clear button material???

[Mike]

Not seen this before - colourless buttons? and what function? for white uniform? steward/waiter or something else?
what material is this - I touched one with a hot needle and it smelt like burnt hair.

[btns]

You nailed it with burnt hair.

It is horn, i.e. buffalo hoofs and horns.
Your buttons are natural colour, most buttons have a black dye.
American bugs eat horn buttons, so most USA buttons are rubber.
Europeans do not like the smell of these rubber buttons and prefer horn.
The last button maker specialising in horn buttons was James Grove & Sons, Halesowen. They closed a few years ago. Other important manufacturer of horn buttons were Firmin & Sons, and T. Cox.

[altcar73]

Several police forces at home and overseas used these "white" buttons to adorn traffic coats etc. I have several examples.

Dave.

[Mike]

Many thanks btns, my error was to think horn was 'black' as that is what we normally see in the button field so did not consider it.

[hkbuttonman]

I have a few buttons from the Shanghai, Chinkiang and the Hankow Municipal Police which seem to be of a similar backround design and are black in colour. Would these also be horn or something else ? I think they would have been worn on the officers great coats.
HKButtonman

[btns]

Older horn buttons often have 'pick marks' left when a hot needle was used to take it out of the mold.

[btns]

Originally Posted by hkbuttonman

I have a few buttons from the Shanghai, Chinkiang and the Hankow Municipal Police which seem to be of a similar backround design and are black in colour. Would these also be horn or something else ? I think they would have been worn on the officers great coats.
HKButtonman

Can you add rear pictures?

[hkbuttonman]

I dont have the buttons with me in UK at the moment.
All three say 'English Make' on the reverse.

[hkbuttonman]

I have attached a photo of another black button seems to be of the same material with Firmin London on the back and a KC and Cypher on the front.
Any idea what these buttons were for ? Post Office ?

[Chacal]

Originally Posted by hkbuttonman

I have attached a photo of another black button seems to be of the same material with Firmin London on the back and a KC and Cypher on the front.
Any idea what these buttons were for ? Post Office ?

Yes, General Post Office.

Graham

[btns]

Originally Posted by hkbuttonman

I dont have the buttons with me in UK at the moment.
All three say 'English Make' on the reverse.

Pre 1907 "English Make" was used by Carlyle. Post 1907 I know of one Buttons Limited Geo V button using Carlyle's old trade marks crossed swords and English Make. It could be one of the workers used old stock.
I do not have a single black horn button backmarked Buttons Limited.

Your buttons may have been made by Firmin, but I have no proof.