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Copyright © 2012 All Rights Reserved.

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How to engage the slide show:

click on the first image on the left of the gallery below, then select the arrow at the bottom left of the enlarged image. Or you can manually go to the next slide by hovering your cursor on the middle right side then clicking the arrow that appears. Hover your cursor on the middle left side  then click the arrow that appears to go backwards. Close the slide show or manual show by clicking the X button on the lower right of the image. (The image of each button is followed by an image of that button's back or reverse side.)

Acknowledgments, References and information for this category are at the bottom of this page.

Button Country

An Educational Resource for Button Collectors - originally created by Paul Rice

Copyright © 2012 All Rights Reserved.                                                  Website redesigned and Maintained by Deborah Hanson

Div. IV  Section 3 : Button Covers, Shoe Button Covers

Click links to download and a print pdf of the history and information about Button Covers and Shoe Button Covers.

Some descriptions of these buttons may be cut off.  Full descriptions can be seen in the slide show mode.

3-1 Button Covers - Brass (1-1/4")
3-1 Button Covers - Brass (1-1/4")
3-1 Button Covers - Ceramic (1")
3-1 Button Covers - Ceramic (1")
3-1 Button Covers - Native American Silver with Gemstone OME (3/4")
3-1 Button Covers - Native American Silver with Gemstone OME (3/4")
3-1 Button Covers - Native American White Metal (1")
3-1 Button Covers - Native American White Metal (1")
3-1 Button Covers - White Metal (1")
3-1 Button Covers - White Metal (1")
3-1 Button Covers - Brass (1") Shriner design Commemorative
3-1 Button Covers - Brass (1") Shriner design Commemorative
3-1 Button Covers - Glass Beads on Leather (1-1/4")
3-1 Button Covers - Glass Beads on Leather (1-1/4")
3-1 Button Covers - Acrylic in Brass (1") BM "NONY New York"
3-1 Button Covers - Acrylic in Brass (1") BM "NONY New York"
3-1 Button Covers - Horn in Brass (5/8")
3-1 Button Covers - Horn in Brass (5/8")
3-1 Button Covers - Enamel (3/4")
3-1 Button Covers - Enamel (3/4")
3-1 Button Covers - Brass - America West Airlines - Div. II (1-3/32")
3-1 Button Covers - Brass - America West Airlines - Div. II (1-3/32")
3-1 Button Covers - Fabric in ABS Plastic (1")
3-1 Button Covers - Fabric in ABS Plastic (1")
3-1 Button Covers - Fabric and Horsehair - Moveable (4")
3-1 Button Covers - Fabric and Horsehair - Moveable (4")
3-1 Button Covers - Gourd (2-5/8")
3-1 Button Covers - Gourd (2-5/8")
3-1 Button Covers - Brass - Pierced Moveable Verbal (1-1/8")
3-1 Button Covers - Brass - Pierced
Moveable Verbal (1-1/8")
3-1 Button Covers - Painted Ceramic (1-1/8")
3-1 Button Covers - Painted Ceramic (1-1/8")
3-1 Button Covers - Metalized Plastic Synthetic Poly OME (1-3/8")
3-1 Button Covers - Metalized Plastic
Synthetic Poly OME (1-3/8")
3-1 Button Covers - ABS with imitation jewel (1-1/4")
3-1 Button Covers - ABS with imitation jewel (1-1/4")
3-1 Button Covers - ABS with polystyrene imitation jewels (1-3/8")
3-1 Button Covers - ABS with polystyrene imitation jewels (1-3/8")
3-1 Button Covers - Pewter - BM "Metzke" (2-1/8")
3-1 Button Covers - Pewter - BM "Metzke" (2-1/8")
3-1 Button Covers - Fabric (1-1/2")
3-1 Button Covers - Fabric (1-1/2")
3-1 Button Covers - Brass Locket (1-1/8")
3-1 Button Covers - Brass Locket (1-1/8")
3-1 Button Covers - Cold Enamel on metal - BM "Disney" (1-1/8")
3-1 Button Covers - Cold Enamel on metal - BM "Disney" (1-1/8")
3-1 Button Covers - Brass (5/8")
3-1 Button Covers - Brass (5/8")
3-1 Button Covers - Painted Wood (1-1/8")
3-1 Button Covers - Painted Wood (1-1/8")
3-1 Button Covers - Painted Ceramic (1-3/8")
3-1 Button Covers - Painted Ceramic (1-3/8")
3-1 Button Covers - Nylon - Verbal (1-1/8")
3-1 Button Covers - Nylon - Verbal (1-1/8")
3-1 Button Covers - Cold Enamel on Brass (1")
3-1 Button Covers - Cold Enamel on Brass (1")
3-1 Button Covers - Painted Wood BM "Levi" (1")
3-1 Button Covers - Painted Wood
BM "Levi" (1")
3-1 Button Covers - Dyed Snakeskin on Metalized Plastic (1-1/2")
3-1 Button Covers - Dyed Snakeskin on Metalized Plastic (1-1/2")
3-1 Button Covers - Cold Plastic Enamel on Brass (5/8")
3-1 Button Covers - Cold Plastic Enamel on Brass (5/8")
3-1 Button Covers - Brass with Paste OME (7/8")
3-1 Button Covers - Brass with Paste OME (7/8")
3-1 Button Covers - (Zia-like) Dyed gourd (7/8")
3-1 Button Covers - (Zia-like) Dyed gourd (7/8")
3-1 Button Covers - Brass - Slide Closure (Fox Patent) Div. II (5/8") Late 1800s - See Patents
3-1 Button Covers - Brass - Slide Closure (Fox Patent) Div. II (5/8") Late 1800s - See Patents
3-1 Button Covers - Curved Prong Closure (5/8")
3-1 Button Covers - Curved Prong Closure (5/8")
3-1 Button Covers - Straight Prong Closure (5/8")
3-1 Button Covers - Straight Prong Closure (5/8")
3-1 Button Covers - Polyester - BM "MOD. DEP." (1-1/4")
3-1 Button Covers - Polyester - BM "MOD. DEP." (1-1/4")
3-1 Button Covers - Ceramic - BM "HMK. CDS." (1")
3-1 Button Covers - Ceramic - BM "HMK. CDS." (1")
3-1 Button Covers - Picture under a synth poly shield mounted in metal - BM "NONY New York" (1-3/8")
3-1 Button Covers - Picture under a synth poly shield mounted in metal - BM "NONY New York" (1-3/8")
3-1 Button Covers - Brass - Slide closure - Div. II (7/8")
3-1 Button Covers - Brass - Slide closure - Div. II (7/8")
3-1 Button Covers - Ceramic (1")
3-1 Button Covers - Ceramic (1")
3-1 Button Covers - Brass imitation sew-thru (1")
3-1 Button Covers - Brass imitation sew-thru (1")
3-1 Button Covers - Fabric & Synthetic polymer on original sample card - A Pair
3-1 Button Covers - Fabric & Synthetic polymer on original sample card - A Pair
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Celluloid - Paint DF (1 x 3/4")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Celluloid - Paint DF (1 x 3/4")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - White metal with enamel (1-1/4")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - White metal with enamel (1-1/4")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Enamel on white metal (1-1/8")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Enamel on white metal (1-1/8")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - White metal with enamel (1")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - White metal with enamel (1")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Enamel on Brass (1")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Enamel on Brass (1")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Enamel on White metal (1-1/4")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Enamel on White metal (1-1/4")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Brass open work (1-1/4")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Brass open work (1-1/4")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - White metal open work (1 x 7/8")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - White metal open work (1 x 7/8")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Glass (Popper) (1")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Glass (Popper) (1")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Riveted cut-Steels - BM "Made in France" (1")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Riveted cut-Steels - BM "Made in France" (1")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - White Metal (1") See patents
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - White Metal (1") See patents
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Enamel (1-1/4")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Enamel (1-1/4")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Brass Paint DF - BM "France" (1-1/4")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Brass
Paint DF - BM "France" (1-1/4")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Painted Brass - BM "Pat. 1419034" (1-1/8")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Painted Brass - BM "Pat. 1419034" (1-1/8")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Painted Copper plate - BM "USPat. 1419034" (1-1/8")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Painted Copper plate - BM "USPat. 1419034" (1-1/8")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Painted Metal (1")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Painted Metal (1")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Painted White metal (7/8 x 5/8")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Painted White metal (7/8 x 5/8")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - White metal Moveable (2-1/2 x 1-1/8")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - White metal
Moveable (2-1/2 x 1-1/8")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Enamel on white metal (7/8")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Enamel on white metal (7/8")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Opal like glass on White metal (7/8")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Opal like glass on White metal (7/8")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Pastes & Paint on Brass - Linear Shape (1-1/8")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Pastes & Paint on Brass - Linear Shape (1-1/8")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Painted Brass - Linear Shape (1")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Painted Brass - Linear Shape (1")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Painted Brass - Linear Shape (1-1/8 x 5/8")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Painted Brass - Linear Shape (1-1/8 x 5/8")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Painted White Metal - Linear Shape - BM "Pat. 1922 Pulsifer" (1")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Painted White Metal - Linear Shape - BM "Pat. 1922 Pulsifer" (1")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Painted Brass - Linear Shape (1-1/8")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Painted Brass - Linear Shape (1-1/8")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Faceted black glass - Contour Shape (1")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Faceted black glass - Contour Shape (1")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Painted White Metal - Realistic Shape (1-1/8")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Painted White Metal - Realistic Shape (1-1/8")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Painted Brass - Realistic Shape (1-1/8")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Painted Brass - Realistic Shape (1-1/8")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - White Metal - Realistic Shape - BM "Pat. 1922 - Pulsifier" (1")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - White Metal - Realistic Shape - BM "Pat. 1922 - Pulsifier" (1")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Pastes in White Metal - Oval Shape - BM "F.N.Co. - Pat. 1922" (1 x 3/4")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Pastes in White Metal - Oval Shape - BM "F.N.Co. - Pat. 1922" (1 x 3/4")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - White metal open work - Pattern (1-3/8 x 7/8")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - White metal open work - Pattern (1-3/8 x 7/8")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Pastes in White Metal - BM "REYCO - Pat. 1922" (7/8")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Pastes in White Metal - BM "REYCO - Pat. 1922" (7/8")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Enamel on Copper - Linear Shape - BM "RIKER Co. NEWARK NJ" (1-1/8")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Enamel on Copper - Linear Shape - BM "RIKER Co. NEWARK NJ" (1-1/8")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Painted White Metal - BM "F.N.Co. - Pat. PDG" (7/8")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Painted White Metal - BM "F.N.Co. - Pat. PDG" (7/8")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Faceted Cut-steels - BM "FRANCE" (1")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Faceted Cut-steels - BM "FRANCE" (1")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Painted Brass - Oval Shape BM "PAT'D MYERS" (7/8") - See patent
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Painted Brass - Oval Shape BM "PAT'D MYERS" (7/8") - See patent
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Painted Brass - Linear Shape - BM "PAT. 1922" (1 x 3/4")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Painted Brass - Linear Shape - BM "PAT. 1922" (1 x 3/4")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Painted & Pierced Brass - Shape - BM "B.B.PAT. 1419034" (1-1/8") - See patent
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Painted & Pierced Brass - Shape - BM "B.B.PAT. 1419034" (1-1/8") - See patent
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - White Metal - Linear Shape - BM "Pulsifer-PAT. 1922" (1 x 3/4")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - White Metal - Linear Shape - BM "Pulsifer-PAT. 1922" (1 x 3/4")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Painted Pewter - Linear Shape (1-1/2")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Painted Pewter - Linear Shape (1-1/2")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Enamel on Silver - Linear Shape (1-1/2")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers - Enamel on Silver - Linear Shape (1-1/2")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers (SBC) Back Types - Omega type shank - Copper Plate - BM (1")
3.2.1 Shoe Button Covers (SBC) Back Types - Omega type shank - Copper Plate - BM (1")
3.2.1 SBC Back Types - Omega type shank with lock - Copper plate - BM (1-1/8")
3.2.1 SBC Back Types - Omega type shank with lock - Copper plate - BM (1-1/8")
3.2.1 SBC Back Types - Omega type shank - White metal with pastes (1-1/8")
3.2.1 SBC Back Types - Omega type shank - White metal with pastes (1-1/8")
3.2.1 SBC Back Types - Omega type shank - White Metal - Openwork (1-1/8")
3.2.1 SBC Back Types - Omega type shank - White Metal - Openwork (1-1/8")
3.2.1 SBC Back Types - Omega type shank - White Metal - BM "USPat.1419034" (1-1/8")
3.2.1 SBC Back Types - Omega type shank - White Metal - BM "USPat.1419034" (1-1/8")
3.2.1 SBC Back Types - Omega type shank - Pastes on White Metal - BM "Pat. Pend" (1")
3.2.1 SBC Back Types - Omega type shank - Pastes on White Metal - BM "Pat. Pend" (1")
3.2.1 SBC Back Types - Straight bar shank in Center - Faceted Cut-steels - BM "France" (1-1/8")
3.2.1 SBC Back Types - Straight bar shank in Center - Faceted Cut-steels - BM "France" (1-1/8")
3.2.1 SBC Back Types - Straight bar shank (notched) - Pastes on White Metal (1")
3.2.1 SBC Back Types - Straight bar shank (notched) - Pastes on White Metal (1")
3.2.1 SBC Back Types - Straight bar in Center shank (2 holes) - Steels set in brass ( 1")
3.2.1 SBC Back Types - Straight bar in Center shank (2 holes) - Steels set in brass ( 1")
3.2.1 SBC Back Types - Straight bar in center (2 side holes) - Pastes on White Metal - BM "Fishon" (1-1/8")
3.2.1 SBC Back Types - Straight bar in center (2 side holes) - Pastes on White Metal - BM "Fishon" (1-1/8")
3.2.1 SBC Back Types - Straight bar shank (offset) - Enamel - BM "Fishon" (1")
3.2.1 SBC Back Types - Straight bar shank (offset) - Enamel - BM "Fishon" (1")
3.2.1 SBC Back Types - Straight bar shank (notched) - Pastes on White Metal (1")
3.2.1 SBC Back Types - Straight bar shank (notched) - Pastes on White Metal (1")
Button cover pairs and sets
Button cover pairs and sets
Salesman's display case of shoe button covers, c.1920's.
Salesman's display case of shoe button covers, c.1920's.
Button Cover Patent: 1893 - Detachable Button Cover
Button Cover Patent: 1893 - Detachable Button Cover
Button Cover Patent: 1897 - Conductor Button Cap
Button Cover Patent: 1897 - Conductor Button Cap
Button Cover Patent: 1916 - Button Protector
Button Cover Patent: 1916 - Button Protector
Button Cover Patent: 1951 - Ornamental Button Cover
Button Cover Patent: 1951 - Ornamental Button Cover
Button Cover Patent: 1956 - Cuff Button Cover
Button Cover Patent: 1956 - Cuff Button Cover
Button Cover Patent: 1959 - Attachments for Buttons
Button Cover Patent: 1959 - Attachments for Buttons
Button Cover Patent: 1973 - Cuff Button Cover
Button Cover Patent: 1973 - Cuff Button Cover
Button Cover Patent: 1997 - Plastic Button Cover
Button Cover Patent: 1997 - Plastic Button Cover
Shoe Button Cover Patent: 1922 - Ornamental Covering
Shoe Button Cover Patent: 1922 - Ornamental Covering
Shoe Button Cover Patent: 1925 - Ornamental Shoe Button Cover
Shoe Button Cover Patent: 1925 - Ornamental Shoe Button Cover
Shoe Button Cover Patent: 1928 - Button Cover
Shoe Button Cover Patent: 1928 - Button Cover
Shoe Button Cover Patent: 1930 - Button Ornament
Shoe Button Cover Patent: 1930 - Button Ornament

Back to Related Specialties

Acknowledgements: Thanks to Adrienne Bennett, Barbara Weeks, Betsy Ciffone, Clare Hatten, Lou Yeargain, William Hentges and Karen Farnsworth who provided images and support and made their collections available for the images shown on these pages. Others who provided support and comments include Margaret and Willie Tolbert, Vicky Mayhall,  Joyce McGrath, Ann Guba and Pat Fields.  A special thanks to Joan Lindsay & Joy Journeay for their expert editing skills!


Button Covers References:

(1) US Patent and Trademark Office, Patent Images. 2008

(2) National Button Society Blue Book, Official NBS Classification and Competition Guidelines


Shoe Button Covers References:

(1) National Button Society Blue Book, Official NBS Classification and Competition Guidelines

(2) Clare Hatten - Shoe Button Covers - National Button Bulletin, February 2005

(3) US Patent and Trademark Office, Patent Images. 2008