Officers' Mess Waiters' Buttons

[janner305]

Hi all,

Could anyone of you learned collectors tell me if there is ANY reference material to be had on the buttons worn by Officers Mess Staff, usually described as Officers' Mess Waiters.
I have collected some 60 of these buttons over the years, some of them absolute jewels of design, but find them extremely difficult to categorize.
Some buttons clearly depict a design that can be linked to their parent Regiment, but others bear the old pre 1881 numbers.
I tend to use this to identify them as 1st or 2nd Battalion of the post-1881 Regiment in accordance with the Army reforms of that year.
What is even more confusing is that some buttons depict a QVC?

Does anyone know when Officers' Mess Waiters' buttons started to be used?

Does anyone else collect these buttons and if so, could an exchange of pictorial information be instigated for the benefit of all?

Regards

Janner305