Cream text on navy blue circle around button face's periphery.  Red lettering on cream background.   Illustration of heads of three young children.  Girl in middle has large bow on her head.

Randolph Cuties, based in Philidelphia, was a company known for their moderately priced children's socks.

In the center, black text appears over a white background. In the top third of the button, a white polar bear is shown on a blue background. In the bottom third, white text appears over a red background.

The Rambler was a men's topcoat (overcoat) manufactured in Chicago by Hart Schaffner & Marx. The company was founded in 1887, specializing in tailored menswear and is currently owned by America's largest suit maker, ABG-HMX Group. The company was one the largest suppliers of military uniforms during the First World War, and later produced the olive green U.S. Army Officer's Uniform worn during World War II. More recently, President Barack Obama has famously sported hometown HSM suits at both his presidential acceptance speech and 2009 inaugural address.

Illustration of the character Popeye enclosed in a circle followed by a large black number and the newspaper's name curling the bottom of the button in red, all on a white background.

The New York Evening Journal ran a contest in which readers who matched their number to the ones listed in the newspaper's funny pages won prizes. The newspaper was run by Hearst who was the first to run a daily comic strip page. In 1919 the newspaper hired cartoonist E.C. Segar to create a new comic which was called "Thimble Theater." Amazingly, it was ten years until much loved "Popeye, the Sailor Man" made his appearance. After that, he pretty much took over things, starring in television cartoons, video games and even movies.

A black and white sketch of a hand holds a small computing device that reads 'Arithmachine'. Black text wraps around the outside edge of the button. 

The Arithmachine, and later versions Contostyle and Arithstyle, are the creations of Henry Goldman who arrived in the US in 1881 from Vienna. The Arithmachine (1898) was a small mechanical device (4 ½" x 1 ½" x 3 ½") weighing about a pound that was similar to an adding machine but also performed multiplication, division, and more complicated functions using a curved stylus. "One can carry it like a notebook in the pocket"

The machine was manufactured in Chicago but the International Arithmachine Co. also had offices in New York City where the Arithstyle was later manufactured. It was exhibited at the Pan-American Exposition in New York in 1901 and featured in a number of magazines. The company marketed the product to bookkeepers, banks and related industries as: "Brain resting, labor saving. Readily understood. Easily operated." "Saves Experts Mental Strain!" The adding machine also made it to Berlin, where Goldman traveled in 1905 to arrange for manufacture of the Arithmachine under the name Contostyle. Goldman's death in 1912 seems to have halted development of this early computing machine.

Red text over black and white photograph of a young girl and boy skipping happily and carrying lunchboxes.

Penney’s, J. C. Penney, or simply jpc, is the company founded by James Cash Penney in 1912-3. Prior to this, the 34 stores he ran had the brand “Golden Rule” which originated as frontier town dry goods stores. The first store opened in 1902 in Wyoming, reaching its peak in 1973 with 2,053 stores.

His stores were among the first retailers to offer "one price for all" instead of haggling which was common. Interestingly, after 110 years in business the chain became known for offering deep discounts and regular sales such as Penney's Back to School Days.

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.'