Official Tie Tack Pin The Beatles

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, it produced at least six different designs, four of which featured the faces of John, Paul, George, or Ringo.

These pins were marketed as "Official Tie Tack Pins", and most carried the additional inscription: "by Press-Initial Corp. ©1964 NEMS Enterprises Ltd." Some 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 display card contained four gold-colored pins arranged in a diamond formation—sold as a "four-on-one-card" set—each depicting the face of a Beatle and measuring approximately ½ inch in width. On the left side of the card were wallet-sized photographs of the group.

A similar version featured a single brass tie tack showing the face of one Beatle, positioned on the right side of the display card, with the same group photograph printed on the left. Both display cards included the wording "Official Tie Tack Pin" and facsimile signatures printed on the collars.

The center section of the card contained instructions allowing the buyer to cut out the photograph and keep it in a wallet: "Cut on dotted line, for wallet size."

Another variation featured a round pin with a photograph of the Beatles dressed in formal attire at its center.

These display cards measured 3⅜" × 5" and were available both in full-color group versions and in black-and-white versions featuring an individual Beatle pin. The reverse of the pins could be fitted either with a crown-style clutch back or with a press-on winged fastener.

Another model included four tie tacks featuring the Beatles’ faces printed on embossed tin, attached to display cards issued with three different background designs. On the left side of the card appeared an illustration of a drum accompanied by the wording: "Official Tie Tack Pin."

Another set of Beatles face tie tacks was mounted on a card featuring a photograph of the band printed across the top. The pins were positioned in the lower section of the card, whose background depicted two young women 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), measuring approximately 1½ inches in length, with the faces of the Fab Four engraved on its surface. The pin was mounted on a 3" × 3" display card; original examples featured a hollow back. Like several other versions, the card included a drum graphic and the wording "Official Tie Tack Pin."

One particularly distinctive design was sold on a 5" × 6½" display card containing a complete set of four tie tacks, each measuring approximately ¾ inch in length. Each pin featured the face of a Beatle with his name engraved on the collar. The card included a color photograph of the Beatles and their facsimile signatures, intended to be cut out and preserved, as it was described as: "Suitable for Framing."

The tie tacks were mounted within a guitar-shaped die-cut opening. All pins featured a silver-tone pewter finish with a clutch fastener on the reverse.

A smaller die-cast metal tie tack, measuring approximately ½ inch, was also available. It featured the face of one Beatle with his name engraved below.

Another version was accompanied by a color image of the group and sold on a 3½" × 6" full-color display card decorated with a sunburst design and the iconic Beatles drum logo. The card also included an uncut wallet-sized photograph of the band.

Randall also produced a Beatles tie tack featuring the face of a Beatle with the words "Yeh Yeh Yeh" engraved above. However, the pin had a rather unusual shape, resembling an acorn topped with a Beatle wig. According to the original promotional description, it was: "Styled by Nicky Byrne!"