Page 34 - May1964

128 NATTONAL BUTTON BI'LLETIN May, 1964

CONCLUSION
In the enumeration of classes, two esse,ntial ones are missing - Assorted and
Unlisted. They might have appeared many times for they a,re in consta,nt use.
But since they always serve tJre same purpose, it is logical to replace constant repe-
tition with explanation.
This is the principle covering "Assorted." Any class with subdivisions uoder it
(radiants, for example, with dewdrop, glory, reflector and unnamed components)
is by its very nature an Assorted class made up of well-defined varieties. Ilnus
its assortment goes beyond the notion of no-two-alike and b@omes one of types-
w.ithin-types or, let us say, kinds-of-kinds.
The purpose of Unlisted classes is this. Eaph of the seven most inclusive class-
es (body, style, color, etc) and some of the other assorted classes as well contain
buttons that fit none of ttre subclasses enumerated. Ttre place for them is in a^n
Unlisted class attached to the most highly specializ,ed group possible. I1or ex-
ample, a variety of paperweight not Iisted should be described as Paperweight
Unlisted, not as coDstruction, Unlisted. Note that "unlisted" is not a synonym
for "specialized - pink paperweights are not unlisted; they a,re sp€cialized.
Speaeing of specialized, we courment only that a classification of possible kinds
would fill volumes.

A trHRtrNtrLtrtri!trAL LISTINE! OF EXEERPTS
FRtrM THE trFFItrlAL REtrtrRDEi trF THE WAR
DEPARTMENT IBtrO-IEJ37
COMPiIEd bY ALPHAEUS H. ALBERT
In the September 1961 issue we began this listing of edited excerpts from the
ofiiciol records of the War Department relating to the designs and procurement of
uniform buttons for the United States Army. See pp. 214-2L7. See also November
Bulletin 1961, pp. 255-258 for Part If ; January Bulletin 1962, pp. 12-16 for Part Iu;
May Bulletin 1962, pp. 124-L26 for Part IV; May 1963, pp. 116-119 for Part V;
March 19&1, pp. 65-6? for Part \II. We conti[ue our seventh instalrnent of
OFF!trIAL BUTTtrN trRDERB
30 Nov. 1815: No. 1 can be furnished according to the drawing sttould it be pre-
ferred-the button something less. These buttons a.re for ofii-
cers. I send also a,n Infantry BuLton for non-com ofricers &
private coats which I should like to be adopted - ttre num-
ber of the Regmt can be added iJ it is deemed necessary. It is
made of Block tin & will ',veal clean and bea.r a polish. The
Artillery Button should have a Corps substituted for Regmt.
. Please return tJre Buttons & drawing.
12 Feb. 1816: W. H. Lamson was invited to bid for making buttons. The Ar-
tillery was flat with eag;le and cannon mounted. The Light Ar-
tiUery button was cupped with the letters L A.
24 Feb. 1816: Leavenworth, Hayden & Scovill entered into contract to make
buttons. Light Artillery, 300 grms crat and 8O gross vest; Heavy
Artillery, 100 gross coat and 300 vest; Riflemen, 3? grq+s vest.
Sarnple of a yellow button, plain, attached to the contract shows
the reve$e.
I Dec. 1816: Letter to CGP (Commissary General Purchaser) to the Secre-
tary of War reported that during 1816 buttons had been manu-
factured as follows: Lt. Art., coat 300 gr., vesi 80 gr. Hy. Art.,
coat 1000 gr., vest 300 er. ILiflemen, vest 37 gx., Leavenworth,
Elayden & Scovill.