austbuttonhistory.com/australian-button-history/sample-page/#G_A_Miller_Sydney

The other Queensland Ambulance uniform buttons I have were made by A. J. Parkes  of Brisbane.

http://www.austbuttonhistory.com/14th-march-2021/

http://www.austbuttonhistory.com/uniform-buttons-2/sporting-clubs-and-volunteer-organisations/#Queensland_Ambulance_Transport_Brigade

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New Zealand Beauclaire

As can be seen here, some of the buttons sold and/or made in New Zealand by General Plastics were identical to the Australian products. Some of the cards were the same design, too. The only difference was found on the back of the card.

Woolworths Sew’n’ Save

These cards were sold between 1967 until 1972, when they were replaced by red, white, and blue cards with the ‘Big W’ symbol.

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