A digest of Buttons and Stories shared during April 2016:

Beauclaire buttons produced in Petone, NZ. Notice the play on words “the Leda in fashion”. this presumably dates the buttons to the late 1950’s when the companies merged.
It is easier, although not always, to tell the maker of a button if it is carded. However, the advertising in old magazines can help. Here are some loose buttons that appear to be Beutrons from the 1950’s, along with details from some adverts of the same from the Australian Women’s Weekly dated in the 1950s.
1950s Buttons and their representaton in ads.
A Stokes & Martin button: The partnership between Thomas Stokes and G.F. Martin lasted from circa 1867 until 1893. This button is from a New South Wales military uniform, which dates the button from 1876 as that is when the emblem of “a lion passant guardant on a cross between 4 stars of 8 points” with a Queen’s (Victoria) crown , was declared.

NSW military brass uniform button dated 1881-1901. Made by C.Anderson, Sydney. This button has the correct 8 point star.