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How to Repair Old Political Buttons and Pins

While holding a Kennedy/Johnson 1960 campaign button in your hand, you might wonder who originally owned it and how she came to have it in her possession. Old buttons and pins from long-past campaigns are collectibles that chronicle the history of the political process in the United States. Sadly, collectors are likely to find these rarities in poor condition and in need of repair. The savvy collector can spruce up old political pins or buttons with a few household items and a button-making machine so that they look like new.

Things You'll Need

Small needle-nose pliers
Superglue
Bleach pen
Tweezers
One button back (sized to button to be repaired)
One clear button front (sized to button to be repaired)
Button press
Pin hardware
Enamel paint to match pin colors
Small model paintbrush

Instructions

Repairing the Pin
- 1
  Repair the paint on your pin. Use a small paintbrush (for painting models) to fill in cracks and chips with matching colors of enamel paint. Set the pin aside and allow it to dry overnight.
- 2
  Remove broken pin hardware from the back of the pin. Gently use needle-nose pliers to pry the broken hardware off.
- 3
  Glue new hardware onto the pin. Follow instructions on your tube of Superglue. Carefully place the pin hardware onto the back of the pin using tweezers and hold in place until the glue has a chance to set. Set aside the pin and allow the glue to dry fully.
Repairing a Political Button
- 4
  Remove the paper artwork from the broken casing. Use needle-nose pliers to pry the edges of the metal portion of the button casing outward. Then, use tweezers to lift the plastic button front, freeing the paper artwork, which you can then lift out with the tweezers.
- 5
  Lay the artwork flat on a table or counter. If there are watermarks or browning showing on a white background, you can gently dab them with a bleach pen to remove the discoloration. Allow the artwork to dry.
- 6
  Assemble the new button in a button ring as instructed in the directions for your button-making machine. Most button-making machines come with a set of standard-sized button rings, so you won't need to purchase them separately.
- 7
  Press the button in the button-making machine as directed. Remove the button from the machine and rings when finished.

Collecting Memorabilia