Pin badges are a major part of our schooldays. We used to collect them in their countless guises, covering everything ranging far and wide.
From food branding to movies and travel souvenirs to exotic animals and plants – the possibilities are unfathomable.
Remember the times when we used to show them off on our backpacks and swapped them with our friends during the recess period in the schoolyard? Oh, good ol’ days!
Speaking of the old days, have you ever thought about how these pin badges came into being? No, right?
Well, a lot of people don’t, and it is completely okay; we do not point a finger at you for this reason. However, the history of pin badges is captivating enough to make us share it with you.
This is why, in this blog, we have discussed the origin story of pin badges and how far they have come. So, let us begin!
Hold On A Minute, What Is A Badge?
Custom enamel pin badges serve as symbols of recognition, accomplishment, affiliation, and a lot more. It can be anything from a digital picture to a piece of metal with the name of an organisation or club that displays a level of expertise or a certain skill set.
These badges have been around for quite a long time. However, in recent days, they are becoming more popular than ever before. Due to these add-ons, everyone is able to showcase their skills, knowledge, and accomplishments, from employees and students to athletes and even ordinary people. Some of the most popular badges include magnet fastener badges and pin badges.
By boldly showing off your badges, you can showcase your awesomeness and accomplishments, creating an atmosphere of admiration and respect from everyone around you. These emblems not only let you showcase the things you adore but also make a jaw-dropping fashion accessory to help finish off any look. Bold yet subtle enough to make your attire stand out from the rest. Without a flicker of doubt, wearing badges is an ideal way to express yourself. Now that we are aware of what these emblems are let us take a quick glimpse at their outstanding history!
A Sneak Peak At The Rich History Of Enamel Pin Badges
The First Pins In History Were Crafted Only For Celebrating!
Benjamin S. Whitehead was the man who marked the birth of these fancy emblems way back in 1896. He first issued a patent for a button attached to a badge pin or a metal pin. From that day on, his company “Whitehead & Hoag” started to produce these badges in bulk quantities as celebratory souvenirs to celebrate a great occasion in British history – The diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria.
And the entire world has been cherishing these add-ons ever since! For instance, there is an ongoing trend for birthday badges! You cannot simply get your best friend a birthday card without pairing it with a match-y match-y “happy 18th birthday” or “cheers to your 21st” badge, right?
“Can I See Your Badge, Officer?” The History Of Badges That Identify Status And Authority
Sheriff badges are the most popular ones in the Western genre and are some of the most well-known badges in history. It is a five-, six-, or even seven-pointed star with the word “Sheriff” embossed on it. This emblem proves a Sheriff’s rank and recognisable authority. Demonstrating this authority was crucial back in the day.
Police badges are yet another perfect example of significant law enforcement badges, as fire and police officers are only given their badges when they take their oaths. Oftentimes, in movies, we can see an FBI badge or a cop badge as a very well-respected symbol of authority. This symbol helps them get civilians’ trust in a jiffy and gives them access to many locations and crime scenes.
Are you up for a fun fact? Here you go; a lot of police departments take these add-ons so seriously that the police dogs from those departments are sworn officers and have a police ID add-on of their own. This badge ID represents their city along with their K-9 unit title.
Scout Badges And Girl Scout Patches
Speaking of the history of badges, how can we leave behind the importance of scout badges – be it beaver scout badges, girl scout, girl guide patches, brownie badges, etc.? Ever since the scouts came into being, the members adorned these add-ons and these emblems have become an integral part of a community or club.
By attaching custom embroidered patches or badges, we are able to proudly show off and express our passions and display that we are members of a certain club or subject, like Girl Guides or Scouts. These add-ons have immense power to make us confident in where we belong and who we are.
Here Comes Advertising
At the beginning of the 20th century, enamel pin badges started to become more associated with modern advertising. The marketing industry was in a queue with the orthodox industrial capitalist economy.
Volney B. Palmer established the first-ever advertising agency in 1840. This agency sold space in newspapers to companies and businesses seeking to upgrade their advertising efforts. Soon enough, a lot of companies started to try to boost their recognition and maintain recognisable branding.
All of this might have started with a simple newspaper. However, the advertising methods used by companies like De Beers and Coca-Cola expanded to include TV, radio, and, of course, promotional products like enamel pin badges, pens, and mugs.
In today’s day and age, people are very well aware of the potential of a single enamel pin. It possesses the ability to carry a bold statement as well as a simple message around. Moreover, it also permits the wearers to display their allegiance confidently. Thus, it is a popular marketing item for ventures of all sizes.
Patching It All Up!
And there you have it! Whether you put a patch on for status, celebration, individuality, or identification or use them as awards, these badges have had (and still have) a massive impact on the entire world than you can ever imagine. These emblems have become a huge part of our day-to-day lives. They are able to unite a group of people as per their shared interests. At the same time, they are able to sell a great number of products, thus helping companies thrive and making their advertising investment worthwhile.
