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  1. A Short History

    April 15, 2012 by Carl

    How long have political buttons been around? The first political button was to support George Washington when he was President of the  United States. It was made of brass and read ” G.W. – Long Live Our President.”

    In the late 18th and early 19th centuries political buttons were clothing buttons, intended to be sewn onto clothing.

    The first campaign buttons appeared in the Presidential election of 1896, William McKinley vs William Jennings Bryan. They were made of celluloid on paper and wrapped around a metal disk. This method is still popular today, more than a century later, but we use mylar instead of celluloid.

    In recent years disposable label stickers have been used as a way to save money.

    That’s it, folks. A “short” history. There will be no test, and no essays are due. Enjoy your summer.

    …carl

     

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  2. Since 1974

    April 15, 2012 by Carl

    In 1974 I bought a button maker for pin-back buttons. I wanted to have a little fun with it and hopefully, make enough money to recover my initial purchase. That summer I made buttons for friends at work, and for relatives. In the fall and winter, I made buttons for the athletic booster clubs at the local high schools.

    Since that time, I have made a few buttons off and on, but last summer I was inspired to get a business license and make buttons at a local event, Border Bash…because it’s great on State. I really enjoyed making the buttons, letting folks design their own, and just visiting and talking with people who stopped by my booth. So, beginning on May 4th, I plan to be at Border Bash again, twice a month throughout the summer. If you’re in town, stop by my booth and say “Hi” – no purchase required. Border Bash is free, the music is free, and it’s a fun way to spend a summer evening wandering back and forth across the Virginia/Tennessee state line eating food, meeting friends, and listening to the bands.

     

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