{"product_id":"knights-of-pythias-uniform-rank-white-metal-button-circa","title":"Knights of Pythias, Uniform rank, white metal button circa 1878-90","description":"\u003cdiv dir=\"ltr\"\u003eWhite metal button approx 23mm across.\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e•\u003cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eLargely assembled by Civil War veterans who valued the disciplined military lifestyle, various drill corps organized under the Knights of Pythias were officially consolidated into the Uniform Rank in 1878.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e•\u003cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eIt was organized completely along U.S. Army lines into Companies, Brigades, and Regiments. Members wore their own military-style uniforms, called their lodges military units, used military titles, and attended “encampments” instead of conventions.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e•\u003cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eWhile the regular Knights used a falcon as their symbol, the Uniform Rank adopted the dove as its official bird and the lily as its official flower, earning it the nickname the “Army of the Lily.”\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eThat’s the dove-and-lily design on your button.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e•\u003cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eMembers participated in parades and processions, and the Uniform Rank was eventually banned within the organization in the 1950s.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eOrganization:\u003c\/b\u003e Knights of Pythias.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eBranch:\u003c\/b\u003e Uniform Rank (The \"Army of the Lily\" military branch).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eFront Design:\u003c\/b\u003e featuring the text \"Uniform Rank\" stamped around a central calla lily \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eManufacturer Stamp (Backmark):\u003c\/b\u003e Stamped \u003cb\u003e\"Pettibone Mf'g Co. Cincinnati\"\u003c\/b\u003e. \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Age \u0026amp; Dating Clues\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eProduction Date:\u003c\/b\u003e Minted approximately between \u003cb\u003e1878 and 1890\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eThe Name Shift:\u003c\/b\u003e James and William Pettibone took over their main business operations in 1872. Right around 1890, the company officially transitioned its corporate branding and stamps to \u003cb\u003e\"The Pettibone Bros. Mfg. Co.\"\u003c\/b\u003e. Because this button specifically says \"Pettibone Mfg Co\" without the \"Bros.\", it places the button right in that early late-1870s to 1880s sweet spot. \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eThe Secret History:\u003c\/b\u003e Interestingly, Pettibone did not actually operate a button-minting foundry. They were master tailors and retailers. They contracted master button-makers (like Scovill or Waterbury) to strike the brass with the Pettibone custom name on the back, and then Pettibone sewed them onto the uniforms in their Cincinnati workshop.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gradia Militaria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53897524117832,"sku":"10136","price":10.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0924\/1103\/5976\/files\/IMG-2077.heic?v=1787620732","url":"https:\/\/www.gradiamilitaria.com\/products\/knights-of-pythias-uniform-rank-white-metal-button-circa","provider":"Gradia Militaria","version":"1.0","type":"link"}