Kings crown Officers gilt button with lines
 

Hi all,
My understanding is that the lines on officers buttons were deleted from futyre manufacturing in 1891.

What then, is this officers pattern button with a Kings crown and lines?
Page 41 of Kit Muster shows one of these buttons. Are they distinctly Australian?

Any information or leads welcome.
Barry

Kings crown Officers gilt button with lines
 

Morning Barry

A LOT of these Kings crown/lined buttons turn up in the UK. They are generally dismissed as being fashion items. Can you show an image of the back please? Thanks.

Pete

Hi Pete,
Thanks for your reply.
I would describe the button as having a flat tin plate back with a wire loop.

Maybe having the lines is one way that manufacturers could get around the laws protecting the use of official insignia etc.
There must have been a market for them to produce the buttons? which would fit the fashion theory.

Barry

Kings crown Officers gilt button with lines
 

Hi Barry

That's the same backing as found on the fashion buttons here.

As you say having the lined background is probably a way of getting around the laws relating to official insignia.

Pete

More information
 

This is a RNR Commanders undress coat.

This coat is interesting in that it has pocket flaps, a higher front closer and has Russia braid rank rings instead of lace.
The owner of the jacket (Winton) was Merchant Navy before WW2 and served in Britian during the war, so it is possible that this old coat was converted to a navy coat form Merchant Navy for wear as second-best work wear. (I have his best coat).

What makes the coat even more interesting is that the top two buttons are the lined, roped and Kings Crown type.
One was made by Buttons limited the other has the flat tin backing.
While these nonregulation buttons may well have been unofficial and made for the fashion industry they were actually used.

Any more thoughts welcome.
Barry