Dating Clothes by snaps

[Dinerman]

We've talked a lot about dating vintage jackets and other clothing based on the design of the zippers, but have discussed snaps very little. Research is a bit tougher on this one, so if you have something that can be dated accurately otherwise, I'd love to see what brand and what design of snaps it has so that we can assemble a chronology to use as a resource.

 

[Dinerman]

I'll start off with some examples by U.S.F., the United States Fastener Company. These are from about 1915.

 

[Dinerman]

USF and Carr merged in 1929 to form "United Carr". These have half "USF" and half "United Carr" parts, and date from around the time of the merger, when they would have still been using up old stock.

 

[Dinerman]

Very early production United Carr

 

[Dinerman]

Mid 1930s United Carr (ring type)



Mid 1940s United Carr (ring type)
Dot in between United and Carr


1960s United Carr (ring type)
Line in between United and Carr

 

[Dinerman]

Mid 1930s United Carr

 

[Dinerman]

Early 1930s United Carr ring snap

 

[Dinerman]

Anyone else have garments with datable snaps to add to this?

 

[Chevalier]

These snaps from a pair of driving/motorcycling gauntlets have me puzzled. USF I get, but not sure about C F Co? Carr fastener mid-merger? My guess is that the gloves date from the 19-teens or 1920s.