OFFICIAL THE BEATLES - TIE TACKS PINS
Set of four Beatles pin badges attached to a full-colour display card featuring a photograph of the band and facsimile autographs.
One of the leading manufacturers of Beatles tie tack pins in the United States between 1964 and 1965 was Press Initial Corporation of Rhode Island. The company was officially licensed by NEMS and Seltaeb. During this period, Press Initial produced at least six different designs, four of which featured the faces of John, Paul, George, or Ringo.
These badges were marketed as "Official Tie Tack Pins", and most carried the additional inscription: "by Press-Initial Corp. ©1964 NEMS Enterprises Ltd." Some examples also included the statement:
"Manufactured under license from Seltaeb Inc. The ONLY official licensee with exclusive rights to the manufacture and distribution of Beatle Tie Tack Pins."
One design appeared in two closely related variations. A colourful display card featured four gold-coloured tie tack pins arranged in a diamond formation — sold as a "four-on-one-card" set — each depicting one of the Beatles’ faces and measuring approximately ½ inch wide. On the left side of the card was a wallet-sized photograph of the band.
A similar version included a single brass tie tack featuring the face of one Beatle, positioned on the right side of the display card, while the same band photograph appeared on the left. Both card designs carried the wording "Official Tie Tack Pin" and included facsimile Beatles signatures printed across the collars.
The central area of the card contained instructions encouraging buyers to cut out and keep the photograph:
"Cut on dotted line, for wallet size."
Another variation featured a round pin displaying a photograph of the Beatles dressed in suits.
These cards measured approximately 3⅜" x 5" and were available both as colour versions featuring the entire group and black-and-white versions accompanying an individual Beatle pin. The reverse of the pins could be fitted with either a crown-style clutch back or a press-on butterfly clasp.
Another design featured four Beatles portrait pins printed on embossed tin and attached to a display card available with three different background styles. The left side of the card depicted a drum and carried the wording "Official Tie Tack Pin."
A further set of Beatles face tie tacks was attached to a card displaying a photograph of the band at the top. The pins were positioned at the bottom of the card, which featured an illustration of two girls with their arms raised, apparently celebrating their newly acquired Beatles pins.
A different design took the form of a miniature die-cast metal guitar (bronze/brass finish), approximately 1½ inches long, engraved with the faces of the Fab Four. The pin was mounted on a 3" x 3" display card. Original examples featured a hollow back. Like several other models, the card incorporated a drum illustration and the wording "Official Tie Tack Pin."
One particularly distinctive design was sold on a 5" x 6½" display card containing a complete set of four tie tack pins, each approximately ¾ inch long. Every pin featured the portrait of a Beatle with his name engraved beneath the collar. The card included a colour photograph of the Beatles with printed signatures and was intended to be preserved, being marked "Suitable for Framing." The tie tacks were arranged within a guitar-shaped outline. All pins were finished in silver-tone pewter and fitted with clutch backs.
Another version consisted of a ½-inch die-cast metal tie tack featuring the face of one Beatle, with his name engraved below.
A further variation was packaged with a colour photograph of the group. The pin was mounted on a colourful 3½" x 6" display card decorated with a sunburst design and the classic Beatles drum logo. The card also included an uncut wallet-sized photograph of the band.
Randall also produced a tie tack featuring the face of a Beatle with the words "Yeh Yeh Yeh" engraved above. The design was rather unusual, resembling an acorn wearing a Beatles-style wig. According to the packaging, it was "styled by Nicky Byrne!".