More Stuff From The Box

Who wants to see more Stuff From the Box? Hopefully YOU do. I'm getting down to the last few items in box #3, but never fear, I've already photographed nearly 70 items from two other small boxes.

Let's start with these two nice brass and enamel wings, given out to members of the Junior Birdmen of America. The Junior Birdmen was a national organization for boys and girls interested in aviation and model plane building, founded (ca. 1934) and promoted by the Hearst newspaper chain. It cost a dime to join, and by 1937 there were over a half-million members. After 1937, Hearst newspapers stopped advertising the Junior Birdmen and it became an independent organization, but it was defunct by 1939. As you can see, the top version  says "Hearst Newspapers" on it, while the bottom version does not. There are a number of slight size variations for these wings, and the small holes at the bottom were there for the addition of "rank" badges; Commander, Captain, Eagle, and Ace (ace being the scarcest). I have an example with some of those badges, when I find it I'll share it here!

Next is a Captain Midnight "Flight Commander" ring, given out in 1941 by Ovaltine. I should have taken a photo of the back inside surface of the ring, which reads "Captain Midnight's Super Code 3". But I didn't. That's because none of you can handle Super Code 3, it's too powerful.

Speaking of rings, back in 1949, Post Toasties and Raisin Bran cereal boxes contained simple lithographed tin rings featuring popular comic characters of the day. Kids could bend the rings around their fingers for a custom fit. There were a total of 36 different rings - I only have a few, but it's nice to have one in its original glassine envelope. "Mac" was a character from the comic strip "Tillie the Toiler", a largely-forgotten series that ran from 1921 to 1955. Clarence "Mac" MacDougall loved Tillie, though she did not reciprocate his feelings.

I've shared photos of two other Melvin Purvis badges, and here's yet another - "Roving Operative". Do you have what it takes to be a Junior G-Man?? This is from a series of five badges given out by Post cereals in 1937-38.

Next I have several photos of a 1949 Sky King "Magni-glow" Writing Ring, given out by Peter Pan Peanut Butter. Here you can see the domed magnifying glass, useful for reading microfilm or for starting fires when you've been stranded in the wilderness. Below the magnifier is plastic that glowed so that you could use it at night for flashing morse code at your accomplices. "Buy....more...peanut...butter!".

Say, there's a hinged brass portion, covering a red plastic base. What other secrets does this ring contain?

On this side you can see Sky King's plane, "Flying Arrow", while the other side had a portrait of his horse, "Yellow Fury".

How many rings come with a built-in ballpoint pen? Maybe one in five at best! It had red ink too (dried out by now, of course), and that off-white plastic glowed.  There's the secret compartment too.

This odd little bisque figurine (with moveable arms) is supposedly a Cracker Jack toy, back from the days when they really did have some pretty neat prizes in the boxes. Based on the long braids and evident "fringe"on the dress, I assume that this is supposed to be an Indian maiden. Being only about 2 inches tall (the dime is for scale), I guess we can forgive the crudeness of the casting.

Another charm is this plastic example featuring "Sniffles" the mouse, created by Chuck Jones in 1939. Sniffles was as cute as can be, and Jones strove to be as Disney-like as possible, resulting in charming cartoons with a gentle humor that is quite a contrast with his later, more mature style. I always liked sniffles! He starred in 12 cartoons, finally being phased out in 1946. There are other Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies charms released at the same time, but this is the only one that I own.

That's it for this installment! Stay tuned for more, IF YOU DARE.