PEZ have applied the razor and blades business model to the confectionery market, by selling candy dispensers, usually with character merchandising, which are useful only to dispense Pez-shaped candy (or to admire as an amusing and ingenious artifact). PEZ Dispensers are part of popular culture in many nations. Because of the large number of dispenser designs over the years, PEZ dispensers are collected by enthusiasts.
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2 Patents 3 PEZ Dispenser Tags 4 Characters 5 External links |
PEZ was first marketed as a compressed peppermint candy in Vienna, Austria. The candy was invented in 1927 in Vienna by a candyman named Eduard Haas III. Haas invented peppermint candies using family owned baking powders, and decided to serve the mints in small, hand-size containers. He manufactured a small tin to hold the mints, similar to the modern Altoids tins. The first PEZ mint dispensers, known as "regulars", were similar in shape to a cigarette lighter, and dispensed an adult breath mint marketed as an alternative to smoking. Haas Food Manufacturing Corporation of Vienna, Austria, was the first to sell PEZ candies.
World War II slowed marketing and production. In 1945, manufacturers devised and promoted the PEZ Box Regular. In 1952 Eduard Haas introduced his product to the United States, and Curtis Allina headed PEZ's US business. In 1955, the PEZ company placed heads on the dispensers and marketed it for children. Santa Claus, Mickey Mouse and Spacetrooper were among the first character dispensers.
After being unavailable for several yearss, peppermint flavored PEZ candies were reintroduced in the late 1990's along with remakes of the "regulars".
The enthusiasm and nostalgia surrounding Pez are suggested by the existence of two single-block streets in the US, presumably both named "Pez" at the suggestion of Pez enthusiasts:
There are several patent related to the PEZ dispenser. PEZ, Inc. has applied for and received patents related to the PEZ dispensers. Usually, the patent number is molded onto the stem changed every time PEZ, Inc. made a change in the design of the dispenser. Looking at the patent number the dispenser's age can be estimated. The patent number timeline related to PEZ and PEZ-like dispensers follows:
History
Patents
| Patent | Year | Name of patent; notes about the patent |
|---|---|---|
| US2853206* | 1958 | Dispensing tablet container; Tablet dispensing receptacle |
| US2620061 | 1952 | Pocket article dispensing container; First patent for the Pez dispenser |
| US3410455 | 1968 | Dispensing Device for tablets |
| US3432074* | 1969 | Vending machine |
| US3845882 | 1974 | Spring cage for use in a tablet dispensing receptacle |
| US3863804* | 1975 | Medicant-dispensing container |
| US3942683 | 1976 | Tablet dispensing receptacle |
| US4295579* | 1981 | Tablet dispenser |
| US4966305 | 1990 | Tablet dispenser |
| US5048720* | 1991 | Tablet dispenser |
| US5071033* | 1991 | Tablet dispenser |
| US5080258* | 1992 | Tablet dispenser |
| US5460295* | 1995 | Candy dispensing system |
| US5560516* | 1996 | Tablet dispenser |
| US5984285 | 1999 | Plastic spring |
| US6543639* | 2003 | Animated candy dispenser and methods |
| * = Indicates non-PEZ patent | ||
Dispensers can also be found with several non-US patents, such as the German "DBP 818.829" (Deutsches Bundes Patent), and the Mexican "Patent Nr 141,242"
There are two types of tags on PEZ dispensers.
The first type is the patent number. The patent number can be used to determine how old the dispenser is.
The second tag type is the injection mold code [IMC]. It tells you what country it came from. A second number identified the specific facility within that country [this is denoted in brackets].
PEZ Dispenser Tags
| IMC | Country |
|---|---|
| 1 | Austria/Hungary |
| 2 | Austria/Hong Kong |
| 3 | Austria/Hungary |
| 4[1] | Austria |
| 4[2] | Austria |
| 4[3] | Austria |
| 4[4] | Austria |
| 4[5] | Austria |
| 4[6] | Austria |
| 4[7] | Austria |
| 4[8] | Austria |
| 5 | Yugoslavia/Slovenia |
| 6 | Hong Kong/China |
| 7 | Hong Kong/Austria |
| 8 | Austria |
| 9 | Vermont, Connecticut/U.S.A |
| V | Yugoslavia |
There are over 450 unique dispenser heads, with thousands of variations. Toy character head dispensers were introduced in 1955, after the candy was introduced in the United States.
Captain - Betsy Ross - Daniel Boone - Indian Chief - Indian Brave - Indian Squaw - Pilgrim - Uncle Sam - Wounded Soldier - Maharajah - Sheik - Mexican Boy - Fireman - Policeman - Engineer - Sailor - Sheriff - Stewardess - Pilot - Doctor - Nurse - Groom - Bride - Knight - Pirate - Clown - Elephant - Ringmaster - Lion - Monkey - Horse - Creature from the Black Lagoon - Frankenstein - Wolfman - PEZ-A-Saur Car - Clown Car - PEZ Telephone - PEZ Telephone Registry - PEZ Crystal Telephone - Bugs Bunny - Daffy Duck - Tasmanian Devil - Yosemite Sam - Tweety - Sylvester - Foghorn Leghorn - Petunia Pig - Merlin Mouse - Cool Cat - Henery Hawk - Road Runner - Wile E. Coyote - Speedy Gonzales - Sleepy Daffy - Cycling Taz - Jazzy Sylvester - Cheeky Bugs - Charming Tweety - Snoopy - Charlie Brown - Lucy van Pelt - Woodstock - Pebbles - Barney Rubble - Fred Flintstone - Dino (Dinosaur) - Bee - Beetle - Fly - Grasshopper - Ant - Worm - Ladybug - Centipede - Baby Bee - I-Saur - He-Saur - She-Saur - Fly-Saur - Hippo - Elephant - Lion - Crocodile - Psychedelic Eye - Psychedelic Flowers - Special Edition Golden Grow - Mystical Crystal Ball - Safari - Pez-a-saurs - Ghosts - skull - Mixed Holiday - Crystal Psychedelic Eye - Clear Bugz - Colored Bugz - Colored Easter & Panda - Rainbow Bubbleman - Cockatoo - Crocodile - Duckie - Moo Moo (Cow) - Yappy (Dog) - King Lion - Panda Bear - Panther - Puzzy Cat - Raven - Giraffe - Air Spirit - Vamp - Spook - Diabolic - Scare Wolf - Zombi - Lamb - Pig - Duck - Dog - Rooster - Orange - Pineapple - Pear - Tom (the Cat) - Jerry (the Mouse) - Smurfette - Papa Smurf - Garfield - Smiling Garfield - Garfield with Baseball Hat - Nermal - Arlene - Garfield Pilot - Garfield Chef - Sleepy Garfield - Odie - Kermit the Frog - Miss Piggy - Fozzie Bear - Gonzo - Bat Girl - Batman - The Joker - The Penguin - Wonder Woman - Robin - Batman with Attached Cape - Wonder Woman - Incredible Hulk (Light Green Body) - Incredible Hulk (Dark Green Body) - Captain America - Thor - Wolverine - Spider-Man - Homer Simpson - Bart Simpson - Marge Simpson - Lisa Simpson - Maggie Simpson - Santa Claus with Painted Eyes - Bunny - Chick - Lamb - Santa Claus with glasses - Elf - Polar Bear with cap - Reindeer - Snowman - Neon Yellow Stem & Hat - Neon Orange Stem & Hat - Neon Pink Stem & Hat - Neon Red Stem & Hat - Neon Green Stem & Hat - Green Apple - Watermelon - Pineapple - Blue Raspberry - Annie - Arithmetic - Astronaut - Baseball in Glove - Bubbleman - Bullwinkle - Football Player - Peter PEZ Clown - Psychedelic Eye - Psychedelic Flower - Make-A-Face - Donkey Kong Jr ("J" on Hat) - Spaceman - PEZ Gun (Pistol design) - PEZ Space Gun (Red or Silver) - Bozo - Popeye - Brutus - Olive Oyl - Casper - Green Hornet - Personalized - Gold Dispenser - Regular Dispenser - Boy - Girl - Panda - Michaelangelo, Donatello, Leonardo, and Raphael (the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) - Minnie Mouse - Daisy Duck - Mickey Mouse - Donald Duck - Goofy - Pluto - Dumbo - Pinocchio - Zorro - Mary Poppins - Practical Pig - Scrooge McDuck - Snow White - Winnie-the-Pooh - Huey, Dewey and Louie - Lil Wolf - Baloo - King Louie - Mowgli - Peter Pan - Captain Hook - Jiminy Cricket - Tinkerbell - Dopey - Mickey Mouse: Dispenser cut-out - Mickey Mouse - Donald Duck - Pluto - Goofy - Darth Vader - Stormtrooper - C-3P0 - Chewbacca - Yoda - Luke Skywalker - Princess Leia - Wicket the Ewok - Boba Fett - Jango Fett - Clone Trooper - R2D2 - Santa Claus - Snowman - Bunny - Chick - Lamb - Pumpkin - Skull - Witch - Slimy Ghost - Happy Ghost - Spooky Ghost - Valentine Heart Pink - Valentine Heart Red - Polar Bear
Characters
External links