The History Of Button Badges

Button Badges were invented by a New Jersey company called Whitehead and Hoag in 1896.  The Button Badge was born but not exactly as we know the button badge today as button badges had a cloth front.

It started with a patch that was sowed on to jackets, mostly used in the Military to identify rankings and personnel. Badges became the most prominent thing for collectors just like postal stamps. Scouting Organizations were just so excited about the badges they started using it to show in what group and rank the scouts were. Different types of badges were introduced through the times.

The next significant period for the button badges was the 1960’s when the world seethed with youthful unrest, Nuclear Disarmament, peace, love and psychedelic. Remember “SWINGING SIXTIES” the decade of peace, love and happiness, and of course if you had something to say, you put it on a button badge. And so it was until the next great revolution, The late 1970’s punk music explosion where rebellion was it the air again. And with that, button badges came into fashion again. This time it was noted not so much by the message on the button badge, but how many button badges you could fit on your jacket.

At this time metal die struck Cloisonne Enamel Badges were the only badge pins or promotional badges available. Enamel lapel pins were extremely popular however they were expensive. The new “Button Badge” was such a popular alternative promotional item that that in the first year over a million Button Badges were made.

In the early years Button Badges were used to promote sports stars, actors and politicians. They were given as promotional gifts and incentive when a packet of cigarettes was bought. They were even given to promote political messages in England during the Boer War with messages like “England expects every man to do his duty”

Name Badges, Sport Badges, Fame Badges, Shame Badges, school badges, all kinds of badges to make people want more and more .With Badges there’s always something new, different sizes and different backings. Button Badges don’t just come with a badge pin anymore, they come with magnetic backs, clothes magnet backs, key rings, mirror backs, bottle opener back, award ribbons, cell phone charms, and many more.

It started on jackets, hats, bags, Scout banners and now on all kinds of clothing.

As the original Button Badges were a simple advance in the trouser Buttons being 1 inch or roughly 25 mm in diameter and the badges were made in the same way as the clothing buttons they were and still are called “Button Badges” or Pins.

A Badge Maker today would still make Button Badges in the same way but with slightly different materials.