Republic of Ireland DEFENCE FORCE OF IRELAND PARADE DRESS UNIFORM BUTTONS.

[Kev in Deva]

Hallo Gents.

I have a lot of these buttons in my possession and I thought it about time to add a few pictures

of these items here, Irish military buttons can often be found being sold on Evil Bay along with the claim that they are from the Old IRA period / War of Independence time.

I will start with the large brass 25mm buttons usualy found on the Military Parade Dress tunics and Overcoats for All Ranks.

A generic design of a Celtic Harp with the intials " I V " which stands for Irish Volunteer.

Most designs show 9 strings on the harp, however there are examples with only 8 strings.

The pictures show them in an uncleaned and unpolished condition,

yup many a Sargeant-Major must be rolling over in their graves at such a thought!

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2012/post-950-0-21840700-1328022650.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2012/post-950-0-89709000-1328022661.jpg

Maker Marked: DOWLER BIRMINGHAM.

William Dowler & Sons. Graham St. Works, Birmingham 1 (in 1946) Founded 1774, probably as Thomas Dowler of Great Charles St., Birmingham. Amalgamated with Firmin in 1969.

Kevin in Deva. :jumping:

Edited March 1, 2012 by Kev in Deva

[Kev in Deva]

Number 2:-

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2012/post-950-0-99235600-1328023332.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2012/post-950-0-76754300-1328023357.jpg

Maker Marked:- None.

Kevin in Deva. :jumping:

[Kev in Deva]

Number 3:-

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2012/post-950-0-94036600-1328023620.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2012/post-950-0-50842800-1328023636.jpg

Maker Marked: FIRMIN LONDON

Kevin in Deva. :jumping:

[Kev in Deva]

Number 4:-

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2012/post-950-0-87154700-1328023912.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2012/post-950-0-36792100-1328023951.jpg

Maker Marked:- FIRMIN & SONS Ltd LONDON

Firmin & Sons Ltd., Globe Works, Villa Street Aston, Birmingham, also in London, button makers established 1677, 108, 109 St. Martin’s Lane. London, 1894. The company has been based in Birmingham since 1882. Their current address is 82-86 New Town Row, Birmingham B6 4HU. The Firmin Group incorporates several other long established companies which include J R Gaunt & Son (established 1750), William Dowler & Son (established 1774), Smith & Wright (established 18th century) and Stratton of London (established 1860).

Kevin in Deva. :jumping:

Edited March 1, 2012 by Kev in Deva

[Kev in Deva]

Number 5:-

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2012/post-950-0-10693500-1328024295.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2012/post-950-0-30790900-1328024311.jpg

Maker Marked:- P 7 T (possibly refers to P&T = Posts And Telegraphs,) I have seen certain items of

Irish military kit such as wellington boots, pick helves, full size shovels etc.. etc.. marked this way,

the reasoning being that it saved on duplication of ordering items especially for the D.o.D. by the Civil Service.

Kevin in Deva. :jumping:

Edited January 31, 2012 by Kev in Deva

[Kev in Deva]

Number 6:-

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2012/post-950-0-37755200-1328024982.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2012/post-950-0-76138100-1328024995.jpg

Maker Marked:- BUTTONS LIMITED BIRMINGHAM.

Buttons Ltd., Birmingham. In 1913 they had three works sites in Birmingham, Portland Street, Worstone Lane and Clissold Street, making buttons, buckles and stampings.

Some buttons were also made in London. They also sold suitable dies and button making machinery. Trademarks included 'Three Domes' and crossed swords. Now a division of Francis Sumner Engineering Co.

Kevin in Deva. :jumping:

Edited March 1, 2012 by Kev in Deva

[Kev in Deva]

Number 7:-

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2012/post-950-0-40920100-1328026898.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2012/post-950-0-06823300-1328026910.jpg

Maker Marked:- BUTTONS Ltd BIRMINGHAM with crossed swords motif.

Kevin in Deva. :jumping:

Edited February 25, 2012 by Kev in Deva

[Kev in Deva]

Number 8:-

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2012/post-950-0-73784000-1328027933.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2012/post-950-0-37825600-1328027947.jpg

Maker Marked:- None, stylelized circular design.

Note:- only 8 harp strings in this design.

Kevin in Deva. :jumping:

Edited February 4, 2012 by Kev in Deva

[Kev in Deva]

Number 9:-

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2012/post-950-0-40021800-1328028477.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_01_2012/post-950-0-06496900-1328028489.jpg

Maker Marked:- None, plain rear.

Kevin in Deva. :jumping:

[Kev in Deva]

Number 10:-

(Work in Progress)

Maker Marked:- GAUNT LONDON

Gaunt, J.R. Ltd. Birmingham 1870 to 1973. Manufacturer of military and uniform buttons.

J R Gaunt & Sons, J R G & S, (prior to 1913, trading for 200 years as Ed Thurkle in Woostone Parade) 33, Clifford St., Aston, Birmingham until being taken over by Birmingham Mint in 1973, also in London, buckles, buttons, fittings, clasps.

Kevin in Deva. :jumping:

Edited March 1, 2012 by Kev in Deva

[Kev in Deva]

A selection of small Brass Parade Dress buttons, circa 16mm diameter.

Number 1:-

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2012/post-950-0-48802400-1330612714.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2012/post-950-0-15062600-1330612701.jpg

Maker Marked:- None plain back.

Kevin in Deva.

Edited March 1, 2012 by Kev in Deva

[Kev in Deva]

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2012/post-1-0-11178200-1330979418.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2012/post-1-0-38284800-1330979429.jpg

Maker Marked: GAUNT LONDON

Kevin in Deva

Edited March 6, 2012 by Kev in Deva

[Kev in Deva]

Number 4:-

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2012/post-950-0-68713800-1328365453.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2012/post-950-0-72611600-1328365475.jpg

Maker Marked:- None, stylelized circular design.

Note:- only 8 harp strings in this design.

Kevin in Deva.

Edited February 4, 2012 by Kev in Deva

[Kev in Deva]

Number 5:-

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2012/post-950-0-14217000-1328365735.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2012/post-950-0-54209000-1328365753.jpg

Maker Marked:- BUTTONS Ltd B'HAM

Note:- only 8 harp strings in this design.

Kevin in Deva.

Edited February 4, 2012 by Kev in Deva

[Kev in Deva]

Number 6:-

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2012/post-950-0-06043800-1328365958.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2012/post-950-0-98215300-1328365984.jpg

Maker Marked:- with 5 Astericks.

Kevin in Deva.

[Kev in Deva]

Number 7:-

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2012/post-950-0-22550000-1328366138.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2012/post-950-0-60101900-1328366156.jpg

Maker Marked:- FIRMIN LONDON

Kevin in Deva.

[gerardkenny]

Great reference thread.

[Kev in Deva]

So called "STAYBRIGHT" Buttons used by the Irish Defence Forces & Reserve Defence Forces:-

Diameter:- 25 mm

Number 1:-

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2012/post-950-0-01180700-1328553914.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2012/post-950-0-16477700-1328553974.jpg

Maker Marked:- stylelized "A" 25mm.

Brass rear.

Kevin in Deva

Edited February 6, 2012 by Kev in Deva

[Kev in Deva]

16mm

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2012/post-950-0-59037300-1328554689.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2012/post-950-0-22189800-1328554703.jpg

Maker Marked:- stylelized "A" 16mm.

Brass rear.

Kevin in Deva.

Edited February 6, 2012 by Kev in Deva

[Kev in Deva]

16mm:-

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2012/post-950-0-29827000-1328554826.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2012/post-950-0-74480800-1328554837.jpg

Maker Marked:- with 5 Astericks.

Brass backed.

Kevin in Deva.

Edited February 6, 2012 by Kev in Deva

[Kev in Deva]

With regards:- Maker Marked:- BUTTONS Ltd BIRMINGHAM with crossed swords motif.

Diameter: 25mm

There exsists a variation in design:-

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2012/post-950-0-72416700-1330163407.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2012/post-950-0-19669700-1330163426.jpg

Points to note: the "I.V." is slanted in the example on the left

as opposed to the location of the "I.V." on the right.

Design differences in the style of the Harps.

Example on the left has 8 thickly defined Harp strings

as oppossed to 9 thin harp strings on the example on the right.

Kevin in Deva :D

Edited February 25, 2012 by Kev in Deva

[Kev in Deva]

The rears:-

Please click on picture to enlarge.

Thin stringed harp version to the left.

On the one to the right, the backing plate is slightly more convex

when measured for thickness from the front to rear reads: 10mm

The other reads: just over 8mm

Kevin in Deva.

Edited February 25, 2012 by Kev in Deva

[Kev in Deva]

Originally Post Number 13:- due to a glitch with the Forum Soft-wear I am attempting to re post it here:-

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2012/post-950-0-44783100-1331058946.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2012/post-950-0-84037700-1331058966.jpg

Maker Marked:- P & T (Posts & Telegraphs*)

* Brass coloured buttons were never worn by Irish Postal workers & postmen, as far as I recall they only wore silver buttons on their uniform jackets and overcoats.

Kevin in Deva. :jumping:

Edited March 6, 2012 by Kev in Deva