by softball66 » October 10th, 2006, 8:25 am
The train button holds a bit of intrigue. I think it depicts the "Zephyr" a train which ran between Chicago and Denver. Was probably used for the railroad company's conductor uniforms, etc. When the war broke out, buttons were now needed on military uniforms and that's where they went. Gloves who need them took lower priority and I think these came from the shank button company's excess (leftover) button supply. That's my theory on this train button anyway.
The war shortages eventually led to the wartime gloves (what few were made) and mitts being tied off instead of buttoned.
There's also an airplane button on some gloves that have been located.
My grandmother tried to buy a glove for this then 6 year old near the end of WWII. I really wanted a glove. You just couldn't buy a retail glove and I wound up a bit disappointed with a catchers mitt from Abacrombie and Fitch.
Wonderful story about Nocona making gloves (and only gloves) for the military during the war.