| The picture below shows larger top and side views of the (3) Matching 1931 Cracker Jack Pop Corn Confection Miniature Pot Metal or Lead Toy Prize Airplanes in this lot. These planes are not dated but they are from 1931. The Cracker Jack ID number for these is A-0003. They were from The Cosmo Manufacturing Company, of Chicago, Illinois. This variation has a round base on the bottom. The left plane pictured has a cone shape on the bottom because the base was never molded or finished. The left plane has a green ink finish on it, the center one has red ink, and the right one is inked in blue. These do not have a charm loop, as made. There are other variations of these planes. One has a charm loop, and another is also on a base but with a post making it taller. 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 aeroplanes for one price! These miniature airplanes each measures about 7/8'' x 1-1/16'' x 1/2''. These appear to be in near mint condition as pictured. |
