A curiously human face made into a yellow sun floats in the center, its golden rays serving as background for the black text that cirlces the button. Thin brown, wood grain border around the edge. 

Patton’s Sun-Proof Paints, available in ready-to-use or paste form, were the creation of Patton Paint Company of Milwaukee, WI. The family business was formed in 1900 to manufacture paints, oils, and varnishes. Patton’s Paints added silica to lead and zinc which was reported to ward off the atmospheric effects that cause lead paint to flake off. After founder James E. Patton’s death, his son Ludington continued the business pioneering profit-sharing systems, employee investment, and group insurance while he was at the helm. His oversaw the 1920 merger with Pittsburg Plate Glass and continued to manage the paint and varnish division of the consolidated company until his death.

Patton's used in-store advertising to promote their brand, and touted savings on the lids of its paint cans "A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned." The smiling sun was used often for branding "Sold at the Sign of the Sun" and "A Defiance of the Sun" to emphasize the durability of their paint against the sun's harmful affects.

Assorted archived company brochures, general information on how to make it, different kinds, includes warranty statement, classic factory photos

Multi-color image of a camel wearing a Shriner’s fez and a shirt collar with bow tie. A sword sits below the tie and a moon and stars charm hangs from it. A blind-folded man wearing a nightshirt hangs on to the camel’s halter. Button has red text with white background.

The International Shirt & Collar Co. issued 3 pinback buttons related to the Oriental Temple in Troy, NY. These were likely distributed to members as part of a convention. The Troy Temple was granted its charter in 1877 by the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (A.A.O.N.M.S. or more simply known as Shriners) which had been established in 1870.

A green alligator with tongue out, wearing a "WKTI" baseball cap and "94 WKTI" white t-shirt and holding a can of Old Style beer with yellow background.

Milwaukee radio station WKTI 94FM and the beer company Old Style joined forces to create the "Tailgator." The 34-year old station's popular DJs Reitman, Mueller and Jim "Lips" LaBelle have since been replaced or retired, and the frequency now broadcasts WLWK, "Lake FM".

Old Style Lager was introduced in 1902 by G. Heileman Brewing Company in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Heileman consolidated several premium brands and at its height ranked the third largest brewer in the US behind Anheuser-Busch and Miller. Old Style found its greatest success in the Midwest. An unfortunate attempt to selling malt liquor after a 1991 bankruptcy eventually lead the 124-year old family brewer to sell the company in 1996.

On a happier note, Heileman's LaCrosse brewery is back to brewing beer (not Old Style, but beer all the same) and bottling teas, sodas and energy drink under the name City Brewing Company. The new company borrowed the name from Heileman's original startup 1858-1872.

Image of a large tree in the center, the sun peeking out of a distant mountain, a plow, a bow and arrows, a well and a Native American riding a horse. With North Dakota's state mottos in a red banner across the top, circling the tree: Liberty and Union Now and Forever, One and Inseparable.

A series of State buttons were created by Whitehead and Hoag for sale and often used by cigarette companies to give to their customers. The cigarette companies would advertise on a little piece of paper inside the back of the button.

Sweet Caporal Cigarettes were produced by Kinney Bros. Tobacco Company, New York starting in 1878. Shortly after, Kinney Bros merged into the giant American Tobacco Company. A.T.C.'s monopoly was broken in 1911 but they retained Sweet Caporal. The popularity of the brand may be linked to its novel use of collectible cigarette cards included in each pack. There was Victorian theater stars, illustrated Mutt and Jeff phrases, American flags, an Aircraft Spotter Series in the 1940s ("Learn to know friend from foe"), and many baseball series over the years. The tobacco company also used promotional buttons series like this to promote their cigarettes. 

Red and black hand-drawn text and images on a white background.

Newbro's Herpicide was invented by Mr. Dupont Newbro from Butte, Montana, who set up a drug store in 1891. In 1898, Newbro believed that parasites caused dandruff and then hair loss, ultimately leading to baldness. Newbro called his treatment "herpicide," probably from the Latin term herpes, meaning "creep," and "cide," meaning death.

This might seem a bit hooky now, but at the time, scientists attributed dandruff and a host of other skin conditions to Malassezia (a species of yeast). Newbro used the work of noted dermatologist Raymond Sabourand from the Pasteur Institute in Paris to back his product. Sabourand specialized in fungi that cause skin diseases in animals. One study of rabbits that went bald soon after being innoculated with the human dandruff 'germ.'

White text on black background.

Clarion Associates, Inc. is a third generation privately owned family business located in Hauppauge, NY. The company is the largest insurance company specializing in musical instrument insurance worldwide. They insure all types of instruments and musical equipment, including sheet music. Their catchy 24-hour claim hotline 1-800-violins prompts the question: do musicians insuring guitars have a problem with this?

Mr. Zip, a cartoon character in blue, with an orange face carrying a yellow postal bag marked "U.S. MAIL" and a postal letter.

Mr. Zip, or Zippy, was based on an original design by Howard Wilcox of the Cunningham & Walsh advertising agency. The design was purchased by AT&T and given to the United States Postal Service (then the United States Post Office Department) to encourage the adoption of zip codes by the general public in the early 1960s. AT&T had warned the postal service that the public might be less than cooperative, citing their own difficulties introducing area codes.

Black text and illustration of a man with pickle body, tomato head, and green bean arms and legs appears over a soft pastel-colored background. Man is walking with a cane and briefcase marked "WILLIAMS."

Mr. Pickle was an advertising character used by Williams Bros. Co., established in Detroit, Michigan around 1885 by William H. Williams and his brother Henry. The initial launch of "Mr. Pickle of Michigan" was as a poster advertising campaign in Columbus, Ohio in 1910-1911. It cost less than $400 to post the entire town for five weeks! Its success encouraged the company to run the ads nationally.

Mr. Pickle is not all pickles; he's more of a vegetable man. However all ads for the company include their slogan "Pick the Pickle from Michigan" even when advertising other products. Here's one for Williams' Tomato Catsup.

Black/white illustration of Mr. Peanut - peanut with arms, legs, tophat, cane and monocle - appears over a yellow background with red text. 

Planters Peanuts' iconic mascot stems from a creative winning contest entry from a fourteen year-old Virginia schoolboy, Antonio Gentile. His drawing was modified slightly (spats, top hat, monocle and cane) and has evolved over the years since its public debut in the Saturday Evening Post in 1918. Mr. Peanut has promoted the country's first roasted peanut company every since.

A 2006 contest to choose what accouterment to add to Mr. Peanut's wardrobe resulted in no change. The public has grown to love Mr. Peanut, as is, it seems. In 2010, Planters' gave Mr. Peanut a voice with actor Robert Downing Jr.

Blue illustration of a character, whose face is hidden by a large swath of hair, wearing a tuxedo, top hat and carrying a cane, on white background with blue edge trim.

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