D. Evans & Co.

Button Company

The Evans Case Company of North Attleboro, MA was a huge concern making accessories in America. Manufacturing between 1920 and 1960. If you study Evans cases over those forty years you will see the evolution of vanities.

Colonel Obed Robinson who was a skilled blacksmith & clock maker began a jewellery / jewelry business in Attleboro in 1807. The 1812 war meant that soldiers needed buttons & so production was changed to suit this purpose.

The Colonel & his son, Otis, are credited with starting America’s first button making concern. As you can imagine button making was a very necessary business & their firm became a huge thriving business & the area was at one time named Robinsonville.

In 1848 Daniel Evans purchased the business then known as R & W Robinson.

It was still a button making company & Mr Evans renamed the company D Evans & Co. His son Edwin followed him into business, however many other companies were also producing buttons & demand for the firm’s wares declined.

The company needed to produce other items to remain viable & this it did. A ‘Novelty Department’ creating picture frames & neck chains for American soldiers dog tags was set up & Alfred Reilly was hired by the company to run this new department.