Think Mink

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Text on Button Think Mink
Image Description

The word "THINK" in brown on white background, the word "MINK" in white on brown background.

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Back Stamp: Dimensional Research Burlingame, California Pat Pending

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Have info on this button? Contact us here.

Catalog ID AD0021

The Guy That Put The Tan In Montana

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Text on Button I'M THE GUY THAT PUT THE TAN IN MONTANA
Image Description

White background with black text. Illustration  has yellow, red, blue and peach and portrays a rancher with a long-mustached, big hat and bandana around his neck. It is signed "TAD" and not the usual Goldberg signature.

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Quality Tokio Cigarette, Factory no 649, 1st Dist. New York, The Whitehead and Hoag Co.

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Rube Goldberg, the cartoonist responsible for this line of "I'm the Guy" buttons is more famously known for his illustrations of inventions that were funny and complicated. His name is in the Webster dictionary and is defined as "accomplishing by complex means what seemingly could be done simply". He was a dedicated cartoonist, doing both political and comical cartoons. Goldberg is also a founding member of the National Cartoonist Society whose Reuben Award is named after his proper name, Rueben.

The popularity of the "I'm the guy..." slogans caught the eye of tobacco marketers. So if you wanted one of these buttons back in the 1910's, you'd have to buy some of their cigarettes. 

There was even an "I'm the guy" song !

However, this illustration was created for the "I'm the guy" line by one of Goldbergs contemporaries, Thomas Aloysius Dorgan, or "Tad". Professionally, Dorgan worked as a cartoonist for the New York Journal, writing and drawing for the paper's sports section. He is responsible for coining numerous American slang terms such as: "for crying out loud", "applesauce", "the cat's meow", and his most notable and controversial phrase "hotdog". While the phrase "hotdog" took off as a reference to the newly created sausage, Dorgan's usage of the term is originally linked to a now lost illustration of a dachshund dog between two buns he is said to have created. Today there is much dispute about whether Dorgan really did or did not coin the term first.

Catalog ID AD0347

Swatch blue and black

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Text on Button swatch swiss
Image Description

Blue and black stripes on left side, crest design on the right with watch hands at 10:10 in the middle.

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The face of the Sir Swatch watch which was part of Swatch's 1986 Spring/Summer collection. The Swatch brand became popular in the 1980s for its trendy timepieces. Swatch, a contraction of "second watch" was a successful attempt to get consumers to rethink the wrist watch. Instead of another stale, old, expensive piece of jewelry, the company introduced inexpensive, plastic, Swiss made watches carrying novel designs, colorful watchbands, and fun watch guards which made the product more of a fashion accessory than a time-keeping device. They also invited leading artists to create designs. Over the years, Keith Haring, Moby, Yoko Ono and Spike Lee among others, have created their own Swatch. Begun in 1983, the company has grown into the world's largest watch company, having acquiring several other leading brands.

Sources

Swatch. (n.d.). SIR SWATCH19. Retrieved August 01, 2020, from https://shop.swatch.com/en_us/watches/originals/new-gent/sir-swatch19-s…

Catalog ID AD0079

Swatch

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Text on Button swatch swiss
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Egyptian art motifs with pink and black background with centered watch hands.

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The watch face of the Swatch Osiris watch was part of Swatch's 1986 Spring/Summer collection. The Swatch brand became popular in the 1980s for its trendy timepieces. Swatch, a contraction of "second watch" was a successful attempt to get consumers to rethink the wrist watch. Instead of another stale, old, expensive piece of jewelry, the company introduced inexpensive, plastic, Swiss made watches carrying novel designs, colorful watchbands, and fun watch guards which made the product more of a fashion accessory than a time-keeping device. They also invited leading artists to create designs. Over the years, Keith Haring, Moby, Yoko Ono and Spike Lee among others, have created their own Swatch. Begun in 1983, the company has grown into the world's largest watch company, having acquiring several other leading brands.

Sources
Swatch. (n.d.). DiscoverPlanet Swatch. Retrieved August 01, 2020, from https://www.swatch.com/en_us/planet-swatch/
Catalog ID AD0078

The Guy That Put The Sun In Sunday

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Text on Button I'M THE GUY THAT PUT THE SUN IN SUNDAY
Image Description

White background with black text and an shades of red and blue with an illustration of a thoughtful-looking man with glasses and a big red nose.

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Rube Goldberg, the cartoonist responsible for these "I'm the Guy" buttons is more famously known for his illustrations of inventions that were funny and complicated. His name is in the Webster dictionary is defined as "accomplishing by complex means what seemingly could be done simply". He was a dedicated cartoonist, doing both political and comical cartoons. Goldberg is also a founding member of the National Cartoonist Society whose Reuben Award is named after his proper name, Rueben.


The popularity of the "I'm the guy..." slogans caught the eye of tobacco marketers. So if you wanted one of these buttons back in the 1910's, you'd have to buy some of their cigarettes. 


There was even an "I'm the guy" song !

Catalog ID AD0348

Story Book Garden

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Text on Button Story Book Garden - Wisconsin Dells - The Three Little Bears
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Multicolor illustration of the three little bears gathered at a table in front of a stone fireplace in a room with wood plank ceiling and bright green flooring.

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Storybook Gardens was built in the early 1950's and was one of the first tourist attractions in the Wisconsin Dells Area. It has since closed.

Catalog ID AD0097

Stop It! I Like It

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Text on Button Stop it! I like it!
Image Description

White background with black text and illustration. The illustration of a cartoon-looking man with a beautiful woman.

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Hassan Cigarettes, Factory no 30, 2nd Dist. N.Y., W&H Co., Patented

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During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Hassan Cigarettes gave away free promotional buttons when customers purchased their cigarettes. The buttons were made in collaboration with comic artists like Bud Fisher, T.E. Powers, R.L. Goldberg, and Gus Mager, as well as manufacturing company Whitehead & Hoag. The 1896 collection features black-and-white illustrations of Victorian-era cartoon characters. It is unknown how many buttons were a part of the original set, but some collectors have been able to locate as many as seven different buttons to resell online. Most buttons in the 1896 collection have an artist’s signature on the front. However, this ‘Stop it! I like it!' button does not. Based on the other buttons in the collection, this button was likely illustrated by Bud Fisher or R.L. Goldberg.

Sources

Keyman Collectibles. (n.d.). Hassan cigarettes baseball comic premium pinback buttons. Retrieved November 28, 2024, from https://keymancollectibles.com/pinsbuttons/hassancigarettespremiumpin.htm 

Time Passages Nostalgia Company. (n.d.). (7) Old Hassan premium printed celluloids pin back buttons. Retrieved November 28, 2024, from http://www.timepassagesnostalgia.com/&pm=0&searchkeywords=Victorian+Cigar&sin=f827 

Catalog ID AD0302

Snaider's Syrups

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Text on Button I PLEDGE TO DRINK MILK WITH SNAIDER'S SYRUPS
Image Description

A jar of Ma Snaider's superfine chocolate flavored syrup in the center, red text on white background.

Back Paper / Back Info

Litho back reads: IMBER QUALITY PRODUCTS - NO. 7 REG. - [union bug:  UNION LABEL: S.A.NO.4 - LIP & BA]  - L.J. IMBER CO. 1639 WEST EVERGREEN AVE. [different union bug; not legible] CHICAGO, ILL

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Ma Snaider’s Superfine Chocolate flavored Syrup was manufactured by Snaider Syrup Corp., Brooklyn, New York. The patriotic company's logo features not only red, white and blue stars and stripes, but an American eagle crouching under a banner proclaiming "American Brand." They produced a number of syrups and seltzer products including flavored syrups like raspberry and pineapple punch for use in soda pop. 

Sources

Staff, R. (2010, March 19). Snaider Syrup Label. Retrieved July 28, 2020, from https://blog.retroplanet.com/snaider-syrup-label/

Catalog ID AD0038

Slingerland Drums

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Text on Button Slingerland - The American Drum Company That Cares.
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An illustration of a drum head with white stars and text over blue background on the top half, black text over vertical red and white stripes on the bottom.

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Slingerland is an historic drum company, linked to the early development of jazz. Established in Chicago around 1912 by Henry Heanon "H.H." Slingerland (1875-1946), they originally imported German ukuleles, but moved manufacturing in house to meet demand, adding banjos and guitars. The first Slingerland drum kits weren't introduced until 1928, likely a response to Chicago drum maker Ludwig & Ludwig's entry into their banjo market. The family controlled the company until the 1970s. Gibson restored the brand in the 1990s and currently manufactures a line of Slingerland drum sets out of their Arkansas factory.

Famous endorsers include Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Grammy award winner Peter Erskine, Bev Bevan (ELO), Tre Cool (Green Day), and Neil Peart (Rush).

Sources

Guide, V. (2003). Vintage Slingerland Ads. Retrieved August 01, 2020, from http://www.vintagedrumguide.com/slingerland_magazine_ads.html

Catalog ID AD0046

I'm A Sizzler

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Text on Button I'm a Sizzler - Are You?
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White text on a red background.

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The restaurant chain Sizzler, opened on January 27, 1958 by Del and Helen Johnson in Culver City, California, and was originally named "Sizzler Family Steak House". 

Catalog ID AD0084