PEZ
is the shortened name of PEZ Candy Inc. It is also is also the name of two of its product categories, candies and pocket mechanical dispensers for their candy.
PEZ was first marketed as a compressed peppermint candy in Vienna, Austria. The candy was invented in 1927 in Vienna by a confectioner 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.
PEZ is a shortened form of the word "pfefferminz". German for peppermint. PEZ has achieved most of its success by selling candy dispensers. Usually with character merchandising rather than the candy itself. 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. Current dispensers characters include Animals, Cartoon Characters (Disney, Warner Brothers plus others), Holiday, Seasonal, Star Wars and Superheros. Vintage PEZ dispensers have "No Feet".
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.
Toy character head dispensers were introduced in 1955, after the candy was introduced in the United States. There are over 450 unique dispenser heads with thousands of variations. Just a few include the following and you can find them on
eBay
Asterix
Asterix, Obelix, Muselix, Roman Centurion Bob the Builder
Bob, Wendy, Pilchard, Scoop, Spud Barnyard friends
Cow, Duck, Sheep, Donkey, pig Charity
Barky Brown (Animal Welfare League NSW), Breast cancer awareness Christmas
Angel, Elf, Polar Bear, Reindeer, Rudolph, Santa Claus, Snowman College Football
LSU Football DC Comics
Batman, Batgirl, Joker, Penguin, Wonder Woman Easter
Chick, Duck with Flower, Egg, Lamb, Rabbit, Rooster Garfield
Garfield, Arline, Odie, Nermal Harvey Publications
Casper, Green Hornet Hello Kitty
Kitty White, Corocoro Kuririn, My Melody The Incredibles
Mr. Incredible, Mrs. Incredible, Dash, Jack-Jack; Bob Parr, Helen Parr, Dashiell Parr, Jack-Jack Parr (not in USA) Marvel Comics
Captain America, Incredible Hulk, Spider-Man, Thor, Wolverine Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Tom, Jerry, Barney Bear, Droopy Dog, Spike, Tuffy, Tyke Misc
Bozo the Clown, Psychedelic Hand, Psydelic Flower, Bubble man, E.T., Jack in the Box, PIF, Zielpunkt Moomin
Only in Japan, five minis. Mr. Bean
Mr. Bean, Irma Gobb, Teddy, Mini Cooper The Muppets
Kermit the Frog with bow tie, Kermit the frog with green collar, Fozzie, Miss Piggy,Miss Piggy with eyelashes, Gonzo Nintendo
Diddy Kong, Koopa Trooper, Mario, Yoshi Olympic Games
Alpine Man, Olympic Snowman, Vucko Wolf Peanuts
Charlie Brown, Joe Cool, Lucy, Peppermint Patty, Snoopy, Woodstock Pez-Pals
Boy, Bride, Doctor, Engineer, Fireman, Girl, Groom, Knight, Maharaja, Mexican Boy, Nurse, Pirate, Policeman, Ringmaster, Sailor, Sheik, Sheriff Pez-Pals 2
Alpine Boy, Aral Oil, BP, Mariner, Pilot, Shell Oil People
Astronaut, Cowboy, Footbal Player, Pilot, Spaceman, Stewardess Pez-a-saurs
He-saur, She-saur, Fly-saur, I-saur Pink Panther
Pink Panther, Inspector Clouseau, Ant, Aardvark Pokémon
Koffing, Meowth, Mew, Pikachu, Psyduck Popeye
Brutus, Olive Oyl, Popeye Sesame Street
Big Bird, Ernie, Bert, Cookie Monster, Elmo, Zoe Shrek
Shrek, Princess Fiona, Puss-n-Boots, Donkey, silver Donkey PEZ Sourz
Pineapple, Green Apple, Watermelon, Blue Raspberry SpongeBob SquarePants
Spongebob, Patrick, Squidward, Embarrassed Spongebob Star Wars
Boba Fett, C-3PO, Chewbacca (IV-VI), Chewbacca (III), Clone Trooper, Darth Vader, Death Star, Emperor Palpatine, Ewok, Jango Fett, General Grievous, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, R2-D2, Stormtrooper, Yoda The Flintstones
Fred Flintstone, Pebbles, Dino, Barney Rubble The Simpsons
Bart, Homer, Lisa, Maggie, Marge The Smurfs
Brainy, Gargamel, Papa, Smurf, Smurfette The Walt Disney Company
Bambi, Thumper, Bouncer Beagle, Chip, Daisy Duck, Dalmatian, Huey, Dewey, Louie, Donald Duck, Dumbo, Goofy, Gyro Gearloose, Mickey Mouse, Pluto, Scrooge, McDuck, Webby, Peter Pan, Captain Hook, Baghera, Baloo, Kaa, King Louie, Mowgli, Shere Khan, Mufasa, Nala, Pumbaa, Simba, Timon, Mary Poppins, Snow White, Dopey, Pinocchio, Jiminy Cricket, Tinkerbell, Lil' Wolf, Practical Pig, Pooh Bear, Eeyore, Piglet, Tigger, Roo, Lumpy, Zorro Sports
Baseball, Basketball, Football, Hockey Puck, Baseball Glove, Soccerball Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Donatello, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael The Tweenies
Bella, Doodles, Fizz, Jake, Milo Universal Monsters
Creature from the Black Lagoon, Frankenstein, Wolfman Ultraman I
Only in Japan, five minis. Warner Bros.
Bugs Bunny, Bugs Bunny (Back in Action), Cool Cat, Daffy Duck, Daffy Duck (Back in Action), Foghorn Leghorn, Henry Hawk, Merlin Mouse, Petunia Pig, Road Runner, Speedy Gonzales, Sylvester, Tazmanian Devil, Tazmanian Devil (Back in Action), Tweety, Tweety (Back in Action), Wile E. Coyote, Yosemite Sam, Yosemite Sam (Back in Action)
PEZ Dispenser Books
Warman's Pez Field Guide
by Shawn Peterson and Tracy Schmidt Book Review and Description:
PEZ has been a part of the American landscape for over 50 years, adding new designs as the popular icons of our time have changed. These beloved candy dispensers have become hot collectible items and Pezheads worldwide won't want to go without this portable pocket guide to the hobby!
Collector's Guide to Pez
by Shawn Peterson Book Review and Description:
Featuring dispensers from 1952 to the present, veteran collector Shawn Peterson has updated and expanded this best-selling title to include the latest PEZ releases, 50th anniversary dispensers, vintage paper advertising, European dispensers, and improved PEZ convention coverage.
More Pez
by Richard Geary Book Review and Description:
The popularity of PEZ candy dispensers and collectibles has never been higher. With the sharp rise in people suffering from "PEZ-O-Mania," RIchard Geary's classic reference is now bigger and better with new discoveries and new PEZ products. Illustrated with hundreds of color photographs (including many new to this edition), this book will contribute more knowledge to the field and serve as interesting source for building a collection. A newly updated price guide is included.
Pez Collectibles
by Richard Geary Book Review and Description:
This book has very colorful pictures and the price guide is extremely accurate. This is one of the best PEZ books ever. If you collect, get this book today!
