556 



BUTTON MANUFACTURE 



side-section of a die complete, with ite boundary circle formed in a similar manner to 

 that described above. Fig. 288 represents, in plan and section, a variation in the 

 means of affixing a separate bounding circle to each engraved surface ; and it is suitable 

 for working without the tube. In using these dies they are to be heated but slightly, 

 whether for buttons with metal shanks, or to receive flexible shanks, and are to bo 

 pressed as heretofore. The patentee claims, first, the mode of manufacturing horn 

 buttons with flexible shanks, by first forming buttons by pressure and heat, and then 

 by a second pressure in dies, to aflix flexible shanks thereto, as above described. 

 Secondly, the mode of ornamenting horn buttons, by causing suitable surfaces to be 

 affixed in the front surfaces, by pressing the buttons with the ornaments in dies, as 

 above described. Thirdly, the mode of ornamenting horn buttons by gilding and 

 silvering their surfaces as described. Fourthly, the mode of constructing dies used 

 in the manufacture of horn buttons, by applying separate bounding circles to each en- 

 graved surface, for a button ; and fifthly, the mode of manufacturing horn buttons in 

 dies, wherein the horn or hoof is prevented from being expressed at the circumference 

 of the buttons as described. 



BUTTONS, COVERED. Mr. Joseph Parkes obtained in 1840, a patent for improve- 

 ments in the manufacture of covered buttons made by dies and pressure, by the appli- 

 cation of horn as a covering material. The process resorted to by the patentees for 

 carrying out this invention is very similar to that pursued in manufacturing Florentine 

 buttons ; such modifications being applied as are rendered necessary for adapting such 

 process to the peculiar nature of the material employed for covering the face of each 

 button, a (ft?. 289) shows a plan of a disc of iron plate, with four projecting points, 



which is formed by suitable dies in a fly-press, as is well understood ; the points aro 

 then turned down, and the disc a is sunk into the shape shown atfigr. 290, and two such 

 sunk discs are applied to the internal core of the button-board of each button : b (fig. 

 291) shows apian and edge view of a circular disc of button-board suitable for forming 

 the internal core of a button. 



The dies being placed in suitable presses, as is well understood in using similar 

 dies in manufacturing Florentine and other covered buttons, one of the sunk discs a 

 is placed in the under die, with the points upwards, having a disc of button-board 



laced on the points, as shown at fig. 292 ; the upper die or punch is then caused to 

 escend and press the button-board b into the shape shown at fig. 293 ; which, when 

 thus formed, is to have a die a applied on the other side, as shown sbfig. 294. The 

 disc a, to be next fixed to the button-board, is placed in a suitable die, the disc which 

 has already been fixed being upwards ; the die or punch is now to be pressed down, 

 which will produce the button-board, with the discs a a, on either side, into the shape 

 shown atfiff. 295 ; and it will be seen, that one of the discs will by the shape of the 

 die, be sunk concave, whilst the other disc a, on the other side, will be formed convex 

 or according to the figure of the face of the intended button. 



The core of button-board (fig. 295) is now ready to bo inserted into the fabric 

 which is to become the flexible shank of the button, and which flexible shank is formed 

 by sinking a portion of fabric in suitable dies, as is well understood when making 

 similar shanks in Florentine or other covered buttons ; and the shank being so sunk, 

 the button-board of core (fig. 295) is to be placed thereon, with the concave surface 



