Universal Monster Army

Collecting Monsters => Vintage Monster Toys => Topic started by: 60sThru80s on July 30, 2011, 10:18:27 PM

Title: Need ID help from a pinback/button connoisseur
Post by: 60sThru80s on July 30, 2011, 10:18:27 PM
I'm hoping an expert recognizes these. I'm searching for info on a series of monster pinbacks that I remember buying in the early to mid 1970s. They were larger in diameter than Green Duck. They were commonly in cardboard display boxes near the cash register of convenience stores. There were many many more in the series than in the pics.
These are pics I found several years ago on flickr, probably uploaded by some of the elders of UMA. (so if you recognize a sliver of your display case in the photos, give a shout.  ;D ) Every time someone like Toy Ranch or the others would upload a photo of a collection cabinet, I'd magnify and search for these pinbacks.
Does anyone know anything about them?

(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6007/5992096215_3881390cc5.jpg)
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6150/5992654016_b8d3958126.jpg)

(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6121/5992654126_dda1e76b5d_b.jpg)


(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6129/5992096889_5137cbfef8_b.jpg)
Title: Re: Need ID help from a pinback/button connoisseur
Post by: Toy Ranch on July 31, 2011, 02:12:08 AM
I have the Frankenstein for President button, but not the others.  Didn't even know they were a set.  Cool!
Title: Re: Need ID help from a pinback/button connoisseur
Post by: 60sThru80s on July 31, 2011, 09:47:58 AM
I also know that they are not part of the set called "Batty Buttons."
I've spent years learning what they're not, but not what they are.  :(
Title: Re: Need ID help from a pinback/button connoisseur
Post by: Monster Bob on July 31, 2011, 03:18:14 PM


I have a few of these I bought new in 1972 or 1973...it seems to me that they were sold in a dump bin style counter box, and there were also non-monster buttons in this set. I think.
Title: Re: Need ID help from a pinback/button connoisseur
Post by: 60sThru80s on February 04, 2014, 12:04:11 AM
Sorry for bumping this after 3 years. I've been so successful at finding images of my other childhood monster obsessions on eBay and elsewhere, but these guys still elude me. I hope someone recognizes them and can direct me to a name or origin of the set.
Title: Re: Need ID help from a pinback/button connoisseur
Post by: monsterjoe on February 04, 2014, 07:00:53 PM
http://imageshack.com/a/img545/7855/drvf.jpg (http://imageshack.com/a/img545/7855/drvf.jpg)
Here is a counter display of these buttons
Title: Re: Need ID help from a pinback/button connoisseur
Post by: Hepcat on February 04, 2014, 07:07:43 PM
Quote from: 60sThru80s on February 04, 2014, 12:04:11 AMSorry for bumping this after 3 years.

Well I for one am really glad you bumped up this thread. Those buttons are boss cool!

8)
Title: Re: Need ID help from a pinback/button connoisseur
Post by: monsterjoe on February 04, 2014, 08:08:02 PM
They also came in 48 count counter display boxes...
Title: Re: Need ID help from a pinback/button connoisseur
Post by: 60sThru80s on February 04, 2014, 10:44:26 PM
Quotehttp://imageshack.com/a/img545/7855/drvf.jpg
Here is a counter display of these buttons

Wow! And I mean WOW!!!! What in the world search terms did you use (or could I use) to find more info about these? For some reason, when I saw the Barnabas Collins "Blood Bank" button, I was instantly transported back 40+ years in a heartbeat and saw images in my mind of school friends, teachers, and even amusement park rides I'd long forgotten about.

That's why I joined UMA to begin with years ago. I don't have collections, nor the money for them. All I need is a photo to preserve the memory. A million thank-you's for that!
Title: Re: Need ID help from a pinback/button connoisseur
Post by: horrorhunter on February 04, 2014, 10:50:49 PM
Those buttons are really cool. I didn't even know about them. Another pic for my Monster Archives.  :)
Title: Re: Need ID help from a pinback/button connoisseur
Post by: monsterjoe on February 04, 2014, 11:15:39 PM
Quote from: 60sThru80s on February 04, 2014, 10:44:26 PM
Wow! And I mean WOW!!!! What in the world search terms did you use (or could I use) to find more info about these? For some reason, when I saw the Barnabas Collins "Blood Bank" button, I was instantly transported back 40+ years in a heartbeat and saw images in my mind of school friends, teachers, and even amusement park rides I'd long forgotten about.

That's why I joined UMA to begin with years ago. I don't have collections, nor the money for them. All I need is a photo to preserve the memory. A million thank-you's for that!
no problem...
Title: Re: Need ID help from a pinback/button connoisseur
Post by: Monsters For Sale on February 04, 2014, 11:57:24 PM
These 2ΒΌ" clasp-back buttons are all labeled "Say It With Buttons - 1108 Front Street - Lisle , Ill. 60532 - (312) 968-7458" along the bottom edge.  They are not dated.  They look very 70's to me.

(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5481/12315373615_bb58a8cb67_b.jpg)

Obviously an election year.  This button was either printed with and without the red stripes, or they had some half-completed images that they used up.  I remember seeing a lot of these.  I think the producer was printing these like crazy to keep up with demand.


(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3785/12315795854_1def0ea2cc_b.jpg)

This button exists with this color variation.  This pretty much pins the time frame to 1972.  That was the year Nixon was running for re-election and Watergate was all over the news.  Woodward and Bernstein were asking a lot of embarrassing questions and Tricky Dick was doing a lot of explaining.  Nixon would often repeat the phrase, "Let me make one thing perfectly clear".


(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7315/12315793824_a0ff419ca6_b.jpg)

These two fellows are kinda cute.  I assume a jr. high aged monster kid would wear the Hunchback button to the dance in the school gym/cafeteria/auditorium.  The guy with the bad teeth was a joke taken from a toothpaste commercial that was running on TV every day.  Only he didn't have 20% fewer calories because he used the sponsor's product - but because he had 20% fewer teeth.


(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7346/12316521284_5139928fc8_b.jpg)


That's all I have of these.  I bought them just for the Frankenstein buttons.  (Still looking for the Frankenstein "GENIUS" button.)  Don't know how many different buttons were made.

Hope this helps.

Title: Re: Need ID help from a pinback/button connoisseur
Post by: Monsters For Sale on February 05, 2014, 07:38:37 AM

Found this picture on Flickr:


(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2866/12321406934_c0d564c59e_o.jpg)

So, if you plan on collecting these, you might want to look for color variations.
Title: Re: Need ID help from a pinback/button connoisseur
Post by: 60sThru80s on February 05, 2014, 03:33:00 PM
QuoteThis pretty much pins the time frame to 1972

You guys have been magnificent. And thank you for the detective work re: 1972 and the Nixon campaign. Even looking at some of these buttons I'm also seeing in my memory's eye covers of MAD Magazine I must have bought that year.
I appreciate the time you put into it, and now I've got something to go on myself for future searches.
Title: Re: Need ID help from a pinback/button connoisseur
Post by: Monsters For Sale on February 05, 2014, 03:45:02 PM

I've learned so much from the great members on this site.  It is always fun to be able to help someone newer here than me.

If you find any galleries of the other buttons from this group, be sure to post some pictures.
Title: Re: Need ID help from a pinback/button connoisseur
Post by: Hepcat on February 06, 2014, 09:14:07 AM
Quote from: Monsters For Sale on February 05, 2014, 03:45:02 PMIf you find any galleries of the other buttons from this group, be sure to post some pictures.

Absolutely! Please do.

:)
Title: Re: Need ID help from a pinback/button connoisseur
Post by: Hepcat on April 10, 2024, 11:06:34 PM
So I just did a Google search for more info on these "Say It with Buttons monster pinbacks" and this same thread here comes up at the very top.... Groan.

:(