Just found this thread, hoping someone here could help me out dating these buttons.
Last summer I found a Dominion of Canada Indians button manufactured by 'Smith & Wright', I've been told that this design of button was used on 'Scarlet Coats' given to Aboriginal Chiefs starting in 1875.
The only problem I'm running into is dating the button I found, I found 0 information on the 'Smith & Wright' design, but I found an identical Button with the backmark of Tait and Co. online.
Would anyone have an idea on which would be the original button, with experts I have spoken to it is very possible that this button is from the coat belonging to the first Chief of the Fort Alexander (Sagkeeng) reserve.
Photos 1 and 2 are the button I found last summer, the backmark is difficult to make out but reads 'Smith & Wright, Birmingham'.
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The identical Button which I found online has the backmark of Tait and Co. London.
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43030423_2m~2.jpg