WWI-WWII era brass button stick - type 2

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1917 - 1950

Overview

World War One through to World War Two era button stick made from solid pressed brass. It features 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 patent number is impressed horizontally at the top of the button stick.
The reverse is plain and there are signs of wear from age and usage on both sides.

Historical information

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.

This particular button stick design was patented in 1917. However, they were used up until post-World War Two, when the introduction of Staybrite buttons made them obsolete.
There are two other button sticks in the collection with almost identical design, but they lack the impressed patent number and were possibly made by a different manudacturer.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-119-RoW01003

Item type

Accessories

Collectibles

Ephemera

Metal

Objects

Personal Effects

Uniforms

Themes