The picture below shows larger views of both sides of the (2) Old Matching Cracker Jack Pop Corn Confection Miniature Pot Metal or Lead Toy Delivery Trucks in this lot. These early truck prizes are not dated but they are believed to be from the 1920s or 1930s. These were made in Japan, but the manufacturer is unknown. They are marked “JAPAN” on a front fender. One of these trucks has the original pink celluloid insert. It is shown outside of the truck. It is missing from the other one. The trucks are a gold color, and they have silver colored rolling metal wheels. Many of the pot metal or lead prizes were manufactured by the Tootsietoy Company of Chicago, Illinois. There were other companies, including from Japan prior to World War II. Some of these type prizes were made specifically for Cracker Jack, while others were made as novelties, bought in volume, and used as prizes by The Cracker Jack Company. Pot metal or lead prizes were some of the earliest prizes that were used in Cracker Jack boxes from the 1910s to the 1940s. Many of these type prizes or novelties were also sold out of old Johnson Smith & Company catalog as well as some other early novelty catalogs, also used in fortune telling sets, and some were also sold and used as board game parts. Many of these can be found factory painted, inked, or with no finish at all. Both of these for one price! To judge the sizes, the center two miniature delivery truck prizes each measure about 1-1/8'' x 5/8'' x 1/2''. They appear to be in mint condition as pictured, but as mentioned above, one of the celluloid inserts is missing. |