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Button Maker

J

jane k

master brummie
I`ve an ancestor who was a button-maker in Upton Warren, Worcs in the 1840s/50s. Can anyone tell me anything about this - i.e. would he have done it at home and what would the buttons be made from? I`m guessing they might have been made from something like horn but how would they be cut to the right shape?
Many thanks
p.s. Is there a particular web-site that is good for finding out about occupations? I keep having to ask the Forum and you must all be getting fed-up with me!
 
Hi Jane
I've got several people on my Maternal Grandmother's side who were "Horn Button" makers. They came from the East End of London initially then my G Grandfather moved to Brum, for work I guess, and was still shown on the 1911 census as a "Horn Button" maker. On the 1861 census his Dad was an "Ivory Turner". On the 1881 census he was a "Horn Turner".
My teenage Grandmother was shown as a "Printer" in 1911. Both were shown as "workers" but this doesn't make clear if they worked at home or in a factory. Looking into the Birmingham situation of button making, due to the many factories about I guess they went out to work.
 
Thanks David - prior to this I had no idea buttons were such big business! I guess they`re something I`ve always taken for granted until I discovered my own family`s involvement. I think in my case, the Bromsgrove link is probably the best bet but thanks for all your info
Jane
 
Hello Jane, my paternal grandfather was the last family member to work with mother of pearl. He was a cutter and worked most of his life at a factory called Copes, Lozells in Birmingham. Before him there were many members of my family making buttons, mainly mother of pearl. By the mid 19th century there were more than 200 factories producing buttons locally. Children often worked along side their mothers, and like in many other industries they were often injured. I have a handout produced by Birmingham Musem some years ago, detailing the history of button making and the Museum's button collection.
 
Yes di and jane
there was a big buttom factory maker , in portland street aston b.ham 6
across the rd from ansells brewery and next to the taveren on the corner of wainwright st when i was a lad i worked there and after a short while my younger brother came and started to work there with is freind frenchie whom is father was frenchie the green grocer on the lichfeild rd they worked in the stores handling the materials
and supplying the production team before that he used to work for timpsons the cobblers on aston cross
 
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