Button Polisher

Question

A friend happened to use the phrase "button polisher" with respect to some brass buttons that had been cleaned, and then wondered about the usage. Apparently it has historical usage in the literal sense, but it also sounds as if it could have a usage similar to "apple polisher." Has anyone ever heard of this other usage? I couldn't find anything on the web, but am not highly experienced in this type of search. The Deja archives don't reveal previous discussion of the phrase in aue.

Theodore (Ted) Heise (Email Removed) Bloomington, IN, USA

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]A friend happened to use the phrase "button polisher" with respect to some brass buttons that had been cleaned, and then wondered about the usage. Apparently it has historical usage in the[/nq]
In my experience, this would be "metal polish".
[nq:1]literal sense, but it also sounds as if it could have a usage similar to "apple polisher." Has anyone ever heard of this other[/nq]
"Polishing one's apple" has ingratiating connotations, e.g. asking your boss about how her children are getting on is "polishing one's apple". Or simply doing a good job in such a way that it will be noticed is "polishing one's apple".

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]A friend happened to use the phrase "button polisher" with respect to some brass buttons that had been cleaned, and ... not highly experienced in this type of search. The Deja archives don't reveal previous discussion of the phrase in aue.[/nq]
It sounds like one of those urban-legend things one used to hear about people who gave impossible but plausible job specialisms at the Employment Exchange in order to be able to go on drawing the dole without being inconvenienced by job offers while they continued with their cash-in-hand avocations in the black economy. "Wire-rope-twister" was one I heard long ago. But my Ggl gave me, first on the page: http://www.occupationalinfo.org/59/599685078.html
which seems to confirm your impression that it's probably tediously ordinary.
I could imagine an officer's batman in the old days calling himself a "button-polisher", though. It wouldn't need to be established as a formal dictionary-type expression.
OT. I've fallen out with Billy Connolly, but if you haven't, you really should track down his very funny account of the Glaswegian presenting himself as a tobogganist at the Job Centre. Our family has "I'll have to talk to Mr McClafferty about this" as a catch-phrase. (For those in the know, the laugh was actually on Billy, as a distinguished British bobsleigh steersman actually was from the rugged end of Glasgow: one of his sons was once boyfriend to one of my girls. When he died, the boys took his ashes illegally down the Cresta for the memorial service normally, you don't take even a mobile phone down with you in case of a high-speed spill. The eulogy included the comment that "On this trip, Donald wasn't steering...as usual." Great way to go out, and be remembered.)

Mike.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]A friend happened to use the phrase "button polisher" with respect to some brass buttons that had been cleaned, and ... not highly experienced in this type of search. The Deja archives don't reveal previous discussion of the phrase in aue.[/nq]
In what way was the 'button polisher' related to the polished buttons? I know of a slotted strip of metal (brass, as it happens) that could be slipped between a button and the garment it was sewn to, allowing metal polish to be applied to the button without soiling the underlying cloth. Maybe that could be called a button polisher, as a brush could be called a shoe polisher - an artefact of use in the polishing process.
Paul
In bocca al Lupo!

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]A friend happened to use the phrase "button polisher" with respect to some brass buttons that had been cleaned, and ... not highly experienced in this type of search. The Deja archives don't reveal previous discussion of the phrase in aue.[/nq]
I would take it as some jobsworth in the army (or other uniformed organisation) trying to ingratiate himself with his superiors, or occupied with trivial tasks instead of what is now commonly called "core busines".

Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/stevesig.htm
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]A friend happened to use the phrase "button polisher" with ... archives don't reveal previous discussion of the phrase in aue.[/nq]
[nq:1]In what way was the 'button polisher' related to the polishedbuttons? I know of a slotted strip of metal (brass, ... a button polisher, as a brush could becalled a shoe polisher - an artefact of use in the polishing process.[/nq]
That's a "button-stick", and presumably obsolete in these days of Staybrite buttons and badges.

Mike.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]A friend happened to use the phrase "button polisher" with ... archives don't reveal previous discussion of the phrase in aue.[/nq]
[nq:1]I would take it as some jobsworth in the army (or other uniformed organisation) trying to ingratiate himself with his superiors, or occupied with trivial tasks instead of what is now commonly called "core busines".[/nq]
Enter Jitze's batman with tears in his eyes, waving his split slide and applicator.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]buttons?[/nq]
Sounds good.

Paul
In bocca al Lupo!

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]I would take it as some jobsworth in the army ... tasks instead of what is now commonly called "core busines".[/nq]
[nq:1]Enter Jitze's batman with tears in his eyes, waving his split slide and applicator.[/nq]
Funny you should mention that. All officers were issued with a brass button stick by the quatermaster on sign-up - a metal doohickey made of 2mm brass plate and 2 inches by 6 inches (approx as I recall) with a slit part way down the center viz:

http://www.islandnet.com/~ragnew/mike gun/images/butstick.jpg

However, because these too could be polished to be nice and shiny, they had a tendency to disappear at the hands of light- fingered gentlemen of the local variety and could then be seen adorning their wives as a piece of jewelry - a sort of primitive bling.
My good man Leviticus was notably adept at filching various goodies and indeed my official HM Issue Button Stick disappeared very soon after I received it. I think Leviticus considered this his due (today we might call it part of the cost of doing business) but he was very sorry I had lost it and commiserated with me at great length on its loss. (Methinks he doth protest too much...)

As an act of contrition therefore he went to great lengths to carve me a new one out of mvule (a local hardwood) and which he then happily used to facilitate the polishing of my buttons.

We developed a good mutual accomodation on such matters, although the number of tins of Brasso that disappeared down the same route got a bit trying at times. But it was important to him that the adornments on his two wives be kept shiny and bright, so I forgave him.
And indeed he was prone to split his sides laughing. Whenever "his Bwana" did something silly (such as dislodge a hornet's nest while most of the way up a tree that I was trying to use as a lookout post) he would become paralytic with mirth. Not very helpfull at all, but nevertheless the salt of the earth.

I often wonder if he might still be alive, or whether Idi Amin got him.
Jitze

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]However, because these too could be polished to be nice and shiny, they had a tendency to disappear at the ... variety and could then be seen adorning their wives as a piece of jewelry - a sort of primitive bling.[/nq]
Ah, now I know, not having a brass button to my name, what to do with it!

Mike.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]A friend happened to use the phrase "button polisher" with respect to some brass buttons that had been cleaned, and ... not highly experienced in this type of search. The Deja archives don't reveal previous discussion of the phrase in aue.[/nq]
I keep having this intangible sense of "button polisher" as being some sort of euphemism for something unsavoury.
Overtones of "shirt lifter"?

Andrew Gwilliam
To email me, replace "bottomless pit" with "silverhelm"

Button Polisher

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