05/25/2026
I recently got my 20 year ribbon as a NBS member!
I love buttons! I have some for sale on a spinner rack on top of the counter case and jars of buttons on shelves in my booths.
Below is a snapshot summary of some of the article written by Freddie Speights for the July 1984 NBS Bulletin. (P.103). Check it out if you would like to read the entire article.
The Turnverein, known today as the American Turners, originated in Berlin, Germany, in 1811. Founded by Friedrich Ludwig Jahn, this German organization promoted health through gymnastics and weightlifting.
In 1848, the movement reached American shores with the establishment of the first Turnverein (also called the American Turner Society or Turnerbundt) in Cincinnati by Frederick Hecker. The organization's insignia, both in Germany and the U.S., prominently featured the "4 F's," which symbolized health and a fresh, loyal, happy, and free life in Germany. Although there were variations, all Turnverein insignias incorporated these "4 F's."
"Turnverein"—a name combining turnen (to practice gymnastics) and verein (club). As these gymnastics clubs grew, special insignia were created to represent them, including three unique buttons made from glorious black glass.
In reality, none of these buttons are common at all. Despite their scarcity, these black glass buttons carry a humble disguise. They are not particularly beautiful, nor do they look strikingly unusual at a first glance. Because of this plain appearance, many of them have likely been tossed carelessly into "poke boxes," completely overlooked by antique collectors who were searching for flashier pictures or more intricate designs.
But for the eagle-eyed collector who knows exactly what to look for, the ultimate secret to identifying a true Turnverein button lies in a single, subtle detail: the letters "F" on the insignia are always arranged in the distinct form of a cross.
Turnverein background image and F Jahn image: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain.
Post design: Martha DuPlessis
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