| The picture below shows larger port and starboard views of all (3) Matching Old Cracker Jack Pop Corn Confection Pot Metal or Lead Miniature Nautical Toy Prize U.S. Navy Cruiser Ships in this lot. These ships are not dated but they were used as prizes in 1941 and 1942 during World War II. The Cracker Jack ID number for these is Z-0942 and they were from The Tootsietoy Company (marked TOOTSIETOY U.S.A.), but they are also believed to have been made bt The Cosmo Manufacturing Company, both of Chicago, Illinois. These are painted in blue, maroon, and light blue. 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. All Three of these ships for one price! These miniature Cruiser warships measure about 2-3/8'' x 3/8'' x 3/4''. They appear to be in excellent condition as pictured. The maroon one has a tiny area on each side near the stern that did not mold very well. |
