E Milns & co London
 

Good afternoon

I have a Victorian prisons department button with a backstamp of E Milns & co London. It's probably a uniform supplier.

Does anyone know anything about this company and the dates when it operated?

Many thanks

Martyn

Hello Martyn

The only information I have is that of the backmark 'E Milns & Co London' being in use on military buttons dating from the 1860s.

Not a very common backmark (on military buttons anyway) and I suspect, as you said, that of an outfitter rather than a button maker.

Roger

Hi Martyn,

I have often had a passing interest in Victorian (non military) organization uniform buttons. I recall once seeing a British Museum Guard button that I regret not buying.

Would it be possible to post an image out of interest.?

Cheers,

Roy

Here is the button in question. I have found an Edward Milns in London who was a linen draper. That's all I can find. Is it likely that they would supply uniforms and does this look like an 1860s button?
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/londo...en-draper/amp/



Many thanks

Martyn

Hello Martyn

Button could certainly date from the 1860s.

Not sure about the linen draper aspect though. I thought a linen draper was more a person who supplied material rather than made items but it is not a great leap from one trade to the other and supplying buttons (and other clothing accessories) could well have been part of the business.

There can't have been all that many E Milns operating in London in the 1860s!

Roger

Many thanks Roger. It's interesting and a nice button. I will try and research Edward Milns a little more and see what I can find. It is possible that he supplied uniform items I suppose as a sideline or small contract maybe.

Regards

Martyn

Thanks for that Martyn,

Cheerio,

Roy

May I suggest to add Milns Cartwright Reynolds Ltd to your research?
Their name appears on police buttons from the first half of the 20th century.

Example:
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...ge/27/data.pdf

Many thanks I will do that. It may be that Milns, Reynolds and Cartwright was a later partnership involving Milns.

Regards

Martyn