A Belgian court dress for a Belgian train compagny General Director

[Stuka f]

The title says it all.

The medal has nothing to do with the jacket or the guy. I just didn't had a Belgian bresat star to put on.

 

 

[Graf]

An amazing item  I love it

Thank you for sharing

[922F]

Don't make them like this anymore--& have [especially for Train Company Directors] very few full dress occasions to wear them.   A shame as far as I'm concerned!    Plus, air-con would make them less of a burden in hot weather!       

 

Yours looks to be in especially good condition with little mothing & minimal embroidery wear/tarnish.   What a great find, you are lucky!!

[Jef]

Hello Chris, 

Nice uniform you have there. Could you tell me  who made the buttons please?

kind regards,

Jef

[Stuka f]

Thanks guys!

Buttons are made by Auguste Fonson.

[Stuka f]

I am dating them between 1840 and 1871.

Still trying to find out who's coat it was...

[Graf]

Hi Stuka f

Any names or initials inside  That may help

[Stuka f]

Hey Graf,

 

no indication what so ever, except the medals emplacement.

6 ribbon medals and one breast star, is my only indication.

[Jef]

Hello Chris,

I know you know a lot about buttons.... but I think Francois August Fonson made buttons around 1890 till start WWI  When his son Jules came into  the bussines (somewhere begin 1900, don't have a specifically year), the name was changed into Fonson & co . August was born in 1845, he died in 1920.

The Fonson bussiness started in 1848 by two brothers Jean-Barthélemy (1808-1882) and Jean-Francois Fonson ( no known dates), they used the mark Fonson Fréres.

It is not all clear for me,because  there is not much information about those buttonmakers. I'm still looking for information.

During the lockdown I organised my buttons.... had a lot of time. In this way I put the buttons of the Belgian line infantry in a small frame. There were buttons of Fonson Fréres, A. Fonson and Fonson & Co. So these buttons were only made till start of WWI, later in 1915 Belgians got khaki uniforms with buttons model Belgian Lion. 

Pic attached: I believe number 4 is French, still miss nr 5.

[VC89]

There is an article about Belgian medal makers which include a short history of the Fonson Company (http://www.numisbel.be/KBGN 175_De Lombaert.pdf), pg. 175-160.

[Jef]

That's correct, I took some info from that study. Very nice study I must say.

[Graf]

Hi Stuka f

Then you have to dig deep into the railway archives ..and with a bit luck and a bit hard research you can get the person,

The information from the  dedicated Belgium friends fellow collectors can help

 

Cheers

[Jef]

Made a small example about Fonson buttons made from start manufacturing till begin World War I. I used  the knowledge I have so far.  It is still under construction cause it's not finished. Have no idea if it ever will be finished ( ?), because  it's not easy to find correct information. I was lucky to have advice and experience from different specialists collectors.

Jef

 

[Stuka f]

Thank you all, for the input.

 

I was aware of the De Lombaert PDF, maybe I should read it again. 

 

However it isn't ...let's say; "complete",.... to me, based on what I know and what I was told ....

For instance; Indian Caps or Van Koetsem (same compagny, from Antwerp) isn't mentioned any where .

And this compagny  had for over the 50.000 die's (coming from most of the mentioned makers!) to strike medals, buttons and insignas. Even 19 th century helmet crests and sword ornaments. In a huge factory in the center of Antwerp....!

 

I also had the last (active) Beerts ( not mentioned too!) descendant as a neighbour, when I lived in the center of Antwerp.

 

To Jef; I also used the lockdown to  spend some time on my buttons.

Not only the Fonson buttons.

It can be seen on;

https://www.warrelics.eu/forum/uniform-buttons-world/variety-belgian-regimental-buttons-their-maker-761770/

No intention  to promote WRF! If not allowed feel free to erase the link.

 

I posted it also on a French militaria forum and can poste it here as well, if wanted.

 

About the "De Lombaert PDF " pdf ; Elimex; a compagny that used to work in Brussels around 1910, isn' mentioned eighter...

Edited August 30, 2021 by Stuka f
missed a name

[Jef]

Great info, Chris. Thank you. Great links.  I have visited  Indian Caps when it stopped, early eighties of past century and bought some pieces, mostly medal strikes. Saw there were a lot of dies too but didn't know what to do with it.... that time?.

Kind regards,

Jef

 

 

[Stuka f]

I have allways been in antiques in general, and cleaning up houses for a living.

I cleared Indian cap's in the late eighties, it took me two months. 

And it was only a 15 minutes drive. 

But there was much and it was heavy.

Everything was stacked in a ware house in Merksem at the time I did that job. And father Van Koetsem was no longer.

I still got quiet some die's.

[Graf]

Hi Stukaf

 

Keep the good work

 

Cheers