Posted 5 months ago
dav2no1
(849 items)
W.H. Elvins Company Shoe Button Hook
Approximately 6"
Sister found this recently in a small lot of items she bought for the etsy store. Since this piece had local history it's going in my personal collection.
**SEE NEW INFORMATION IN COMMENTS**
There is a date..looks like 2-11-94..obviously 1894. Not sure what is above? ATD, TD. RTD..could be registered trade date? Trade date? Maybe the first letter is just a decorative line? Could also be company that made the hook?
**edit -So after some detective work, I found other button hooks with the same date. Found one that said "Pat'd/2-11-94"**
**Well now I feel dumb because I wasted time searching. I just looked at my other button hook and it too says pat'd 2-11-94. Info is probably in my own post..lol**
There is a Facebook history I'll link in comments
Facebook history of Elvins
https://www.facebook.com/100064836872370/posts/4384812871529704/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v
Here's another great link on button hook history
https://adirondackgirlatheart.com/collecting-vintage-antique-button-hooks/
Fascinating Victorian piece Dave, thank you for the links never knew about these before, terrific antique find
Thanks Jenny. Here's another style I posted a long time ago..
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/286319-1890s-sorosis-shoes-advertisement-button
dav2no1, I looked into this, and believe I found the design patent.
The patent date probably isn't 2-11-94, but rather 12-11-94. I think the "1" got clipped off of the date, just as the "P" got clipped off of "ATD."
It was a persistent problem, judging from how many of these are out there with the current owners believing the patent date is 2-11.94:
https://patents.google.com/patent/USD23862S/en
https://just-for-openers.org/2025-Openers-14.pdf
Great detective work Kera! That's very interesting and makes way more sense now!
dav2no1, Yeah, you know I love me some patents, and when that February 11, 1894 wouldn't work, I had to broaden my search a bit.
I think that PDF of Sommer's products could come in handy, because he made a lot of small multi-tools, and all of their various purposes aren't always obvious to the modern eye.