Poisonous Pins - the case of the deadly decorations

In 1968 Sears inadvertently sold pins that were decorated with deadly beans. The pins, imported from Japan, were discovered to be decorated with highly poisonous jequirity beans. The fact that the beans were poisonous was brought to Sear's attention when a man who worked for the Agriculture Department in Maryland, was shopping at Sears and noticed the beans.

Sears immediately issued an urgent recall for an estimated 300 to 400 pins sold nationwide in their stores.

There were two designs to the pins, one with a face, with the beans used as eyes, and one with a flower with the beans used in the center.

(click pic to enlarge)

159 year old brooch patent.. special? - how?

I am fascinated by this patent from 1859. Patent #23042. When I first saw the drawing, it didn't strike me as particularly unusual, other than that is is a very old patent. A very nice pin with a design of a mother and children. But as I started to read the description I was amazed! This patent is for a photographic brooch! With the photograph made directly onto the glass front of the brooch! As an amateur photographer and joolie, my interest was piqued!

The patent describes enthusiastically that "a peculiar and beautiful effect is produced by placing a photographic picture upon the concave surface and the appearance of the finest enamel painting is readily imitated"

The process to make the brooch is described as using a watch crystal, which is held in the camera. ...the production of a permanent photographic or sun picture by causing the picture to be taken on a collodion film..on the surface of the glass. When the picture is finished, the concavity is filled with cement composed of gum shellac, resin and coal tar.

Pretty cool, considering that the National Geographic's website page about the history of photography says that the first permanent image was made in 1826 and the first photo of a person was made in 1839!

Would you wear it? A belt and brooch combined

I have to say this patent baffles me! An interesting idea, but somehow the practicality escapes me. LOL! Design patent number 106148 patented in 1937 by Herman Pomerantz of New York, it is simply described as a combined brooch and belt. The only detail in the description is that the pin has a conventional fastening mechanism on the back.

What do you think? I wonder if it was ever produced? Would you wear it?