| The picture below shows larger top and side views of the (2) 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. One (left) has no paint or ink finish on it, and the other one (right) looks like it is lightly inked in green. They each have a charm loop to hand as a charm or a pendant. There are other variations of these planes. One has no charm loop, one is on a base, and another is also on a base with a post. 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. Both of these aeroplanes for one price! These miniature airplanes each measures about 13/16'' x 1-5/16'' x 1/2''. These appear to be in near mint condition as pictured. |
