| The picture below shows larger front and back views of the (2) Rare Early Cracker Jack Pop Corn Confection Miniature Pot Metal Toy Prize Whiskey Jug & Beer Bottle Charms in this lot. These prizes are not dated but they are believed to be from the 1910s or the 1920s. These are made of pot metal or lead and have a charm loop to put them on a charm bracelet or as pendants on a necklace, or on earrings. The jug, marked “LITTLE BROWN JUG” on both sides has a gold finish, and the beer bottle looks like it has no finish and no label (as made). Both of these are hollow from the bottom, Many of the early pot metal or lead prizes were manufactured by Dowst (Samuel Dowst), or the Tootsietoy Company of Chicago, Illinois, but there were other companies in the United States, and including ones from Japan and Germany prior to World War II as well. Some of these type prizes were made specifically for Cracker Jack, while others were made as small 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 late 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 rare miniature Cracker Jack toy charms for one price! To judge the sizes, the jug measure about ¾'' x 1/2''. They appear to be in excellent condition, as pictured. The beer bottle has a small tilt to it (see picture). |
