Page 35 - May1954

May, 19 5 4 NATIONAL BUTTON BULLETIN q,R

suspend operations, though that branch of the business consisting of
army, navy and police buttons rras taken up not long after this time and
is still continued near the original piace of marrufacture.
lVIr. Jolur Hatch, a mechanic employed by the Robinsons, had thought
out a curious invention, a machine to mal<e suspender buttons, and by
the combiried efforts of Mr'. \\riliard Robinson and hirnself this machine
was perfected. It was patented l'ebruary 20, 1845, in IIr. Robinson's
name. This was the just)y famous "Button Machine." Six machines
u'ere made. ancl subsequently one of them sent to Germany. No others
have been made, and, the five in totvn are the only ones of their special
kiird in existence in the country. They are automatic, cut and completely
make the buttons frorn tin plates. each machine mal<ins about 23 buttons
a ntinute. ot l;1,800 i1 a rlil'of lert lrours'le1gth. These buttols came
rapidly into use, the great advantage they possess in not cutting the
thread used in fastening them being speedily recognized. They were
made by millions, ancl used for various purposes. Large contracts .rere
fiiled for the government during the Civil \\'ar.
Messrs. Robinson and Flatch became partners for the manufacture
of these buttons. The patent and. its extensions covered a period of
t'rventy-one years, and for that length of time this special manufacture
almost controllecl the marl<et. Mr. Flatch died in 1849, only four years
after the paltnership u'as formed; but Mr. Ilobinson corrtinued the busi-
ness until his death, which occurred in 1879. It is now conducted by
Arthur B. Robinson, $'ho on March l, 1880, bought the business of his
father's estate, and carries it on under his onn name, as the onl;z manu-
facturer of "Hatch's Patent Metallic Pantaloon Buttons." (Mr. Robin-
son has since died).
These button machines are yery curious ancl intricate in their con-
struction and retluire the rricest and most careful adjustment to ensure
perfect rvork. The adjustment being right, the rvorl< is excellent, and
the rcsult a button uncqualiecl of its kind. The fir:st machine made has
been running over fortl'-fiys years, is running today, one of the best,
if not the best, of the five. It is evidently a favorite rvith the long-time
foreman of the shop, for he speaks of its capabilities with assurance
and admiration. Various other trowsers buttons are made at the present
time. and as they can be put ilto the market at a cheaper rate they have
somewhat superseded these, but they do not compare with them in ap-
pearance or durability.
D. EVANS & CO. succeeded the Robinsons in the makinE of metal
buttons, about 1848. This firm manufactures both plain and faucy arml'
ancl navy buttons, all kinds of military and livery gilt and silver-plated
buttorrs. During the rvar this rvas a \rer.v extensive and profitable busi-
ness, as manl' utriforms were requiret'l for our soldiers irr both the armr-
and navy. The business has alr.va;'s been conducted at Robinsonville,
r10w a part of Attleborough Falls. So much competition has ar.iseir in
this as in other branches of manufaeturing that the business here has
been much recluced, and at present very little is being donc.