| The picture below shows larger port and starboard views of this Rare Old Cracker Jack Pop Corn Confection Pot Metal or Lead Miniature Nautical Toy Prize U.S. Navy Battleship. This ship is not dated but it is believed to be from the 1910s or early 1920s. This is a rare smallest version and the only example that I have ever seen. Normally Cracker Jack Battleships have no flags, but this version has three. 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. This rare miniature warship measures about 15/16'' x 1/8'' x 5/8''. It appears to be in near mint condition with a very tiny hole at the bow where is was not quite completely molded as pictured. Had this ship for many years and this was the first time the tiny hole was even seen. |
