Montgomery Wards, 1956:
Aldens, 1956:
Montgomery Wards, 1958:
Mmm, candy! These fellows are part of a smaller subset of the value-added models that populated holiday mail order catalogs in the 1950s and 1960s. Hobbyists are more familiar with the other sets - the Grooming Kits, Sewing Kits, School Kits, and so on - because their "added value" was not meant to be eaten.
The "Candy Packers" most commonly appeared in the Montgomery Wards catalog, and is from where I derived the name. No specific name or brand is attached to the half-pound of hard candy that came with them; it was probably some generic store-brand mix.
It’s not likely that an "intact" Candy Packer is going to be found because - well, it’s candy! I’m also pretty sure the first thought of anyone finding a horse with a fifty-year-old bag of hard candy is going to be more like "Ew, ew, throw it out, throw it out!" rather than "Hey, let’s put this on eBay!"
(I know, I know, that’s not the case with vintage PEZ. But I think that stuff has a shelf life measured in centuries.)
If Reeves wants to get some slower movers off the shelves, throwing in a free bag of candy wouldn’t hurt (unless it’s Spearmint Leaves or Circus Peanuts. I’ve been known to indulge in some questionable eats to satisfy my sugar cravings, but that’s where I draw the line.) M&Ms in a custom blue and gold mix? Suckers in the shape of the Breyer logo? I’d go for that.
One thing I wouldn’t go for? This:
6 comments:
LOL. I wonder what had more sales, plastic pony or...clown.
Christine--I hope it was the pony and NOT the creepy clown! Ha!
What if the person who found it didn't ~know~ it was 55 year old candy? I'd bid on it. I might regret it later, but I'd do it. :D
I had some once. What I didn't know was that the ants had got into it over the years and had eaten all of it, leaving only the empty wrappers! No ants, no candies. Really weird.
Who cares about the candy - I want to be able to get a PAM and PAF for $2.89!
ooohhhhhh...if i ever got that candy set i would avoid it just because of the clown!
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