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What is this?

This topic has 24 replies, 16 voices, and was last updated 16 February 2022 at 08:59 by john carruthers.

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11 February 2022 at 08:53 #584983
jaCK Hobson
Participant
@jackhobson50760
What is this? I guess some template for drawing skirting board mouldings. Just found it in the garage (I hadn't noticed it for 20 years)
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11 February 2022 at 08:53 #36744
jaCK Hobson
Participant
@jackhobson50760
another what is this thing thread…
11 February 2022 at 09:16 #584985
Grindstone Cowboy
Participant
@grindstonecowboy
It's used when polishing buttons when attached to a tunic – slipped under the button, stops the polish getting on to the cloth.

Coincidentally, I saw one exactly the same yesterday at a friend's, it belonged to their father, who was in the RAF.

Rob
11 February 2022 at 09:22 #584986
Former Member
Participant
@formermember12892
[This posting has been removed]
11 February 2022 at 09:32 #584990
Samsaranda
Participant
@samsaranda
A Button stick, we were all issued with one when we joined the Air Force, for keeping your uniform clean when cleaning the brass buttons, still have mine but don’t where it is now. I doubt that they are issued now as all buttons on uniforms are “staybrite” anodised aluminium, that’s progress. Dave W
11 February 2022 at 09:47 #584994
Mick B1
Participant
@mickb1
"I've a head like a concertina: I've a tongue like a button-stick,

I've a mouth like an old potato, and I'm more than a little sick,

But I've had my fun o' the Corp'ral's Guard: I've made the cinders fly,

And I'm here in the Clink for a thundering drink and blacking the Corporal's eye."

(Rudyard Kipling, Barrack Room Ballad – 'Cells' )

I haven't seen them with profiled edge cutouts like those before – presumably they were for polishing brass attachments on other pieces of leather or webbing kit?

Edited By Mick B1 on 11/02/2022 09:47:58
11 February 2022 at 09:54 #584999
roy entwistle
Participant
@royentwistle24699
I've still got mine from the mid 50s.

Roy
11 February 2022 at 09:57 #585000
Oldiron
Participant
@oldiron
Posted by roy entwistle on 11/02/2022 09:54:17:

I've still got mine from the mid 50s.

Roy

Me too. Well 1963 actually

regards
11 February 2022 at 09:58 #585001
Dalboy
Participant
@dalboy
I also had one of these when I joined the RAC training school and still used it when I joined my regiment, can't remember where it went.
11 February 2022 at 10:02 #585003
Former Member
Participant
@formermember12892
[This posting has been removed]
11 February 2022 at 19:32 #585108
jaCK Hobson
Participant
@jackhobson50760
It has lot of little features that wouldn't help with buttons?!

Thanks!
11 February 2022 at 19:58 #585110
Samsaranda
Participant
@samsaranda
BR, I remember Blanco, we had a ceremonial parade which meant that we had white blancoed webbing with our best blue uniforms, it rained and the blanco washed off all over our best uniforms, what a disaster. Dave W
11 February 2022 at 20:15 #585115
Michael Gilligan
Participant
@michaelgilligan61133
Posted by jaCK Hobson on 11/02/2022 19:32:18:

It has lot of little features that wouldn't help with buttons?!

Thanks!

.

I would suggest that it is something ‘made from’ a button-stick

… yes, probably a DIY template for mouldings.

MichaelG.
11 February 2022 at 20:27 #585117
Former Member
Participant
@formermember12892
[This posting has been removed]
11 February 2022 at 20:27 #585118
Vic
Participant
@vic
Posted by Michael Gilligan on 11/02/2022 20:15:50:

Posted by jaCK Hobson on 11/02/2022 19:32:18:

It has lot of little features that wouldn't help with buttons?!

Thanks!

.

I would suggest that it is something ‘made from’ a button-stick

… yes, probably a DIY template for mouldings.

MichaelG.

Yes I agree.
11 February 2022 at 21:04 #585124
Mike Poole
Participant
@mikepoole82104
A quick Google shows many pictures of exactly that design so it must play some part in uniform maintenance.

Mike
11 February 2022 at 21:09 #585125
Robert Dodds
Participant
@robertdodds43397
A skirmish on Google images suggests this is a fairly common pattern and the profiles are associated with buckles and badges. (not sure exactly how it was applied to them). There are examples of a simple slot version, for Privates, a one hole version attributed to Canadians and even one with a Harrods logo on it presumably for the Doorman and Lift Attendant to use. £6.99 if you want one

Bob D
11 February 2022 at 21:14 #585127
roy entwistle
Participant
@royentwistle24699
MichaelG My button stick referred to above is exactly as the photo and is as was issued.ie. not modified in any way

Roy
11 February 2022 at 21:31 #585132
David Caunt
Participant
@davidcaunt67674
https://www.google.com/search?q=RAF+button+stick&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&vet=1&fir=i7imDhrfIj8UVM%252CDg8jVZ267GFdgM%252C_%253B_TGNDUaxQQR2iM%252CDg8jVZ267GFdgM%252C_%253Bi5GcNF7-_bm14M%252Cie59eutpycjXNM%252C_%253BV8HdMGddw9ovdM%252CznMSGwPlMXvv9M%252C_%253B3xMffNpZe11gaM%252C6qYUSotil2rj5M%252C_%253Bp4MMvsM2kjn7MM%252C-C2sRiZi25eonM%252C_%253B_W-_kx1uJbF7IM%252CQGYENWDXE7E2NM%252C_%253B4mY5bbxqEFB2MM%252Cie59eutpycjXNM%252C_&usg=AI4_-kRq5XBlRGEQKqQvwHwLH9lp2h-jSA&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjQkda1zPj1AhUzQUEAHWyuC8gQ9QF6BAgIEAE&biw=1280&bih=615&dpr=1#imgrc=i5GcNF7-_bm14M. This is it.
11 February 2022 at 21:49 #585137
Michael Gilligan
Participant
@michaelgilligan61133
To Mike, Roy, and presumably David

Thanks for the correction

… one lives and learns

MichaelG.
11 February 2022 at 22:02 #585138
Robert Dodds
Participant
@robertdodds43397
An authoritative explanation of its uses

Bob D
11 February 2022 at 22:02 #585139
David Caunt
Participant
@davidcaunt67674
I got mine in 1958 at Cardington. Can't find it now but that link showed it exactly as it was given to me.
11 February 2022 at 22:27 #585146
old mart
Participant
@oldmart
The design probably dates from before the RAF, the fancy shapes on the sides look like they were originally for ceremonial army uniforms with lots of extra brass.
11 February 2022 at 22:35 #585148
Clive Hartland
Participant
@clivehartland94829
The button stick was no use after we were issued with the anodised buttons on uniforms instead of brass buttons.

Every part of the button stick had a use, It had to be polished as well. God help you if it was not!

As a 26 years veteran I know!
16 February 2022 at 08:59 #585681
john carruthers
Participant
@johncarruthers46255
As a kid I would earn my pocket money by cleaning my old man's brass , an RM band sergeant, lots of blanco and brasso.
I used various bits of card cut to shape mainly to keep the brasso off me as the various badges all dismantled with split pins and plates behind, or unscrewed.
The pith helmet with its chin strap, Brunswick star and globe on top could take a morning
Picking out the cast brass lettering with a pin
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