National Button Society Classification for 2008 Competition DIVISION II UNIFORM - a garment over which the wearer has no choice as to overall design, cut, color, or cloth (except “seasonal” cloth weight and some color choices), these choices being exercised by the employer of the wearer. Any button worn on a uniform, regardless of button material, quality or construction that contains the logo, name, or other insignia of an organization qualifies as a uniform button. Cls. 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 2-1, and 2-2 are military, while the other classes are non-military. Buttons should be labeled whenever the name of the issuing organization is not shown in the button design, even if the logo or insignia is commonly recognized. Although worn on a garment which can be classed as a “uniform”, buttons without any design such as a company name, logo, or distinctive insignia are not applicable here, but belong in appropriate class(es) of Divs. I, III, or IX. Livery buttons are placed in Div. IX, Sec. 25. School blazer buttons (made with special dies), usually sold separately from a garment, belong in Div. III. Tiffany back marks are not appropriate in Div. II. “Reproduced” buttons (made from new molds similar to the original) are NOT suitable in Div. II. Examples are souvenir buttons at historical sites and for centennial events. Modern materials and shanks help distinguish these from the originals. Refer to October 1982 NBS Bulletin “Re-issued" buttons are acceptable, but are far less desirable than the originals. These buttons (re-issued), as defined by Johnson and others, are buttons struck from original dies for collectors, museums, blazers and as souvenirs after the original purpose of the button is obsolete. The original button may be of different construction than the re-issue. "Stock" buttons are sold to all buyers who cannot afford a special die-struck design. These usually include letters, general designs and symbols suitable for multi-purposes, such as: airlines, hotels, clubs, police, fire, blazers, commercial, rail and other "uniformed" groups. Stock buttons are poor choices except when working on "assorted types," such as: police buttons not specialized to all pictorial, verbal, etc. For a stock button to be a good choice, one must be able to document that the button was, indeed, worn by employees or members of the designated organization. "Fake" buttons are those created for sale which were not made for use on uniforms, i.e., the organization never ordered the buttons and the employees of the organization did not wear them. Old buttons were used as masters to make new molds for casting new buttons. Examples: "Colt Fire Arms Factory Guard." "Pinkerton Railroad Detective," "Wells Fargo and Co. Guard" and crude pewter castings marketed as "from old Buttons". Transportation covers all organizations concerned with the movement of goods or people. SECTION 1 - UNITED STATES 1- 3 Commercial enterprises. Exposition guards' buttons are acceptable in this class as well as in Cl. 1- 11, buttons of a single state, based upon the physical site of the exposition. Includes news dealers or news distributor organizations. All transportation enterprises are excluded and belong in Cl. 1- 10 as appropriate. 1- 4.1 Federal agencies. Includes Diplomatic Corps, U.S. officials, as well as other federal agencies having a non-military function. Military (armed forces buttons) are not applicable here. The U.S. Coast Guard is an “armed force” (under Navy control) only in wartime. Formerly, it was under jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation, but is now under the Department of Homeland Security and is, therefore, applicable in this class as well as in Cl. 1- 6.2 (National armed forces). The “U.S. Airmail” is an early airline button and is not applicable in this class. 1- 4.2 State/city government agencies. Includes all correctional agencies, hospitals (including Veterans’ homes), departments, corporations, commissions, agencies, authorities (including transportation), and exposition personnel that are or were clearly used by city and/or state governments. Labeling is recommended. 1- 4.2.1 Fire departments, bureaus and patrols. Stock buttons are common (“F”, “FD”) and less desirable than special die designs. 1- 4.2.2 Police departments. Stock buttons are common (“P”, “PD”) and less desirable than special die designs. 1- 6.1 Confederate States government and militia. Centennial re-issues are not applicable in this class. 1- 6.2 National armed forces. Includes buttons of the Air Force, Army (all branches of service), Continental Army, Continental Navy, Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary, Marine Corps, Naval Reserve, and Navy. Buttons of the State Militia, Reserve, and National Guard are not included here except U.S. Naval Reserve and Coast Guard Auxiliary. 1- 6.3 State militia and/or National Guard companies and/or Regiments. Includes all buttons used by these state organizations and/or the companies and battalions and/or regiments within them. Includes buttons not positively identified but generally accepted as militia designs. Limited to buttons of specific militia or national guard units and their veteran groups which have their own distinctive button designs. Guards of expositions are not applicable. Militia, or armed forces buttons in use by various States prior to joining the Union are eligible. These include buttons of the original 13 colonies, Republics of Texas and Vermont, and the Kingdom of Hawaii. 1- 7 Schools. All U.S. Service Academies are included here, but these must be special buttons of the school, not regular U.S. military buttons. School blazer buttons (with special dies) are not considered “uniform” in the U.S., and are appropriate in Div. III. 1- 8 Societies/clubs. Clubs (including yacht clubs), lodges, fraternal, youth oriented and veteran organizations. Also appropriate are uniform-type buttons for special society uses and include re-issues of historic and/or obsolete uniform buttons made as souvenirs and labeled as such. 1- 9 State seals. Thirty only may be used in medium size unless specialized to include all states. State seal, or royal seal buttons in use by the various States prior to joining the Union are eligible. These include buttons of the Republics of Texas and Vermont and the Kingdom of Hawaii. 1- 10.1 Air transportation. Airline employee blazer and flight attendants' "uniform" buttons are included but special die designs are preferred over stock types. Although worn by employees, buttons without any insignia (company name or logo) are not applicable. 1- 10.2 Land transportation. Includes an assortment of types. Rail (long distance and local; above, on, or below ground level) and street (buses, trucks, and taxis). Terminal, sleeping car, and package express companies are included as are transportation oriented stock buttons. 1- 10.3 Water transportation. Includes ship officials/officers or packets, mail lines, passenger lines, cargo lines and ferries. 1- 11 Uniform buttons of a single state. Must be clearly representative of that one state. A company providing service to or within many states is not appropriate even if its "home office" or major “terminus" is located in one state. Cunard and other non-U.S. shipping lines or non-U.S. airlines are neither U.S. nor "one state" even if using a major terminal in a given state. Rail transportation must definitely be associated with one state (Illinois Central with Illinois and Monon with Indiana for example) and not serve multiple states. Staff type N.Y.C.R.R. (New York Central) is good for New York State but not the Sanderstype N.Y.C. design which was used all over the system. Railroad names are not necessarily good guides for placement of buttons in this class. SECTION 2 - FOREIGN (revised effective 2008) 2- 2 Government agencies, corporations, and commissions. Buttons with only the name and/or device of the civic division (branch) which were/are used by some or all departments of that governing body are permissible. Those devices with the words "Transport", "Tramways", and similar specifications are not allowed for they belong in Cls. 2- 1, 2- 5, 2- 6, 2- 7 or 2- 8. 2- 2.1 Fire departments, bureaus and patrols. Refer to Cl. 1- 4.2.1. 2- 2.2 Police departments. Refer to Cl. 1- 4.2.2. ©2008 National Button Society These pages are for internet reference only. The page numbers in the printed Blue Book version will not match page numbers printed off this website. Click this link to return to the Classification & Glossary page. Click this link to return to the HOME page.

National Button Society Classification for 2008 Competition

DIVISION II

UNIFORM - a garment over which the wearer has no choice as to overall

design, cut, color, or cloth (except “seasonal” cloth weight and some color

choices), these choices being exercised by the employer of the wearer. Any

button worn on a uniform, regardless of button material, quality or construction

that contains the logo, name, or other insignia of an organization qualifies as a

uniform button. Cls. 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 2-1, and 2-2 are military, while the other

classes are non-military. Buttons should be labeled whenever the name of the

issuing organization is not shown in the button design, even if the logo or insignia

is commonly recognized.

Although worn on a garment which can be classed as a “uniform”, buttons

without any design such as a company name, logo, or distinctive insignia are not

applicable here, but belong in appropriate class(es) of Divs. I, III, or IX. Livery

buttons are placed in Div. IX, Sec. 25. School blazer buttons (made with special

dies), usually sold separately from a garment, belong in Div. III. Tiffany back

marks are not appropriate in Div. II.

“Reproduced” buttons (made from new molds similar to the original) are

NOT suitable in Div. II. Examples are souvenir buttons at historical sites and for

centennial events. Modern materials and shanks help distinguish these from the

originals. Refer to October 1982 NBS Bulletin

“Re-issued" buttons are acceptable, but are far less desirable than the

originals. These buttons (re-issued), as defined by Johnson and others, are

buttons struck from original dies for collectors, museums, blazers and as

souvenirs after the original purpose of the button is obsolete. The original button

may be of different construction than the re-issue.

"Stock" buttons are sold to all buyers who cannot afford a special die-struck

design. These usually include letters, general designs and symbols suitable for

multi-purposes, such as: airlines, hotels, clubs, police, fire, blazers, commercial,

rail and other "uniformed" groups. Stock buttons are poor choices except when

working on "assorted types," such as: police buttons not specialized to all

pictorial, verbal, etc. For a stock button to be a good choice, one must be able

to document that the button was, indeed, worn by employees or members of the

designated organization.

"Fake" buttons are those created for sale which were not made for use on

uniforms, i.e., the organization never ordered the buttons and the employees of

the organization did not wear them. Old buttons were used as masters to make

new molds for casting new buttons. Examples: "Colt Fire Arms Factory Guard."

"Pinkerton Railroad Detective," "Wells Fargo and Co. Guard" and crude pewter

castings marketed as "from old Buttons".

Transportation covers all organizations concerned with the movement of goods

or people.

SECTION 1 - UNITED STATES

1- 3 Commercial enterprises. Exposition guards' buttons are acceptable in this

class as well as in Cl. 1- 11, buttons of a single state, based upon the physical site

of the exposition. Includes news dealers or news distributor organizations. All

transportation enterprises are excluded and belong in Cl. 1- 10 as appropriate.

1- 4.1 Federal agencies. Includes Diplomatic Corps, U.S. officials, as well as

other federal agencies having a non-military function. Military (armed forces

buttons) are not applicable here. The U.S. Coast Guard is an “armed force”

(under Navy control) only in wartime. Formerly, it was under jurisdiction of

the Department of Transportation, but is now under the Department of

Homeland Security and is, therefore, applicable in this class as well as in Cl.

1- 6.2 (National armed forces). The “U.S. Airmail” is an early airline button

and is not applicable in this class.

1- 4.2 State/city government agencies. Includes all correctional agencies,

hospitals (including Veterans’ homes), departments, corporations,

commissions, agencies, authorities (including transportation), and exposition

personnel that are or were clearly used by city and/or state governments.

Labeling is recommended.

1- 4.2.1 Fire departments, bureaus and patrols. Stock buttons are

common (“F”, “FD”) and less desirable than special die designs.

1- 4.2.2 Police departments. Stock buttons are common (“P”, “PD”) and

less desirable than special die designs.

1- 6.1 Confederate States government and militia. Centennial re-issues are

not applicable in this class.

1- 6.2 National armed forces. Includes buttons of the Air Force, Army (all

branches of service), Continental Army, Continental Navy, Coast Guard, Coast

Guard Auxiliary, Marine Corps, Naval Reserve, and Navy. Buttons of the

State Militia, Reserve, and National Guard are not included here except U.S.

Naval Reserve and Coast Guard Auxiliary.

1- 6.3 State militia and/or National Guard companies and/or Regiments.

Includes all buttons used by these state organizations and/or the companies and

battalions and/or regiments within them. Includes buttons not positively

identified but generally accepted as militia designs. Limited to buttons of

specific militia or national guard units and their veteran groups which have

their own distinctive button designs. Guards of expositions are not applicable.

Militia, or armed forces buttons in use by various States prior to joining the

Union are eligible. These include buttons of the original 13 colonies,

Republics of Texas and Vermont, and the Kingdom of Hawaii.

1- 7 Schools. All U.S. Service Academies are included here, but these must be

special buttons of the school, not regular U.S. military buttons. School blazer

buttons (with special dies) are not considered “uniform” in the U.S., and are

appropriate in Div. III.

1- 8 Societies/clubs. Clubs (including yacht clubs), lodges, fraternal, youth

oriented and veteran organizations. Also appropriate are uniform-type buttons

for special society uses and include re-issues of historic and/or obsolete uniform

buttons made as souvenirs and labeled as such.

1- 9 State seals. Thirty only may be used in medium size unless specialized to

include all states. State seal, or royal seal buttons in use by the various States

prior to joining the Union are eligible. These include buttons of the Republics

of Texas and Vermont and the Kingdom of Hawaii.

1- 10.1 Air transportation. Airline employee blazer and flight attendants'

"uniform" buttons are included but special die designs are preferred over stock

types. Although worn by employees, buttons without any insignia (company

name or logo) are not applicable.

1- 10.2 Land transportation. Includes an assortment of types. Rail (long

distance and local; above, on, or below ground level) and street (buses, trucks,

and taxis). Terminal, sleeping car, and package express companies are

included as are transportation oriented stock buttons.

1- 10.3 Water transportation. Includes ship officials/officers or packets, mail

lines, passenger lines, cargo lines and ferries.

1- 11 Uniform buttons of a single state. Must be clearly representative of that

one state. A company providing service to or within many states is not

appropriate even if its "home office" or major “terminus" is located in one state.

Cunard and other non-U.S. shipping lines or non-U.S. airlines are neither U.S.

nor "one state" even if using a major terminal in a given state. Rail transportation

must definitely be associated with one state (Illinois Central with Illinois and

Monon with Indiana for example) and not serve multiple states. Staff type

N.Y.C.R.R. (New York Central) is good for New York State but not the Sanderstype

N.Y.C. design which was used all over the system. Railroad names are not

necessarily good guides for placement of buttons in this class.

SECTION 2 - FOREIGN (revised effective 2008)

2- 2 Government agencies, corporations, and commissions. Buttons with

only the name and/or device of the civic division (branch) which were/are used

by some or all departments of that governing body are permissible. Those devices

with the words "Transport", "Tramways", and similar specifications are not

allowed for they belong in Cls. 2- 1, 2- 5, 2- 6, 2- 7 or 2- 8.

2- 2.1 Fire departments, bureaus and patrols. Refer to Cl. 1- 4.2.1.

2- 2.2 Police departments. Refer to Cl. 1- 4.2.2.

These pages are for internet reference only.

The page numbers in the printed Blue Book version

will not match page numbers printed off this website.

Click this link to return to the Classification & Glossary page.

Click this link to return to the HOME page.