Trending
Trick-or-treaters will soon be at the door. So I thought I'd look at the highly collectible world of PEZ. Though I've heard that PEZ enthusiasts are crazy for their sweeties, I had no idea why or even exactly what PEZ is. I got to work and did a little research.
First off, I called one of my good friends in the collecting world, Betty June Wymer of Wheeling. What a treasure she is! Always pleasant and knowledgeable, she has attended and held countless auctions, both virtual and in person, and knows a little bit about just about any popular collectible.
She favors country antiques; but, advertising intersects with this category, so she owns a variety of PEZ containers. Betty June allowed me to take a few photos of recent ones she's gathered, and we discussed the joy of PEZ.
PEZ Candy Inc. explains that the business has been a part of the American scene for 50 years. First marketed as a compressed peppermint candy over 70 years ago in Vienna, Austria, the interesting name comes from the German word for peppermint -- pfefferminz -- combining the first, middle and last letters. Today, more than 3 billion PEZ Candies are consumed annually in the United States alone.
With different flavors and collectible dispensers, PEZ is more than just a candy; it's dubbed a pioneer of "interactive candy" that is both enjoyable to eat and fun to play with. PEZ dispensers are a hot collectible for adults and children alike as well as being a icon of American pop culture. New character dispensers are introduced regularly to capitalize on current trends.
Originally, the mint candy was sold in tins, not cute little dispensers, however. Adults were the focus, and it was marketed as an alternative-to-smoking breath mint. Then in 1948 the company came out with the flip-top dispenser that was easy to use and carry. Finally, in 1952 the company wanted to conquer the American market so they added the charming heads and focused on children.
According to PEZ Collector's News, the first of these new dispensers was either a full body robot or a full body Santa -- no one's certain.
PEZ Candy is manufactured in Orange, Conn., by PEZ Candy Inc. and marketed along with other unique confectionery products through supermarkets, variety stores, drug stores, convenience stores, toy chains and gift stores throughout the U.S. Check them out the next time you shop; you may be surprised what a cute inexpensive gift they can be.
PEZ is another example of how Americans love to save pop culture images. As a culture, we seek the commercial and enjoy different interpretations of a pop theme. PEZ is happy to respond and creates numerous candy containers with heads that open to dispense the rectangular candy, one at a time.
Disney, cartoons, holidays, Elvis, horror movie characters -- all have been made into PEZ heads. The more valuable dispensers are without feet, which is a term for the little plastic stands that were added in 1987 to help the PEZ to stand up straight.
Today the Connecticut PEZ factory turns out the little brick-like candy 24 hours a day. New dispensers are filled and marketed all over the country and sell for a few dollars each.
Old PEZ dispensers can sell for more than $100. For example, when I checked eBay, there was Halloween Pez Skull and Witch made in Austria with no feet selling for a buy-it-now price of $115! Now that's impressive.
There seems to be debate about leaving the collectible PEZ in their original wrapper, which can be a blister card or a small sealed wrapper. Many collectors take them out for display purposes and to enjoy them. Others do not.
PEZ collectors have a good time collecting their beloved candy containers, and conventions are part of the crazy world of PEZ enthusiasts. Visit PEZ.com for complete information on the next meeting where collectors will swap, share and enjoy PEZ displays and dealers.
There are also newsletters that PEZ collectors can subscribe to and reference books on values and more. Since this sweet habit is available in more than 60 countries worldwide, it's a global passion that is perfect to explore for Halloween.
For comments or suggestions on local treasures to be featured in Antique of the Week, Maureen Zambito can be reached via email at: zambitomaureen@hotmail .com or by writing in care of this newspaper.