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Author
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Topic: Mercury through ASTP-era pinback buttons
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Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 3293
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 07-01-2008 10:53 PM
   
It would be good to see and record from cS members what pinbacks were issued throughout the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab and ASTP eras. I've always wanted to do something like this, but just didn't have the necessary time. While some of my pinbacks go back to the Mercury era (only a limited few), naturally most of them were produced for the later Apollos (many from Apollos 8 and 11), Skylabs, and Apollo-Soyuz. Some were space company or contractor produced, like an Apollo 9 "The First Manned Mission — NASA/Grumman Lunar Module," while others were created for souvenir purposes. My favorites are those that were vintage-era produced and not later fabrications or replicas. |
Go4Launch
Member Posts: 562
From: Seminole, Fla.
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 07-01-2008 10:55 PM
Ken, I have never seen a pinback button for MR-4. Nor for Gemini 5, or Gemini 8-12. Nor have I seen any for Apollo 7 and 12. |
archie_gus
Member Posts: 39
From: melbourne, fl
Registered: Apr 2002
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posted 07-02-2008 08:13 AM
I could have sworn there was a small (3"?) pin commemorating Apollo 12. It was white with blue lettering. I've seen it offered on eBay once. Like Ken, I too would be interested in seeing what pinbacks are available, especially from the Mercury-Gemini-Apollo days. Every time I think I have all the Glenn pinbacks, I find another that I didn't have. |
Go4Launch
Member Posts: 562
From: Seminole, Fla.
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 07-02-2008 10:01 PM
Yes, sorry, you are correct -- that was a typo. I meant Apollo 7 and 10. 12 did have a button. |
kosmo
Member Posts: 466
From:
Registered: Sep 2001
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posted 07-04-2008 06:19 PM
I'm in the process of developing a web page that includes my space related pin back button collection. Because of this thread, I thought I would show some pictures of what I have. They are not in order of flight, I put them in displays as I get them, I like the mixed look. I've tried to concentrate on Mercury thru Apollo/Soyuz, but there are shuttle and other odds 'n' sods. It's not complete by any means. Hope you enjoy. 
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kosmo
Member Posts: 466
From:
Registered: Sep 2001
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posted 07-04-2008 06:56 PM
 
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Philip
Member Posts: 6103
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 07-05-2008 03:16 AM
Superb collection... I have a bout the same thing for unmanned spaceflight. |
mensax
Member Posts: 861
From: Virginia
Registered: Apr 2002
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posted 07-05-2008 06:52 AM
Very nice collection! Congrats and thanks for sharing. I really like the "Welcome Home Astronaut Wally". |
spaceman1953
Member Posts: 953
From: South Bend, IN
Registered: Apr 2002
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posted 07-05-2008 08:04 PM
I love pinback buttons, always have, a political hack, I would latch on to anything I could ever get. When I found a space one here or there, I was always delighted.The fifth frame has that big Neil Armstrong "orange" button. I got my first one in Wapakoneta at Tranquility Base, a storefront that was in a shopping center. I over heard a conversation from the guy selling them, that it was a fundraising item for the Neil Armstrong Museum that would be built, it cost a quarter, and I bought one. I always wanted to make "replica" Hornet Plus Three buttons ever since 1974 or '75 when I bought my first button making machine but I never could find out the size of the button or the real, actual colors. I wanted it to be as close to authentic as possible, but never have made a replica one. You find buttons in the strangest places, to be sure. Thanks for sharing all those pictures! |
Gilbert
Member Posts: 1412
From: Carrollton, GA USA
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 07-08-2008 01:07 PM
Yours is the best button collection I've seen. I collect buttons, but have only about a third of what you have. |
ea757grrl
Member Posts: 762
From: South Carolina
Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 07-08-2008 03:14 PM
quote:
Originally posted by spaceman1953:
I always wanted to make "replica" Hornet Plus Three buttons ever since 1974 or '75 when I bought my first button making machine but I never could find out the size of the button or the real, actual colors. I wanted it to be as close to authentic as possible, but never have made a replica one.
There were replica buttons available for sale aboard Hornet in 1999, but they didn't look anything like the real thing. "Hornet Plus Three" on canary yellow stock in undersized, standard Helvetica, and not anywhere near being close. (Still, I bought one.) I'd just about give my eyeteeth for one, or for an accurate replica.Kosmo, that's a gorgeous collection, and there are more than a few that provoked envy here! Thank you for sharing. |
spaceman
Member Posts: 1138
From: Walsall, West Midlands, UK
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 07-08-2008 04:09 PM
When I see such a superb collection, it makes me feel like giving up. Thanks for posting the images a truly great collection. It also provides a great guide to many that I am missing. Without this site we would have no idea of exactly how much space stuff there is out there, happy collecting! |
kosmo
Member Posts: 466
From:
Registered: Sep 2001
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posted 10-08-2015 12:31 PM
Just thought cS members would enjoy a look at my up-dated Mercury through Apollo pin-back button collection, now in some order. 
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crazycatguy42
Member Posts: 14
From: Congupna
Registered: Jul 2021
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posted 08-05-2021 08:45 AM
That is one hell of a collection you’ve got there! I love those two giant ones, that white one especially is comically oversized. I guess you could say that it's the King Pin!I especially love the one of Wally, they picked such a nice photo of him looking so happy like that. I have a few of the smaller ones. I cosplay as classic NASA mission control and I use the pins to decorate the outfit! |
kosmo
Member Posts: 466
From:
Registered: Sep 2001
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posted 08-06-2021 11:19 PM
Thank you, that’s much appreciated. |
Jonnyed
Member Posts: 508
From: Dumfries, VA, USA
Registered: Aug 2014
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posted 08-07-2021 08:09 AM
Wow. Great stuff. You zipped me right back to 1969 when I was 6 and my Dad and Mom brought back one of the red, white and blue "FIRST MEN ON THE MOON' photo pinbacks for me — still in my scrapbook from then. Blast from the past. Those were some days. I got a kick out of the "Neil Armstrong for President" button. Thanks! |
kosmo
Member Posts: 466
From:
Registered: Sep 2001
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posted 09-05-2021 09:56 AM
Does anyone know what the MAC stands for on this button? Thanks. |
MartinAir
Member Posts: 106
From:
Registered: Oct 2020
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posted 09-05-2021 11:07 AM
Nice collection, kosmo. McDonnell Aircraft Corporation, perhaps?
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Zoo Keeper
New Member Posts: 7
From: Oklahoma City, OK, USA
Registered: Feb 2021
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posted 09-06-2021 07:08 PM
Correct, MAC stands for McDonnell Aircraft Corporation. Steven Kovachevich's book "Project Mercury and Badges of the Mercury Era" shows that this was a badge worn by McDonnell personnel during the Mercury Program. The example you posted from eBay is shipping from St. Louis, the location of the company's headquarters at the time and where the Mercury capsules were constructed. |
kosmo
Member Posts: 466
From:
Registered: Sep 2001
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posted 09-08-2021 12:30 PM
Were you the winner of that button? |
Zoo Keeper
New Member Posts: 7
From: Oklahoma City, OK, USA
Registered: Feb 2021
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posted 09-08-2021 03:31 PM
Yes I was, I have been interested in adding more Mercury personnel badges to my collection and couldn't pass it up. I'm so sorry to swipe it from you or any other bidders, you have an outstanding collection! |
kosmo
Member Posts: 466
From:
Registered: Sep 2001
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posted 09-08-2021 03:52 PM
That’s quite alright, it’s only the second one I have missed out on, darn!! I would love to see photos of your pin back button collection. Would you share that with us? It’s always nice to see what other collectors have and what we’re missing. |
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