In the mid-1960s, novelist and counterculture guru Ken Kesey used this 38" x 68" plywood sign as an announcement board and invitation card to promote the activities of his "Merry Pranksters" (an itinerant band of free thinkers) during their memorable cross-country rides on an old bus named "Further." Kesey and his band drove Further from northern California to Washington, D.C., and New York, ostensibly to attend Kesey book parties. In the process they used the bus rides to encourage people to discuss anything with them, to try anything, to perform civic pranks of various sorts, and to otherwise call attention to alternative ways of thinking about the issues of the day.
Like the bus, the sign is a colorful smorgasbord of offerings from the Pranksters and visitors to the bus. Splashes of day–glo paint are overlaid with newspaper clippings, political cartoons, doodles, yarn, and the names of influential West Coast figures from the counterculture movements of the 1950s and 1960s. During a 1992 visit to the Kesey farm in rural Oregon to examine the remains of Further, the Smithsonian found this signboard in the loft of a chicken coop, covered with dust and feathers. A family of foxes occupied the rear seat of Further, moldering in a field, so Kesey decided to donate this sign instead of the bus.
This circular button has green text on a purple background that reads: FOREVER MAC. Running along the border of the circle is the phrase: WORDPERFECT. A mark in black ink on the reverse reads: PC Expo NY 6/92 Gift.
This circular button has white text on a black background that reads: Take No Prisoners January 1989. A mark in black ink on the reverse reads: T.S.- Eppley Comdex Fall '88.
This square button has white text in a red design on a black background that reads: SUM II. Symantec AntiVirus for Macintosh. The Norton Utilities for the Macintosh. Symantec.
This square-shaped button is designed to be worn as a diamond-shape. It has a fluorescent orange background with purple text that reads: "WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE.” Below, in a purple rectangle with white text, it reads: "prograph.” A mark in black ink on the reverse reads: "Mac World Boston 8/90."
This square button has red text on a white background that reads: I'm Bar Code Ready! It has blue text that reads: ScanPAC For ACCPAC Plus. It has images of barcodes at the top and bottom and the logos for Symbol and Computer Associates.
This square button has black text on an orange background that reads: SGML AT WORK. It has a black ArborText logo. A mark on the reverse reads: NetWorld 2/92.
This square button, designed to look like a 3 ½” floppy diskette, has a red background with white text that reads: "Spectrum, The Better Diskette" / Memory Media Products / Tustin, California / U.S. 1-800-228-0438 / CA 1-800-228-9699 / EUROPE +41 22 734 73 59 / Spectrum diskettes are / made in the U.S.A.”
The Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut produced this advertising token around 1863. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, medals, coins, and tokens.
Obverse: Image of a mortar and pestle, surrounded by a wreath. The legend reads: T. BRIMELOW, DRUGIST, 432 THIRD AVENUE. N-Y./ 1863/ 1.
Reverse: Rim encircled by stars. The legend reads: GOOD FOR ONE GLASS OF SODA.
The Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut produced this advertising token during the early 20th century. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, medals, coins, and tokens. There are holes in both sides of the token.
Obverse: Image of Robin Hood drawing his bow. The legend reads: ROBIN HOOD SHOES/ FOR BOYS GIRLS/ A GOLD STANDARD SHOE.
Reverse: The legend reads: ROBIN HOOD/ PLAY 5 MONEY/ LUCKY COIN.
The Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut produced this token during the early 20th century. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, medals, coins, and tokens.
Obverse: ONE DOLLAR WILL BE PAID FOR 99 OF THESE TOKENS BY THE UNION STORE NO 185 6TH AVENUE NEW- YORK.
Reverse: COMPETITION DEFIED WITHOUT ANY EXCEPTION IN FANCY AND STAPLE DRY GOODS BY THE UNION STORE OF A .WISE.
The Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut produced this advertising token during the second half of the 19th century. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, medals, coins, and tokens.
Obverse: Image of a large factory. Legend: THE PIONEER WAGON WORKS OF THE WEST/ ESTABLISHED 1843/ PETER SCHUTTLER CHICAGO.
Reverse: Image of a wagon. Legend: JOHN J. MAXEY. DENVER , COL./DEALER IN AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS/AGT. FOR THE SHUTTLER WAGON.
The Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut produced this advertising token during the second half of the 19th century. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, and tokens.
Obverse: Image of a wagon. Legend: HERMAN HAAS, CHEYENNE, WYO. TER./ DEALER IN AGRICULTURAL IMPLMENTS/ AGT. FOR THE SCHUTTLER WAGON
Reverse: Image of a factory. Legend: THE PIONEER WAGON WORKS OF THE WEST/ ESTABLISHED 1843/ PETER SCHUTTLER CHICAGO
The Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut produced this transportation token around 1852. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, medals, coins, and transportation tokens.
Obverse: Bust of Professor Johnson facing right. The legend reads: PROFESSOR JOHNSON 317 BOWERY/ 1852.
Reverse: Image of an eagle with shield, gripping arrows in one talon and an olive branch in the other. The legend reads: UNITED STATES/ STARCH POLISH.