Handmade cufflinks made from shiny brass vintage trolley operator uniform buttons mounted on silver plated cuff ilnks!. Motorman is to trolley what Conductor is to train! - a slice of history to wear. These buttons date between 1870 and 1900, when streetcar networks, originally pulled by horses, connected neighborhoods and cities in Americas first mass transit networks. These solid brass buttons have a beautiful patina. A great gift for your father, brother, husband, sweetie or train and trolley-admiring friend!
ABOUT THE DESIGN:
The Victorian era was a bridge between old traditions and new technologies. At the 1851 Great Exhibition in London, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert received the first mechanical keyless wind watches, making pocket watches and watch fobs popular for both men and women until the mid 20th century. While pocket watches had been worn for more than a century, wrist watches were introduced around 1900, called "wristlets" were introduced, in part because of the development of a more affordable jewel bearings production process, which made smaller, more accurate watches possible. Assumed to be a passing fad, wrist watches caught on and were most popular in the 1920s and 1930s, which is why most of the watches I work with are Art Deco from this period. An emblem of a past era of craftsmanship, these mechanical watches have real or synthetic jewel bearings, originally made with ruby, garnet, diamond, and sapphire. Many watches have the name of the watch maker, intricate tooling or design work, seen only when the watch was repaired, cleaned, and maintained. Wear History!
MEASUREMENTS & MATERIALS
* These are sturdy SOLDERED cufflinks - NOT glued like most of the others cufflnks you will see - I use a two step silver soldering method to preserve the quality and integrity of the piece without frying it by applying direct flame like the torch soldering, so there is less burnt metal for a cleaner solder. Guaranteed to last.
* The buttons measure 15/16" (just under 1 inch) - see photos for details!
* The fourth photo shows an example of the uniform buttons in context with a railroad date nail and a pair of Wabash Line Buttons- the larger buttons are from blazers, and the smaller are from vests.
* All items come in a gift box.
SEE MORE:
Steampunk Necklaces:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/CompassRoseDesign?section_id=7008013
Steampunk Earrings
http://www.etsy.com/shop/CompassRoseDesign?section_id=7015168
Steampunk Rings:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/CompassRoseDesign?section_id=7390208
Antique Button Necklaces:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/CompassRoseDesign?section_id=6883252
Victorian Style Earrings:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/CompassRoseDesign?section_id=6883254
Antique Button Rings:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/CompassRoseDesign?section_id=6883257
Bracelets, Pins, Watches:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/CompassRoseDesign?section_id=7758576
Looking for something fancy – check out my Ornate Series:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/CompassRoseDesign?section_id=7770524
Or see the entire Compass Rose Design Jewelry Collection:
http://www.compassrosedesign.etsy.com
ORDERING WITH COMPASS ROSE DESIGN:
As artists of handcrafted goods, we guarantee our work – but we go a step further with our no-hassle exchange/return policy. Please read our shop policies for all the details if you have questions BEFORE purchase. Contact us with any questions or if you’d like priority shipping or insurance, as these are not included with regular shipping prices. Remember there is sometimes natural variation in hues or loving wear that accompanies the genuine antique items we work with. Thank you for supporting handmade!
ABOUT COMPASS ROSE DESIGN:
Compass Rose Design Jewelry is a tiny, woman-owned family business based just north of San Francisco, California.
All designs, text, & photos copyright © Compass Rose Design Jewelry.
http://www.compassrosedesign.etsy.com
Consignment and Wholesale available - just ask!
Convo me with any questions :)
Have any questions?
Contact the shop owner.
