Black and white photograph framed by yellow with black text contained within a metal button. 

The button is believed to have been a Heywood-Wakefield Company employee identification badge.  Five brothers from Gardner, Massachusetts founded a small furniture manufacturing company in 1826.  It was successful and expanded into, among other places, Chicago's West Side, where it build a warehouse (1883), a factory (1884), and a salesroom (1891).  In 1913, the Chicago facilities were expanded with the sale of one million dollars of general stock.  In 1921, the company became the Heywood-Wakefield Company under Massachusetts law when it liquidated its New Jersey holdings.  The employee identification badge dates from 1921 or after since it reads "Heywood-Wakefield Co."

Outlined flaming piano surrounded by five red lights below white text over black background.  

The song "Great Balls of Fire" by Jerry Lee Lewis was one of the most popular Rockabilly songs during the 1950's. Peaking at #1 on the charts, the song sold over 1 million copies in the first 10 days after the record was released on November 11th, 1957.

The image is reference to the legend that Jerry Lee Lewis set his piano on fire one night while performing. Reportedly there was a conflict between Jerry Lee and Chuck Berry, another famous performer during the era. Jerry Lee wanted to close the show and Chuck Berry would not let him. In order to upstage him, Jerry Lee lit his piano on fire while performing 'Great Balls of Fire' and sang until the piano burned to the ground. In a 1999 article in Country Weekly Jerry Lee was asked about the notorious incident and said "I don't know where people would get an idea like that. Someone would have to be crazy to set a piano on fire. Of course, that was so long ago and the story's been told so many times, I sometimes wonder if I really did do it." neither confirming nor denying the story.

Jerry Lee Lewis' career ended quickly when news that he married his first cousin once removed Myra Gale Brown. Due to her young age (13 years old) controversy broke out and Jerry Lee was blacklisted from the industry. His career would never recover.

Gold, glow in the dark paper, and striped circles with gold and white text over black background. 

This button was a Kickstarter campaign gift for backers of $20 for Nicholas Felton's infographic book. The innovative effect is glow in the dark and gold platted button combination.

This button was manufactured by the Busy Beaver Button Co.

Patchwork fabric and thread.

Two flags with a three-leaf clover below black text over white background. Olive green ribbon hangs below connected to two lucky rabbits' feet, one green and one brown. 

During the 1850s, the potato famine caused many Irish to immigrate to the United States. The Irish phrase "Erin Go Bragh" means Ireland forever. The phrase is often used to express pride for and allegiance to Ireland. The shamrock and the green harp flag are also symbols of Irish identity and nationalism.

The rabbit foot, like the one attached to this button, is considered to be a good luck charm.

See more innovative and unique buttons in action on the Busy Beaver blog.

Red text over yellow background.

The Coca-Cola Company is an American multinational beverage corporation and manufacturer, retailer and marketer of nonalcoholic beverages. The company is most famous for its flagship product Coca-Cola which was invented in 1886 by pharmacist John Stith Pemberton.

This button was manufactured by the Parisian Novelty Company which was founded in Chicago, Illinois, in 1898. In 2008, the button portion of the Parisian Novelty Company was sold to the Matchless Group and renamed Matchless Parisian Novelty, Inc. 

This button is a nail puzzle. This means that two of them can be interlocked. The object of the puzzle is to unlink the nails. The following link demonstrates the puzzle's solution: http://waynesword.palomar.edu/trjul98a.htm

Compass nestled between red text over yellowed background. 

In 1924, Dave and Max Cook opened and started the first sporting goods company in Colorado.  In 1932, Dave Cook bought out his brother Max's share of the business.  Dave Cook Sporting Good Company was opened in 1936 in Denver, Colorado at 1601 Larimer Street. The company gained attention from many due to the company being opened and operated by a Jewish businessman.  Dave Cook Sporting Good advertisements could be seen in popular magazines such as Field and Stream and Boys Life.  In 1988, Dave Cook Sporting Company was purchased from Gart Brother's Sporting Good Company for 20 million dollars.  The Cook family remained employed until late 1989 when they are resigned.  Gart continued to use the Cook name until the early 1990's when all store names where gradually changed to reflect Gart.

Cork attached to button face. 

Have info on this button? Contact us here.

A blue, red, and white striped button with blue text in the center. A red, white, and blue ribbon is attached to the bottom of the button and the ribbon has a gold chain and trophy attached to it.

Chambersburg, Pennsylvania was established in 1803, this button was to commemorate its 150th anniversary. Chambersburg was named after Benjamin Chambers, who settled near the confluence of Conococheaque Creek and Falling Spring with his brother. The location provided Benjamin Chambers with the necessary water power to operate a gristmill and a sawmill. Chambersburg became a commercial and agricultural center.

Chambersburg played a significant role during the Civil War. The city was occupied by the Confederate forces three times. It was in Chambersburg that Robert E. Lee decided to move east to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, which was a turning point during the Civil War when the Union forces started to emerge victoriously. During the last and third occupation, the troops under Confederate General J.A. McCausland and General Jubal Early burned down the center of the city when Union Troops did not pay a ransom for alleged transgressions committed Shenandoah Valley, West Virginia. Chambersburg was built after the Civil War with private and Federal funds.    

Lenticular blinking eye between alternating red and green text. 

Wink is a soda produced by the Canada Dry Corporation. Introduced in 1965, Wink was touted as a non-cola drink. Made with grapefruit, and other citrus flavors, it was bottled in green glass bottles, much like 7-UP and Sprite. Their jingle was “Wink, the Sassy One, from Canada Dry." For a short time, there was a mascot the Wink Gink. Although not seen at all grocery stores in the US, it is still bottled in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. In Canada it is bottled under CPlus.