1753 West-wood Road, York, Pa. 17403
Buttons picturing old steam equipment are part of most modern
day steam and gas engine meets, but 1896 was the year buttons
became available to manufacturer of steam and gas engines to boost
sales of their products.
The Whitehead & Hoag Co. of Newark, N.J. obtained the first
in 1896. In addition to buttons for political campaigns, the
company was soon producing thousands of button designs for
manufacturers of every product imaginable. Tobacco, gum and candy
companies made particular use of buttons issued as sets and given
free with a purchase of the product.
Buttons picturing steam and gas engines were made primarily
between 1896 and 1920. This was precisely the time when button
designing was at its peak. The intricate designs and wide variety
of color inks used to print the button papers resulted in
exceptionally beautiful buttons rarely matched in later years.
Today, button collectors highly prize steam and gas engine
buttons because they are so attractive and well designed. Prices
range from $5 – $7 for the J. I. Case button (fairly common) to
$25-$30 for The New Huber button (both shown in photo).
As a dealer in Americana & Collectibles, I offer several
steam and gas engine buttons along with other collectible buttons
in each of the 60 page mail bid auction catalogues I issue
bimonthly (for the latest catalogue send $1 to Hake’s Americana
& Collectibles POB 1444 York, Pa. 17405).
The following list of steam and gas engine manufacturers issued
buttons as a means of advertising. A number after the company name
indicates the number of different buttons seen to date. If readers
can add other company names to the list, I would appreciate knowing
what they are.
Steam Equipment Manufacturers, Aultman &
Taylor Machinery Co., Avery Mfg. Co. (2), The A. D. Baker Co.,
Buffalo Pitts Co. (2) J. I. Case Co. (3), Fripk Co. (2) The Huber
(4) Minneapolis-Moline Co. (2) Nichols & Shepard Traction
Engine (2), Port Huron (2) Robinson & Co., The Russell &
Co. (2).
Gas Engine Manufacturers, ‘Chore Boy’
Associated Manufacturers’ Co.M Waterloo, Iowa; ‘Badger’
Gasoline Engines, Christen sen Engineering Co. Milwaukee, Wis.,
Cushman – Original Binder Engine, Root & Van Dervoort
Engineering Co., White Gasoline Hoist, York Gasoline Engine.
Oil Tractors, Hart-Parr Oil Tractors, Rumely Oil Pull
Tractor.
