Yeah! What's The Difference!

Green background with an illustration of a man with red face, red hair, exaggerated teeth and eyes standing next to a chalkboard holding chalk. The main text is in a speech bubble, with the manufacturer location in small letters on the bottom.

The 1960s brought on new waves of humor along with the proliferation of head shops and novelty gift shops. The design for this button became popular in gumball prizes in the later mid-20th century (1970+), with many labeled as being manufactured in China and/or Hong Kong. Gumball prizes, including humorous pinback buttons, were popular throughout the 20th century. Machines originally intended for distributing round candies became commonly used along with small round capsules to distribute tiny toys to friendly passerby’s.

The 1970s marked a shift in trade relations between the United States and China, opening up new markets from east to west. Toy manufacturing in China had hit an all time high in the late 1970s, establishing the region as a hub for all manner of trinkets and children’s playthings. ‘Made in China,’ labels soon became common in households and on buttons and toys across the United States.