| The picture below shows larger views of both sides of all (4) Old Cracker Jack Pop Corn Confection Miniature Pot Metal or Lead Toy Prize Touring Automobile Charms in this lot. These early automobile prizes are not dated but they are believed to be from the 1920s. The vehicle are inked in red and black, and painted in red and purple. The first one does not have a charm as it was made. The two cars in the center are the same size. The left one is slightly smaller, and the right one is slightly larger. The manufacturer is unknown. 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 four of these for one price! To judge the sizes, the center two miniature touring auto prizes each measure about 1-1/16'' x 3/4'' x 1/4''. They appear to be in excellent to mint condition as pictured. The left car was made without a charm loop on top. |
