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The Holland America Line Collectors Reference Library
Uniform buttons

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From the very beginning of the Holland America Line all ship board personel wore uniforms where the buttons carried the identifying mark of the Line as is still customary today. Through the years the Line's logo for the period changed and with it the identifying mark on the buttons, which was often the same as the logo. This page shows the buttons currently known to exist, most of them from the extensive collection of Cees Schuller in the Netherlands. Several manufacturers have been known to deliver to the Holland America Line but they used the same style button on the front. Advanced collectors can add the different manufacturers and thus strive to acquire a complete collection with all varieties. For more information, you can contact Cees Schuller through this website (see contact information below).

For those who are interested in collection buttons of Dutch maritime companies in general and the Holland America Line specifically, I would refer to an interview with Cees on Youtube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-iqQZtnv4E

All indications of the time period that a button style was used are based on photos and anecdotal evidence and are a mere guideline. They do not represent an exact period of use. Any additional information to narrow the usage period would be appreciated.

The below collection may be incomplete and if you have a button that you do not see in the below exposition, please email me at tiemen @ halpostcards . com (spaces inserted to prevent autobot searches). I would welcome either a 300dpi scan or an opportunity to purchase/trade the actual button
Thank you
Tiemen Spits

Buttons 1872 - present

NASM ship: 1872 - 1899 gold = ship staff officers	NASM ship: 1872 - 1899 silver = ship hotel staff
NASM flag: 1900 - 1967 gold = ship staff officers	NASM ship: 1900 - 1967 silver = ship hotel staff
Tri-wave logo: 1967 - 1972 gold = ship staff officers	<NO FOTO> NASM ship: 1967 - 1972 silver = ship hotel staff
New logo (button old style): 1972 - 2000 gold = ship staff officers	<NO PHOTO> New logo (button old style): 1972 - 2000 silver = ship hotel staff
New logo (button new style): 2000 - present gold = ship staff officers	<NO PHOTO> New logo (button new style): 2000 - 2007 silver = ship hotel staff
New logo (printed logo): 2007 - present gold = dining room	New logo (printed logo): 2007 - present silver = house keeping

Manufacturers

Over the years, several different manufacturers have supplied the buttons for the Holland America Line. Shown here are the button backs with the different manufacturer's marks as they are currently known to exist for the different styles shown above. Any additonal information is always welcome and can be sent to the email address provided on our main home page.

Jos Cohen & Zn (sons), +Rotterdam+ NASM Ship button	Jsos Cohen & Zn (sons), +Rotterdam+ NASM Ship button	N. Pauwels & Cie, Ams-Rott NASM Ship buttonRotterdam
T.W & W, H Paris M NASM Ship button	<Place holder> NASM Ship button	<Place holder> NASM Ship button
Jos Cohen & Zn (sons) Rotterdam	Superior Quality	Superior Quality
A 22 mm	J.R. Caunt & SOn Ltd London	J.A. Hettinga Deventer
Van Rijsbergen SMT Haarlem	R.W & W Paris	L. Delhaas Rotterdam
L. Delhaas Rotterdam	L. Delhaas Rotterdam	Unknown
unknown 22 3/8	Unknown	Unknown
Unknown	Unknown	Unknown