SKF

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Text on Button SKF Industries, Inc., Philadelphia, PA., U.S.A. Engineering & Research Center, King of Prussia, PA. Advanced Ball and roller bearing technology
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Face: Red background with white text and logo. Back: Illustration of metal tracks with ball bearings in the middle with die-cut holes for the balls to rest in.

Curl Text Parisian Novelty Co., Chicago
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Founded in 1907 in Gothenburg, Sweden, SKF manufacturers bearings and seals, with additional specialties in mechatronics, lubrication systems, and consulting. The dexterity game challenges players to fill each of the ten slots with a bearing ball, while advertising SKF's work in the bearing industry. SKF has had a presence in and around Philadelphia, PA since its purchase of the Hess-Bright Manufacturing Company in 1916.

Sources

Reitman, Valerie. (1991, January 8). Skf To Shut Its Last Plant In The City. The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved from http://www.philly.com/ WorkplaceDynamics. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.topworkplaces.com/

Catalog ID IN0023

Portland Oregon The Rose City

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Text on Button PORTLAND, OREGON THE ROSE CITY
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Rich dark blue background with gold lettering and red rose with green leaves.

The crystoglas button gives an interesting 3D effect through embossing the metal and printing directly on the celluloid.

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Portland's mayor, Harry Lane, decided to start the Rose Festival in 1907 because the city's climate is suitable for growing roses.  The first rose festival was held at the celebration of the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition.

This button was made using the crystoglas process, which was developed by Whitehead and Hoag and used around 1915. Crystoglas buttons are produced by placing clear celluloid on certain areas of the front of the button with colored foil underneath over a stamped metal background. The process was not used often due to the high cost. 

Catalog ID IN0054

Philadelphia Sesqui Centennial 1926

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Text on Button PHILADELPHIA Sesqui-Centennial 1776 1926
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Illustration of a eighteenth-century American man on a black background. Cloth-backed paper in the shape of a hat extends from top of button. Blue and yellow ribbon with black text and black image of the Liberty Bell extends from bottom of button. 

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This button was made for Philadelphia's Sesquicentennial International Exposition in 1926, which celebrated 150 years of independence since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The Exposition lasted from June to December and featured an array of conventions and entertainment. Several buildings were erected in the south section of the city to house the events. 

Sources

Visitor Sees Philadelphia as a City that Clings to Past Traditions. [Editorial]. (9 Jan, 1926). Philadephia Tribune, p. 9. Retrieved from ProQuest Historical Newspapers database.  

Catalog ID IN0014

Obey

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Black cotton with grey silkscreened artwork.

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Artist and designer Shepard Fairey’s “Obey” campaign is an experiment in phenomenology featuring the image of wrestler Andre the Giant. Fairey has described his “Obey” designs as having no inherent meaning and that they are intended to “stimulate curiosity and bring people to question both the sticker [image] and their relationship with their surroundings.” The “Obey" campaign began in 1989 in Providence, RI with the sticker, “Andre the Giant Has a Posse,” and can now be found worldwide as street art, clothing, prints, buttons, and other collectibles.

Fairey would later go on to make the iconic "Hope" poster of Barack Obama in 2008.

Sources

Annobil, K. (2008, January 21). Shepard Fairey. Retrieved July 22, 2020, from http://formatmag.com/features/shepard-fairey/

Fairey, Shepard. (1990). Manifesto. Retrieved from http://www.obeygiant.com/about

Fairey, S. (2008). Barack Obama "Hope" Poster [Painting found in Architecture and Design, Art Institute Chicago, Chicago, IL]. Retrieved July 21, 2020, from https://www.artic.edu/artworks/229396/barack-obama-hope-poster

Catalog ID AR0181

The Northfield Line

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Text on Button THE NORTHFIELD LINE A Merry Xmas from your NICO friends NORTHFIELID IRON CO. MANUSFACTURERS OF GOOD ROADS EQUIPMENT NORTHFIELD, MINN.
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Dark blue text on off-white background with dark blue band along the edges of button. A small compass is centered on the button.

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The Northfield Iron Company was founded in 1907 in Northfield, Minnesota. They manufactured road-related materials, including highway signs and snow control fences. In 1920, they obtained a patent for a collapsible arch form for use in construction. "NICO" is the abbreviation for the Northfield Iron Company and also the name of the street on which the manufacturing plants were located. 

Catalog ID IN0013

Nashville Cardinals

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Text on Button NASHVILLE CARDINALS
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White background with black text curved along top and bottom portions of button. Red 3-D football helmet centered on button. 

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The Nashville Cardinals football team is just one of several teams that make up a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering youth to play safe while embracing an active lifestyle. The Tennessee Youth Football League coordinates with high school coaches to provide youth ages 4-12 with the knowledge they need to play according to the proper techniques to avoid injury to themselves and others. The current logo for the Nashville Cardinals is the head of a cardinal.

Catalog ID IN0005

Pucker Up

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Lenticular image of a pair of lips smiling and puckering on a white background. 

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VALENTINE'S DAY CARD. 1969

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Red lipstick rose to popularity in the 20th century. The American women’s suffrage movement adopted red lipstick as a sign of protest. Prior to this movement, red lips were considered sexual amoral and during medieval times, having to do with the devil. Red lipstick became a common part of the modern American woman’s makeup regime. During World War II Hitler famously hated red lipstick so for an American Woman to wear red lipstick was also a protest against fascism.

Sources

Jacqui Palumbo, C. (2021). Empowering, alluring, degenerate? The evolution of red lipstick. Retrieved 6 February 2021, from https://www.cnn.com/style/article/red-lipstick-history-beauty/index.html

What Does To Blow Someone A Kiss Mean? - Writing Explained. (2021). Retrieved 6 February 2021, from https://writingexplained.org/idiom-dictionary/blow-someone-a-kiss#:~:te….

Catalog ID IN0019

Molly Red Head

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Text on Button I'VE SEEN MOLLY RED HEAD HAVE YOU?
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Red text in both standard serif and block styles on white background. Drywall anchor attached to left side of button via plastic connector. 

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This is a promotional button for a specific type of Molly bolt with a red "head." A Molly bolt is a type of drywall anchor that adds permanent threading to the material it is attached to, so it can be removed easily without loss of strength. It is likely that this button would be worn by employees of hardware stores. 

Catalog ID IN0004

Malta Home

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Text on Button I CHIRP FOR THE MALTA HOME, FIELD DAY ASSN. OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA, IN HOC SIGNO VINCES
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Black text curved around top and bottom portions of button. Red and gold insignia with red text centered on button. Metal cicada hangs from button via string and clicks when pushed. 

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Whitehead & Hoag Co.  Buttons, Badges, novelties and signs (union bug) Newark, NJ

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The term "In Hoc Signo Vinces" in the crest means "in this sign you will conquer," which is the also the motto for Birbirkara, the largest city in Malta.

Catalog ID IN0003