Page 16 - September1951

286 NATIONAL BUTTON BULLETIN Sentember. 1951

TIIE GOODr*EAR CENTENNIAL (Oorrtinued)
The color range of Goodyears is mole extensive than many realize.
In addition to black in both shiny and dull finish, thele are several different
shades of brown, a brick red and a tt'ue tan (p.287, nos.1-4). Unfor-
tunately many once-black buttons have turned tawny from the action of hot
water, strong sun and chemicals. These weathered buttons must not be
confused with those in original colols. Sorne collectors refurbish them with
India ink or black shoe polish. Of the colors tan is by all odds the rarest,
though none are plentiful. No colored pictorials ar.e known.
The fact that in a few instances hard rubber is. ornamented with other
materials is Iittle known. Mrs. Lebus has one Goodyear pattern employing
an opalescent jewel center', (p.289, no. 1), and one *-ith ernbedded metal
tlim.
Sone of the finest patterns are found on uniform buttons (p. 288,
ros. 1-6). These include U. S. Arnty, U. S. Infantry, U. S. Navy in two de-
signs, two campaign buttons lepresenting both palties in 1868, and one
cornrnercial entelp|ise, GaiI Borden.

Xlany feel that the plesent classification works a hardship on Goodyears,
rnaking it impossible to display them at their best. Tltey point out that some
of the best examples of the type come in Division IL But there are not
enough patterns, taking thern all, to make an entry in Division II. Hence,
lt'ith a balriel between this group and Division I, they are made orphans.
The Goodyear specialist rnust either become a specialist in Division II also,
so that he has the other buttons necessary to accornpany his prizes where
they belong, or he must be doomed never to enter some of his most de-
sil'able'items.
Below is a proposed classification to include all Goodyears:

' Assorted
Back.marks, no two alike
Colored
Designs, assorted
conventional or geometrical
pictorial, including floral
textile
uniform al)d campaign
llaterials combined
Odd shapes (defined as all except discoid)
Se$'-thru. assorted
four-hole
two-hole
whistle
Solid to1rs, assolted
metal shanks
pin-shanks
' self-shanks
Suntnrarl'.
Here, as elsewhele in the proposed classification, the Assorted class is
an open entry; the only qualificatiou is that the buttons be Goodyears. The
Summary class, on the otirer hand. is highly specialized in titat its excellence.
is judged by the extent to which it represents all classes.
I
We wish to thank l\[rs. Lily Lebus, of California, Mrs. Edgar Lefavour,
of Massachusetts, and Mrs. Helen Schuler', of Pennsylvania for lending a
large number of their Goodyear rubber buttons for inspection and Bhoto-
graphing.