"Buttons Ltd" British Button and Military Insignia Maker

Buttons Ltd.

BUTTONS L^TDBIRMINGHAM

"King's Crown" Royal Army Ordnance Corps cap badge.

BUTTONS L^TDB HAM

"King's Crown" Royal Artillery beret badge.

both images courtesy member: Erracht

       This company formed in 1907* from the amalgamation of several button manufacturers; Thomas Carylyle Ltd., Harrison Smith Ltd. and Plant, Green and Manton Ltd. for the purpose of becoming more competitive in the face of international trade. Manufacturing of buttons under the "Buttons Limited" name is recorded from 1909 in both London and Birmingham. As their chosen company name suggests, buttons were the primary product of this manufacturer, producing vast quantities for the military and civilian markets.
      The somewhat more low key production of cap badges with the Buttons Ltd mark appears to be confined to the two decades post WW2 , and as yet we have not had a report of a badge design outside of the 1947-65 period, although production of unmarked material is unknown.
      In the early 1970's Buttons Ltd was in the hands of the Holding company "Francis Sumner (Holdings) Ltd", later known as Francis Sumner Engineering Ltd. It is unknown at this stage if any button/badge production continued under the latter or if it remained a de facto holding company.

Under construction!!!

some examples of badges with this mark:

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Army Catering Corps KC 19??-54 (white metal brazier type) KK 2157	Royal Army Ordnance Corps KC 1949-54 KK 2123	Royal Artillery beret badge KC 1947-54 KK 1936	Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 1947-54 cap badge KK 2128	white metal Q/C London Irish Rifles cap badge KK 2424

Above: pre 1923 RMLI large button, and a pre 1971 Royal Scots Greys Button, with the crossed swords trade mark.

Links with a reference to this company: Buttons Ltd Study Family tree of Buttons Ltd. Button and Badge Makers UK Detector finds database

* Formation: The London Gazette 17th January 1908 refers to the winding up of Plant Green and Manton Ltd during this process: "In the Matter of PLANT GREEN AND MANTON
Limited. - In an Extraordinary General Meeting of the above named Company, duly convened, and held at 15, Waterloo-street, Birmingham, on the 20th day of December, 1907, the following Special Resolution was duly passed; and at a subsequent Extraordinary General Meeting of the said Company, also duly convened, and held at the same, place, on, the 7th day of January, 1908, the said resolution was duly confirmed, namely:— That, having regard to the provisional agreement of the 5th day of November, 1907, entered into by this Company and other Companies with Mr. E. R. P. Bradley, on behalf of an intended new Company then about to be formed for the sale (inter alia) of the undertaking and assets of this Company, and which agreement was ratified by the General Meeting of this Company, held on the 19th day of November, 1907, and which new Company has since been duly incorporated under the name of " Buttons Limited," and Has duly adopted the said provisional agreement, it is desirable to wind 'up this Company, and accordingly that this Company be wound, up voluntarily, and that Ernest James Green, the Secretary of this Company, be and he is hereby appointed the Liquidator for the purpose of such winding up. Dated this 14th day of January, 1908 EDWARD H. GREEN, Chairman "

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