This has been one of my favorite posts in some time. While I have some pinbacks, I agree with Mark. I wish I had gotten into them a loooong time ago. They have an appeal that is difficult to describe. They are simply neet collectibles. I also agree that the scarcity of many examples is understated.

Does anyone know who purchased Rob Lifson's collection?

pins
 

Mike Yes I do.

Scott and Greg,
I don't have the pin or even a positive print, but about 10 years ago, I picked up this glass negative used to make the Johnson pin. Paid about a tenth of what the pin would cost, I imagine. Had it framed but I remember that the paper label in the corner does refer to a Philadelphia firm.

Tom

Pins
 

Wow, awesome buttons guys! I've been holding back because all of my pins are pictured as singles. But a few years back, I put a bunch on my floor and snapped this pic. It's framed and hanging in my garage so here's a picture of a picture which is why it's fuzzy.

Someday, I'm going to do another, much larger pic and add my newer pick-ups as well as mix in some other sports.

<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z228/andypcl/?action=view&current=pins.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z228/andypcl/pins.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

pins buttons
 

Andy,
Always beautiful stuff!:eek: We have got to do some trades one of these days!

Andy -- great idea about hanging the photo, and great collection.

Al -- no wonder I didn't recognize the pin I asked about -- it's basketball in a sea of baseball! And those pocket mirrors are terrific.

Here's one more photo I took -- again, my pins are pretty spread out.

Greg

Of everything posted on this great thread, that Frank Baker Mirror has me drooling the most. That thing is insanely beautiful. I have been under-bidder on a few over the years, but have never seen one as gorgeous as that.

And Andy.... tremendous stuff as always. Maybe it's time that you, Al and I worked a 3 way trade! I have a nifty stash of high-end pennants that might interest you ;) The other great thing about these Pinbacks is that they don't require hundreds of linear feet of wall space. Probably the most "efficient" and space saving collectibles possible!

Thanks again to all for these incedible posts...

Greg,
I've never seen the Ozark Ike pin before. Very nice!

pins Buttons
 

Mark,
That Andy is one hard son of a gun to trade with;);) been trying to get that wards sporties Jimmy Wilson from him with no luck!:D Andy as always some beautiful items.
Greg nice pins a great collection. I want to post more but mine are in the single plastic boxes and takes alot of time . One day I will have to do the shadow boxes. Greg I notiiced that nice little centennial fob in the pin box. I also collect some centennial items and have that with the strap. I also have a very hard to find 1 1/4 inch pin. I will have to post it.

pins buttons
 

Greg, Here is the Centennial Fob with the strap, The scorer, and a rare 1 1/4 inch pin.

Beautiful collections guys. Truly amazing stuff. Does anyone have any suggestions on where to get the shadowboxes that many of the shown pins were displayed in. I have a fairly large post war Philadelphia Eagles pin collectcion, that I once had displayed in Michaels shadowboxes, but they are pretty poorly made. I then moved them to Riker/butterfly cases and hung those on the wall, but they do not hang well given their coardboard/not completely rigid quality. Any suggestions?

Keith...

Here's a solution that could potentially work. I don't have a good enough Pin Collection to show off, but this shows how they work for other knick knacks... These cases are sold at Michael's, but are of a higher quality than some of the other Shadowboxes. These are completely rigid (unlike the Riker cases) and have a hinged lid, which makes for easy access.

The lid also has a locking mechanism (see photo) Also, on the back are hangers for either vertical or horizontal viewing. These display cases work great for me.

They come in 3 - 4 different sizes, and either in black or brown. Michael's is almost always having a Half Price Sale on these, so you can get them relatively cheap. Hope this helps!

Wilson..
 

Hello again.

Thanks for the feedback.

Mark, I'm always open to entertaining any potential trades - I really like the last one we did. I'll have to add that button to my next picture.

Hi Al, here's a picture that shows my dilemma regarding Jimmie Wilson. I think you're gonna finish this group before me! I wouldn't rule out trading it but that means surrendering any thoughts I have about finishing the set. Giving up is hard to do. Anyway, great buttons Al!!
<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z228/andypcl/?action=view&current=wards.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z228/andypcl/wards.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Ok advanced collectors. I have a couple questions for you. Obviously, you have been at this for years and your collections began long before ebay.

1) Where in the world did the bulk of your collections come from?
2) When did pin values really take off?
3) Do you have a pinback holy grail?

Pins
 

Andy I see the problem!:eek: Mike all very good questions!(1) For me it started about 30 years ago with 1 very large trade involving about 100 stadium pins and about 100 mixed pins (all very hard to find) Remember pins werenot that collectible back then , but I always loved them for some reason. The trade was for a 1966 topps football funny rings checklist and 300 dollars!:eek: I have been collecting them ever since. I also do like to trade but pin collectors were very few and far between.(2) Pin values really started taking off from the auction houses with the selling off of some very large collections in the late 90s . Roger Stecklers , Rob Lifsons, and Jim Copelands collections comes to mind. And also with the printing of Dr Paul Muchinskys book Baseball pinback buttons back in 2004. (3) as for holy grails I guess we will have to re define that statement and break it down to eras. Yes there are many holy grails I have owned and sold quite a few. Seeing in this post my Cameo Pepsin Buck Ewing and knowing a fellow board member now owns my Cameo Pepsin Cy Young. Those 2 would have to rank up there as an era Holy Grail. As for a modern era holy grail I guess I will just have to leave you with this scan as these would be 2 that rank right up there for me. I would love to hear from some of the other collectors out there.

Al -- thanks for sharing those centennial pieces -- so many incredible pins are being shown -- this is fun.

Here's one more display possibility -- just use a standard frame and take out the glass. That's the case with the large rectangular frame I show in post # 39. Just secure a piece of colored felt over the frame backing, place it back into the frame, and you're good to go. The only negative is that there's no glass protecting the pins.

Greg

Mark - Those are the same shadow boxes I was using, but they didn't last long for me. Most likely because I was taking them down often, and adding new pins, or rearranging pins. Probably if I would have just hung them and left them alone, they would have worked well.

Greg - I was actually going to ask about that frame. I coudn't tell if that one had glass or not. I think I am going to steal that idea - it looks great, and plus it is easy to add new pins without taking down the shadow box, etc.

thanks

kjjavic.

....my display case (pictured) came from Pottery Barn (shopping with the wife, on one occasion...paid off).

They had many diff types of shadow boxes on clearance...and I purchased what they had knowing I had time to grow into them. Wood + Glass flip-top, back is padded (great for spring-pin) & has an easelback for display. I believe 20.00 apiece. I absolutely love them.

I have a few but this is still the favorite. The picture is pretty close to actual size.

Ol' Diz 1934 Cardinals pin
 

Clint,
I can see why you like that 1934 Cardinals Dizzy Dean pin. It's gorgeous!!

Love everyone else's pins, and am really attached to my own...

Motorcycle related:
Attachment 15371

Australian Rules Footy Clubs:
Attachment 15370

Assorted Sports:
Attachment 15369

Ol' Diz 1934 Cardinals pin
 

Clint,
What a beauty! I've been collecting Cardinals pinbacks for a few decades and have not seen this one. WOW. Dr. Paul doesn't even have it.
Happy collecting!
Len