Brief History

" The Waterbury Button Company"

It all started when "The Waterbury Button Company" was founded in 1812 by Aaron Benedict in Waterbury, Connecticut. When the "War of 1812" interrupted the supply of buttons from England, he began by melting down pewter pots and pans in order to make buttons for military uniforms.

After 22 years of manufacturing under frequently changing partnership agreements, the firm took on a general partner, Gordon W. Burnham, and the name of the company changed to "Benedict & Burnham" in 1834.

In 1838, the firm of "Benedict & Burnham" Became "Benedict & Burnham Mfg. Co., one of the new nation's first caster of brass. In 1849, with increasingly diverse interest in the brass industry, the "Benedict & Burnham Mfg. Co. formed "The Waterbury Button Company", solely for the manufacture of buttons and uniform accessories. With the reputation as a reliable supplier of high quality buttons "The Waterbury Button Company" continued to make buttons for all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.

As the "Civil War" opened in 1861, the company found itself supplying buttons to both sides of the conflict. While Union Forces bought direct, the Confederate Forces dealt through British intermediaries.

In the mid-1860's the company embarked as a pioneer in the field of molding products of shellac composition, the first plastic material to be molded in this country. From the earliest days of the plastic industry, the company established itself as a leading and outstanding producer of plastic products. During the "Gay Nineties" and into the early 1920's the company (also) became involved in the toy business, making such items as airplanes, candy banks and zeppelins.

In 1943, because of the diversification of its product lines the company changed its name from "The Waterbury Button Company" to "Waterbury Companies". By then the company was making products that ranged from sintered  metal medals for service awards to hundreds of plastic products (children's phonograph records, lamp shades, laundry tubs, etc.).

In 1960 the company built a new plant in Randolph, VT to handle its expanding plastics product lines. Later, in 1974, it added another plant in Biddeford, ME to handle more of the injection molding and thermo set plastic products.

In 1966, the Button Division (of "Waterbury Companies") moved into a new 50,000 sq. ft. facility for the sole purpose of making buttons and related metal products.

In 1968 "Waterbury Companies, Inc." became a wholly owned subsidiary of "Talley Industries, Inc." Phoenix, AZ.

In 1994 "Waterbury Companies" acquired the assets of the "Cheshire Button Company" (AKA "The Ball & Socket Company"), a company in the button business since 1845. "Cheshire Button" had a major presence in the mid/low fashion market. This move enabled the Button Division to expand into the fashion industry, while maintaining its hold on the military and uniform industry.

In 1998 "Carpenter Technology" purchased all of the "Talley Industries" assets in order to obtain 2 stainless steel mills owned by "Talley". The other "Talley" assets (including "Waterbury Companies") were put up for sale.

At this point, "Waterbury Companies" management and private investors formed a group called "The Waterbury Acquisition Group" and purchased "Waterbury Companies" from "Carpenter Technologies, Inc."

In January of 2000, OGS Technologies, Inc. purchased the assets of "The Waterbury Button Company from "Waterbury Companies, Inc.,and in 2002, the company moved out of Waterbury into a neighboring town just 4 miles away.

In September 2003, OGS Technologies added a new division, when it purchased the assets of the "Northeast Emblem and Badge Company". Since the button division was already supplying uniform buttons to "Public Safety Personnel (POLICE and FIREFIGHTERS) it was a good compliment to the organization. The company now is a supplier of badges, insignia and accessories used by law enforcement personnel and fire departments nationwide.

A privately owned company , "Waterbury Button" is currently operating out of Cheshire, CT. As part of its relocation and reorganization, "OGS Technologies" realigned the company into three divisions "Waterbury Button", Diversified Eyelet" and "Northeast Emblem & Badge" in order to expand into new markets.

While "Diversified Eyelet" continues to provide support to the button division, it has forged ahead into supplying components for the cosmetic and automotive industries.

It's newest division ("Northeast Emblem & Badge") is rapidly expanding as a supplier of badges, insignia and accessories for public service personnel nationwide.

Its oldest division and the "seed" of the organization "Waterbury Button" continues to expand into markets supplying accessories (cuff links, letter openers, blazer sets, etc.) for colleges, companies and specialized organizations in addition to its line of historical commemorative plaques ("Civil War" collection, "World Trade Center" tragedy and the like).

With over 40,000 items and different dies in stock (each a masterful work of art) "The Waterbury Button Company" has produced buttons from just about every Railroad, Airline and Police & Fire Department that comes to mind, in addition to the thousands of clubs and organizations throughout the world.

Fashion lines such as Ralph Lauren, Liz Claiborne, Ellen Tracy, Tommy Hilfiger and Brook Brothers are just some of the clothing designers that specify "Waterbury Buttons".

In the Specialty Markets - blazer buttons, for organizations such as "The Masters Golf Tournament, Disneyland, Harrah's and the American Legion use "Waterbury Buttons" for their uniforms.

The "Waterbury Button Company" is the only metal button manufacturer in the United States that can claim to have supplied buttons worn by all of our American Fighting Forces all over the world.

Usually when talking to groups about our historical past we bring up the fact that Captain Smith and his crew wore buttons that we manufactured for the "White Star Line", the owner of the ill-fated TITANIC. This kind of puts everything into perspective, as when the TITANIC sunk on her maiden voyage in 1912, "The Waterbury Button Company" was already 100 years old.

Sal Geraci, Vice President