Open Forum

I was recently at a museum in Nebraska where I came across this strategy for displaying buttons. I want to use exactly this type of thing in our displays, but I can't find anything remotely like this in catalogs, on Pinterest, or anywhere else. I called the museum and no one there could remember where it came from. I emailed a museum display manufacturer and they simply didn't understand my question. I'm hoping one of you smart people has an idea about how to create this metal stand or where I might find one. 

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Angie Albright
Director
Clinton House Museum
Fayetteville AR
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I don't know about the base, but you could paint a thin piece of foam core and stick heavy T-Pins in. Then put the buttons on the T-Pins.
Just an idea!


Original Message------

I was recently at a museum in Nebraska where I came across this strategy for displaying buttons. I want to use exactly this type of thing in our displays, but I can't find anything remotely like this in catalogs, on Pinterest, or anywhere else. I called the museum and no one there could remember where it came from. I emailed a museum display manufacturer and they simply didn't understand my question. I'm hoping one of you smart people has an idea about how to create this metal stand or where I might find one. 

------------------------------
Angie Albright
Director
Clinton House Museum
Fayetteville AR
------------------------------

This appears to be thin tubes that the pin on the back of the button inserts into. You can purchase 12" lengths of small diameter tubing from hardware stores. Match the tubing size with your drill bit, drill the base of your choice, and glue the tubes into the holes. You can easily cut the tubing to length with a small saw and you can lay out the design in the pattern that fits your display. I would coat the tubing with an archival safe sealant before adding the display items.

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Jacquelyn Wilson
Archivist
University of West Florida Historic Trust
Pensacola FL
jwilson2@uwf.edu
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-19-2017 06:53 PM
From: Barbara Elfman
Subject: Looking for this display type

I don't know about the base, but you could paint a thin piece of foam core and stick heavy T-Pins in. Then put the buttons on the T-Pins.
Just an idea!


Original Message------

I was recently at a museum in Nebraska where I came across this strategy for displaying buttons. I want to use exactly this type of thing in our displays, but I can't find anything remotely like this in catalogs, on Pinterest, or anywhere else. I called the museum and no one there could remember where it came from. I emailed a museum display manufacturer and they simply didn't understand my question. I'm hoping one of you smart people has an idea about how to create this metal stand or where I might find one. 

------------------------------
Angie Albright
Director
Clinton House Museum
Fayetteville AR
------------------------------

Original Message------

I don't know about the base, but you could paint a thin piece of foam core and stick heavy T-Pins in. Then put the buttons on the T-Pins.
Just an idea!

Angie,

The mounts that hold these buttons in place look like they were designed and fabricated by a professional mount maker. They are custom made for this display. Typically a designer will work with a curator on a layout for objects to be put on display. The designer will create a drawing that documents the layout, and a professional mount maker will create the mounts. The drawings include the distance the object is to be located off of the base or back wall of a display case, and the orientation (angled, straight up, or other). The mounts also secure the objects in place and keep them safe while on display. Well done mounts are painted to match the case interior color and the object that they hold when the mount is visible, and tend to disappear into the background of the case. You can find mount makers in your area by contacting other museums, or by perusing the Museum Marketplace.

Good luck with your project.

Mike

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Michael Hanke
Exhibit Designer
Design Division, Inc.
Hadley MA
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-19-2017 05:28 PM
From: Angie Albright
Subject: Looking for this display type

I was recently at a museum in Nebraska where I came across this strategy for displaying buttons. I want to use exactly this type of thing in our displays, but I can't find anything remotely like this in catalogs, on Pinterest, or anywhere else. I called the museum and no one there could remember where it came from. I emailed a museum display manufacturer and they simply didn't understand my question. I'm hoping one of you smart people has an idea about how to create this metal stand or where I might find one. 

------------------------------
Angie Albright
Director
Clinton House Museum
Fayetteville AR
------------------------------

Angie,
Michael is right, this is certainly a carefully planned presentation and execution using a good mount maker. I'm sure you can locate a qualified MM on this site.

Good luck

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John McMillan
President
McMillan Group, Inc.
Westport CT
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-19-2017 05:28 PM
From: Angie Albright
Subject: Looking for this display type

I was recently at a museum in Nebraska where I came across this strategy for displaying buttons. I want to use exactly this type of thing in our displays, but I can't find anything remotely like this in catalogs, on Pinterest, or anywhere else. I called the museum and no one there could remember where it came from. I emailed a museum display manufacturer and they simply didn't understand my question. I'm hoping one of you smart people has an idea about how to create this metal stand or where I might find one. 

------------------------------
Angie Albright
Director
Clinton House Museum
Fayetteville AR
------------------------------

Thanks everyone! 
I had hoped that maybe I wouldn't have to have this mount custom made but I'm glad to know how I might recreate this! So much wisdom here . .. Thank you!

------------------------------
Angie Albright
Director
Clinton House Museum
Fayetteville AR
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-20-2017 10:57 AM
From: John McMillan
Subject: Looking for this display type

Angie,
Michael is right, this is certainly a carefully planned presentation and execution using a good mount maker. I'm sure you can locate a qualified MM on this site.

Good luck

------------------------------
John McMillan
President
McMillan Group, Inc.
Westport CT

Original Message:
Sent: 09-19-2017 05:28 PM
From: Angie Albright
Subject: Looking for this display type

I was recently at a museum in Nebraska where I came across this strategy for displaying buttons. I want to use exactly this type of thing in our displays, but I can't find anything remotely like this in catalogs, on Pinterest, or anywhere else. I called the museum and no one there could remember where it came from. I emailed a museum display manufacturer and they simply didn't understand my question. I'm hoping one of you smart people has an idea about how to create this metal stand or where I might find one. 

------------------------------
Angie Albright
Director
Clinton House Museum
Fayetteville AR
------------------------------

That is an elegant display. Thanks for sharing it, Angie!
I'm trying to figure out how those armatures keep from falling over. Surely that soft arc isn't enough, right? Are they pinned to the vitrine's base, invisibly?


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Jason Jay Stevens
Exhibit Designer/Principal
Flutter & Wow Museum Projects
Ann Arbor MI
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-19-2017 05:28 PM
From: Angie Albright
Subject: Looking for this display type

I was recently at a museum in Nebraska where I came across this strategy for displaying buttons. I want to use exactly this type of thing in our displays, but I can't find anything remotely like this in catalogs, on Pinterest, or anywhere else. I called the museum and no one there could remember where it came from. I emailed a museum display manufacturer and they simply didn't understand my question. I'm hoping one of you smart people has an idea about how to create this metal stand or where I might find one. 

------------------------------
Angie Albright
Director
Clinton House Museum
Fayetteville AR
------------------------------