WWI-WWII era brass button sticks - type 1
1917 - 1950A pair of World War One through to World War Two era button sticks made from solid pressed brass. They feature a number of distinctive cut-outs along the outer edges which were shaped to precisely fit and clean the brass tips and buckles found on 1908-pattern military webbing and belts.
Two different sized circular punch-outs accommodate the uniform's press studs, while the central horizontal slot receives standard shank buttons.
The reverse is plain and there are signs of wear from age and usage on both sides.
During World War One, soldiers were required to maintain pristine uniforms, which included keeping all brass uniform buttons, cap badges, and belt components highly polished. However, liquid chemical polishes like Brasso could easily stain, discolour, or rot the wool or khaki fabric of the tunic if it touched the cloth.
Brass button sticks (also referred to as a button brasses or button cleaning guards) served as a protective physical shield between the metal hardware and the uniform fabric. With the fabric completely blanketed underneath the brass plate, the soldier could vigorously apply polish and buff the buttons clean without any risk of transferring residue onto the tunic.
Similar button stick designs were patented in 1917. However, they were used up until post-World War Two, when the introduction of Staybrite buttons made them obsolete.
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