Metal Button Act 1796
| Jurisdiction | UK Non-devolved |
| Citation | 1796 c. 60 |
| Year | 1796 |
(36 Geo. 3) C A P. LX.
[26th April 1796]
'WHEREAS the manufacturing and vending of Gilt and Plated Buttons has for many Years been a great, and till of late an increasing Branch of Trade in this Kingdom; and great Quantities of such Goods have been sent to Foreign Markets: And whereas it hath been discovered that certain deceitful and fraudulent Practices have been and may be used in the making and vending of such Buttons, particularly by the stamping or marking of Metal Buttons, being neither gilt or plated, with the Word Gilt or Plated, or with other Wards or Marks intimating that the same were gilt or plated, to the Intent that the same might pass for, and be sold as and for Gilt and Plated Buttons; or by marking Metal Buttons of an inferior Quality, or being slightly gilt, with Words or Marks intimating that the same were Strongly Gilt, or Extra Strongly Gilt, to the great Injury of the Purchasers thereof, and of the fair Trader; and by which the Use and Wear of Gilt and Plated Buttons is greatly diminished, both at Home and abroad, and this valuable Manufacture may ultimately be loft to this Country:' Therefore, for preventing and punishing such fraudulent and pernicious Practices, be it enacted by the King's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by and with the Authority of the same, That, from and after the first Day of one thousand seven hundred and ninety-six, no Person or Persons, who shall order or apply for any Metal Buttons of or from any Manufacturer or Maker of Buttons, shall order or direct the Words Gilt or Plated, or any other Word, Letter, Figure, Mark, or Device, indicating the Quality, to be printed, cast, stamped, or marked, in or upon any Part of such Buttons, or order or direct any Word, Letter, Figure, Mark, or Device, whether the same do or do not indicate the Quality, to be printed, cast, stamped, or marked in or upon the Underside of such Buttons, unless such Person or Persons do and shall at the same Time order and direct such Buttons to be gilt with Gold, or plated with Silver respectively; and that no Person or Persons shall procure or purchase, or cause to be procured or purchased, any Metal Buttons, not being gilt with Gold, or plated with Silver respectively, having the Words Gilt or Plated, or any other Word, Letter, Figure, Mark, or Device, indicating the Quality, printed, cast, stamped, or marked thereon, or having any Word, Letter, Figure, Mark, or Device, whether the same do or do not indicate the Quality, printed, cast, stamped, or marked, on the Underside thereof, knowing the same not to be gilt with Gold, or plated with Silver respectively, on Pain of forfeiting, in every of the Cases aforesaid, such Buttons, together with the Sum of five Pounds for any Quantity of such Buttons not exceeding twelve Dozen; and for any Quantity of such Buttons exceeding twelve Dozen, at and after the Rate of one Pound for every twelve Dozen; to be levied, recovered, and applied, in Mariner hereinafter mentioned.
II No Marks to be used but such as truly express the real Quality of the Buttons.
II. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That, from and after the said first Day ofAugust , no Person or Persons shall print, cast, stamp, or mark, or cause, direct, or procure to be printed, cast, stamped, or marked, in or upon any Part of any Metal Button or Buttons, the Words Gilt or Plated, or any other Word, Letter, Figure, Mark, or Device, indicating the Quality, or any Word, Letter, Figure, Mark, or Device, on the Underside thereof, whether the same do or do not indicate the Quality, unless the same be respectively really and bona fide plated with Silver, before the same shall be so printed, cast, stamped, or marked as aforesaid, or afterwards gilt with Gold, or destroyed before being sold; and that no Person or Persons shall put, place, or affix, or cause, direct, or procure to be put, placed, or affixed, upon any Metal Button or Buttons, having the Words Gilt or Plated, or any other Word, Letter, Figure, Mark, or Device, indicating the Quality, on any Part of such Button or Buttons, or any Word, Letter, Figure, Mark, or Device, on the Underside thereof, whether the same do or do not indicate the Quality, any Ornament or Ornaments whatsoever, unless those Parts of such Button or Buttons which shall not be covered by such Ornament or Ornaments be respectively really and bona fide plated with Silver, or gilt with Gold, before such Ornament or Ornaments shall be put, placed, or affixed upon such Button or Buttons; and that no Person or Persons shall put, place, or pack, or cause, direct, or procure to be put, placed, or packed for Sale, in or upon any Card or Cards, Paper or Papers, or other Substance, or sell, or expose or offer to Sale, or cause, direct, or procure to be sold or exposed, or offered to Sale, any Metal Buttons, not being gilt with Gold, or plated with Silver respectively, if the Words Gilt or Plated, or any other Word, Letter, Figure, Mark, or Device, indicating the Quality of such Buttons be printed, cast, stamped, or marked, in or upon any Part of such Buttons, or upon such Card or Cards, (not being the Pattern Card or Pattern Cards,) Paper or Papers, or other Substance; or if any Word, Letter, Figure, Mark, or Device, be printed, cast, stamped, or marked, on the Underside of such Buttons, whether the same do or do not indicate the Quality, knowing the same not to be gilt with Gold, or plated with Silver respectively; upon Pain of forfeiting, in every of the Cases aforesaid, such Buttons, together with the Sum of five Pounds for any Quantity of such Buttons exceeding one Dozen, and not exceeding twelve Dozen; and for any Quantity of such Buttons exceeding twelve Dozen, at and after the Rate of one Pound for every twelve Dozen; to be levied, recovered, and applied, in Manner herein-after mentioned.
III To restrain Persons from marking any other than the Words ‘Gilt’ or ‘Plated’ upon Metal Buttons.
III. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That, from and after the said first Day ofAugust no Person or Persons shall print, cast, stamp, or mark, or cause, direct, or procure to be printed, cast, stamped, or marked, in or upon any Part of any Metal Button or Buttons, any Word, Letter, Figure, Mark, or Device, indicating or purporting to indicate the Quality thereof, save and except the Words ‘Gilt’ or ‘Plated’ respectively; and that no Person or Persons shall put, place, or pack, or cause, direct, or procure to be put, placed, or packed for Sale, in or upon any Card or Cards, (except the Pattern Card or Pattern Cards,) Paper or Papers, or other Substance or Parcel, or expose or offer to Sale, or cause, direct, or procure to be sold, or exposed or offered to Sale, any Metal Buttons having any Word, Letter, Figure, Mark, or Device, indicating or...
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