5 Randomly Retro Pin-Badges, Part 2

Welcome to a 2^nd showcase of Randomly Retro Pin-Badges from the clutter pile.

The previous article received a suitable number of hits which warranted this part 2 even more. With a large biscuit tin in storage stuffed full of buttons there is certainly more than enough to pass a trilogy. Some of these feature designs that range from whacky, cheesy and downright cool spanning from the past five decades. So read on and marvel at the next 5 artefacts from pin-badge past...

1/ Bristol & West Snoopy Promotion (1987)

Whilst NatWest costumers enjoyed the premium of Piggy Bank characters, B&W kids savers received a Snoopy's Doghouse ceramic moneybox instead. I wanted a Powermaster Optimus Prime so bad back in those days, so I had an account set up with the local B&W building society. The insentive got me into banking at a primary school age and whatever was left from my allowance through buying Marvel comics and Garbage Pail Kids stickers went towards the fund. 4 years later, there was no Prime, but the collection went towards a Sega Master System I ended up passing on after a month. Oh yeah, the Snoopy badge (none of the other Peanuts characters were included in the promotion – not even Woodstock!) was part of a membership pack including some stationary (and that doghouse moneybox!). As for Powermaster Prime, I ended up acquiring his souped up Japanese God Ginrai counterpart in 2002 for next to nothing! Waiting does pay off.

2/ Vanilla Ice, Big Magazine (Early 90's)

This most likely came with the same magazine (or it might have been Smash Hits!) I found with a feature on how to mimic the artists trademark beak hairstyle. There's an earlier blog I wrote with a scan of the feature here - a blog which Vanilla Ice himself linked to via his official Twitter account. Nice to be noticed.

3/ Turtle Action (1990)

One in a long series of TMNT badges available from various greetings cards retailers. The image depicting Leonardo swinging through a white background (despite the rope being on the opposite side) is one of many images drawn in that 'no black outline' style on a lot of UK produced Ninja Turtles merchandise. 

 4/ Transformers Autobot Bumblebee (1985).

Acquired from the front of a Transformers birthday card. An insignia, a Transformers G1 logo and the name and function of a Transformers character are the design layout. There were other name badges too, including some for the dastardly Decepticons. Despite no character image, I was content enough to have a polished Transformers logo all the same, despite my name not being Bumblebee. 

 

5/ Care Bears, Birthday Bear (1985)

This suitably selected Birthday Bear card badge belonged to my brother. Like with Transformers, there were other character pins available too. A decent little artefact from the days when the Care Bears brand (pre-remakes) was at its most strongest. If memory serves correct these were also a free gift with an issue of Marvel UK's weekly Car Bears comic as well.

That's it for the second lineup of Randomly Retro Pin-Badges. A third summary of random enamel goodness is already in the pipeline. Whether its goodness is entirely up to you.

Until next time!

-HERO

5 Randomly Retro Pin-Badges, Part I

Ample pin badges are amongst some of the treasures I've accumulated over the years. These buttons are either promotional, collectable or fan club items. Some of these go back almost 4 decades with the rust on the back to show for it. 

 

1. Close Encounters of the Third Kind. (1977)

The iconic spaceship from the movie compositions well within this button. Unlike the motion picture, this promotional pin badge obtained from a picture house hasn't aged as well. The design is still intact, but the rust continues to get worse. Still a cool little relic to have.

2. The Muppets, The Fabulous Fozzie Bear (1982) 

Muppets badges were among some of my favorites to collect. Well-loved characters, vibrant colors and fantastic design. This Fozzie badge was a personal favorite I wore on my jacket at Primary School. Wakka Wakka!

3. Clarks Hardware Insignia Badge (Late-80s)

Clarks Hardware was the cool promotional shoe range aimed at the under-11s. The TV commercial depicting a boy zapped Captain N style into a video game battleground to fight enemy game sprites with 'Fit For Heroes' shoes was a successful sales pitch. This badge came free with every pair of shoes. The badge pictured is from my own pair of Hardware Sneakers. It was awesome! 

4. Robertsons Golden Shred, Buy British (1980s)
Probably the most controversial sign of the times badge I have. Whilst this is very un-PC and won't hold up today, it is is a piece of history and not one I'd ever wear in public or at all. The Robertsons Golly has long since been dropped (and rightfully so) from the brand. At the time the character tokens and badges were very popular with the public. (Extra source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/1505411.stm) 

5. NatWest Piggy Banker (mid-80s)

Natwest bank at one stage had a popular family of mascots aimed at the younger banker with a range of still popular character piggy banks, wobbly wallcharts and other fan club like merchandise. The adverts and 'piggies song' were also popular. The baby character was the most iconic of the bunch and his moneybox figurine also made cameo last year in a modern Nat-West commercial. In some circles this popular promotion from back in the day would now be deemed offensive and 'un-PC'.

That wraps it up for now as far as the badges go. There will certainly be more pinbadge purveying on the horizon for sure.

END OF PART 1.