PEZ^®

History of PEZ^® candy, collectable dispensers,
patent numbers, collector terms and definitions.

The word "PEZ" comes from the German word for peppermint, which is phefferminz. You take the first, middle, and last letters of the German word - PheffErminZ, put them together and you get "PEZ". PEZ was invented in 1927 in Vienna, Austria by a candyman named Edward Haas III. Edward Haas came up with the idea for this new peppermint candy. It was an adult breath mint that he decided to market as an alternative for smoking. Haas Food Manufacturing Corporation of Vienna, Austria, was the first to sell PEZ candies. Back then, PEZ, the brick-shaped candies were carried around in pocket tins.

When Edward Haas first invented PEZ it was originally compressed peppermints, a breath mint for adult smokers. Then the first PEZ dispenser which came along in 1947, naturally, looked like a cigarette lighter. Then in 1948, they came out with the "easy, hygienic dispenser" that we all recognize now to be a regular PEZ dispenser. In 1952 Edward Haas brought his business to America and did extensive research with his products and the way children had grown attached to them. They placed heads on the dispensers and marketed it for children.

Then in 1952 the first fruit flavored Pez was introduced along with the first Pez dispensers with character heads on them. The first flavors of Pez included cherry, lemon, orange and strawberry. These were the flavors that Edward Haas thought the children would like the most. In 1970, PEZ Candy, Inc. took over the sales and production of candies and dispensers from Haas Food Manufacturing Corporation. In 1973, PEZ built their U.S. plant that is located in Orange, Connecticut, U.S.A. In 1983, Mr. Scott McWhinnie became "PEZident" of PEZ here in the U.S. In 1990 the size of the plant was doubled. PEZ Candy is a FDA regulated food plant and operates 24 hours a day.

In 1947 when the first PEZ dispenser was invented it looked like a cigarette lighter and the "characters" that we know PEZ by were not introduced until 1952. PEZ dispensers received their first U.S. patent in 1949. It is not certain, but some experts think that Popeye became the first character PEZ dispenser. Several other Disney characters were also among the first to appear on the top of dispensers. The top selling dispensers of all times are Mickey Mouse, Santa, and Dino the Dinosaur, from the Flintstones.

In 1987 PEZ Candy, Inc. began to put "feet" on the PEZ candy dispensers. Since the beginning of dispensers, over 300 different characters have been featured on top of a PEZ dispenser. Before 1987 dispensers did not have "feet". Feet are the two tabs on the bottom of the dispenser that help it stand up straight. The new PEZ "regulars" are a remake of the first dispenser that looked like the cigarette lighter. The new regulars have no feet and began their return to the market on September 25, 1995.

Pez dispensers are made in and imported from Austria, Czech Republic, China, Hungry, Hong Kong, Yugoslavia, and Slovenia. PEZ Candy products are sold nationally by Toys "R" Us, K-Mart, Wal-Mart, Walgreens, Target Stores, Eckerd Drug, Family Dollar Stores, CVS and Dollar Tree Stores. Also try your local supermarket, drugstore, convenience store, gift and novelty stores. If you are serving in the U.S. Military, visit your local base commissary. You can purchase online some interesting and collectable PEZ candy dispensers from the Yankee Grocery Store Today...!

Because of the variety and rarity, many people today collect the inexpensive PEZ candy dispensers. A Locking Cap, Box Trademark Regular sold on eBay in March 2002 for $6,575. Many other PEZ dispensers have been sold for over $1,000. The second largest amount of money ever paid for a single PEZ dispenser was $3,600 brought at auction for a Big Top Elephant dispenser.

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There are two different types of tags on PEZ dispensers. The first type is the patent number. Pez first applied for a patent in 1968, and received the number 2.620.061. The patent number is located on the bottom left side of the dispenser. The patent number can be used to determine how old the dispenser is. The following is a list of all the patents used by Pez Candy Company and what year they represent. The PEZ candy dispensers have patent numbers molded on the side of the stem.

Patent 2.620.061     1st series issued in 1952
Patent 3.410.455     2nd series issued in 1968
Patent 3.845.882     3rd series issued in 1974
Patent 3.942.683     4th series issued in 1976
Patent 4.966.305     5th series issued in 1990

The dispensers are manufactured and imported from Austria, Czech Republic, China, and Hungary. For the U.S.A. distribution, the PEZ dispensers are packaged with the PEZ candy refills in Orange, Connecticut, U.S.A. The Slovenia packaging plant closed in the fall of 1996.

The second tag type is the injection mold code - IMC - the number to tell you what country it came from. It is located on the right hand top of the stem and is a number standing alone.

• 1 Austria/Hungary
• 2 Austria/Hong Kong
• 3 Austria/Hungary
• 4 Austria
• 5 Yugoslavia/Slovenia
• 6 Hong Kong/China
• 7 Hong Kong/Austria
• 8 Austria
• 9 Vermont, Connecticut/U.S.A.
• V Yugoslavia

When talking to someone who is a PEZ collector and knowledgeable about PEZ, someone might hear them use the abbreviations MIB, MOC, MOMC, or NF. What these mean are the dispenser they are referring to is mint in bag (MIB), mint on card (MOC), mint on mint card (MOMC), or no feet (NF). Pez are sold in two types of packaging. One is in a small plastic bag, and the other is on a slightly larger cardboard card and hard plastic bubble. MIB means the dispenser is mint in the bag, or not opened. MOC means the dispenser is mint on the card, or has not been taken off the card (unopened).

As long as the dispenser is not damaged it is MIB, or MOC. The card or bag can be in any shape and it is still referred to with the word mint. But if the dispenser is MOC, AND the card it is on is in mint condition it is referred to as MOMC, which means mint on mint card. If you have an older dispenser that is MOMC it would be worth much more money than an opened dispenser depending on the dispenser character and age. The last and final abbreviation is NF, which means no feet. Prior to 1987 all dispensers were NF.

Some of the discontinued sets of dispensers include the bicentennial, Circus, Erie Specters, Guns, Monsters, Olympics, and Smurfs. Undoubtedly the most sought out dispenser is the 50's Space Gun that actually shot PEZ...! These dispensers in any condition are worth several hundred dollars each. One final note is that Pez Candy Company has never and will never put a real person's face on a dispenser. If you were to see a dispenser with a real person's face on it, it is one that is referred to as "Fantasy Pez" and is in no way related to the Pez Candy Company.

PEZ REGULAR CANDY - PEZ REFILLS - PEZ SUGAR-FREE CANDY:

Over three billion, yes, BILLION PEZ candies are consumed annually in the United States alone. The only flavors of Pez that are currently available in the United States are orange, grape, lemon, and strawberry. Sugar free candies are also available in the United States in orange, lemon, and strawberry flavors. Until a few years ago there was no grape, and in its place there was cherry, but it was replaced with grape because Pez Candy Company thought the cherry flavor reminded children of cough syrup, so they discontinued it and replaced it with grape flavored Pez. But, if cherry Pez sounds to good, it is still available in Canada.

If something crazier than the bland ordinary flavors offered here sound good, hop on a plane to Spain and you pick up some apple and raspberry flavored Pez. Or hitch a ride to Hungry or Thailand and pick up some chocolate Pez. There is even a rare (discontinued) and unusual Pez candy called "IZO" Pez that is vitamin enriched for health minded individuals. There is yet another rare and unusual Pez candy called "Kosher" Pez that is designed to comply with Jewish dietary laws. Some other long gone Pez flavors include chlorophyll, cinnamon, coffee, eucalyptus, flower, licorice, menthol, lime, IZO, and anise. These flavors were not popular enough when introduced, to keep producing them.

With today's great tasting flavors and collectable dispensers, PEZ is more than just a candy...it's the pioneer of "interactive candy" that is both enjoyable to eat and fun to collect and play with.

Ingredients: sugar, corn syrup, adipic acid, hydrogenated palm kernel & palm oils & soybean oil mono & diglycerides, natural and artificial flavors, artificial colors (including FD&C red3, yellow5, yellow6, blue2 – depending on flavor).

Nutritional Information on regular PEZ candy:

Serving Size: 1 roll - 12 tablets

Calories: 35

% Daily Values (2000 diet):

Fat: (0g): 0%

Sodium: (0mg): 0%

Carbohydrates: (9g): 3%

Sugar: (9g): -

Protein: (0g): -

Ingredients: sorbitol, coated citric acid, magnesium stearte, natural and artificial flavors, ascorbic acid, artificial colors (including FD&C red40 lake, yellow5 lake, yellow6 lake, depending on flavor).

Nutritional information on Sugar Free PEZ candy:

Serving Size: 1 roll - 12 tablets

Calories: 30

% Daily Values (2000 diet):

Fat: (0g): 0%

Sodium: (0mg): 0%

Carbohydrates: (9g): 3%

Sugar: (0g): -

Sorbitol: (8g): -

Protein: (0g): -

Vitamin C: (0g): 35%

Here are some other interesting PEZ facts. Pez and Pez dispensers can be found in over 60 countries around the world. The first PEZ factory (made candy only) was constructed in 1952 in New York, but was moved to Orange, Connecticut in 1972. PEZ Candy Company is privately owned and operated and stock is not available for sale. Anyone that collects PEZ can be called a PEZhead. Pez and Pez dispensers are not the only items that carry the "PEZ" trademark.

Also available are balloons, bracelets, change dishes, candy shooter targets, clocks, costumes, toy trucks, glasses, greeting cards, hats, full dinner ware sets, key chains, masks, mouse pads, mugs, necklaces, T-shirts, puzzles, ornaments, stickers, sweatshirts, tattoos, visors, watches, and yo-yos to name a few. Although Pez Candy Company does not make these items, they are registered trademarks of PEZ^® Candy Inc.

PEZ Dispensers are a hot collectable for adults and children alike as well as being a staple and part of American pop culture. New character PEZ^® dispensers are introduced regularly to capitalize on current markets and trends. Available around the world in more than 60 countries, PEZ^® Candy and Dispensers truly have universal appeal for adults and children alike.

Please Note: While we welcome your suggestions or comments, neither we, or the hosts of this site can be held responsible for the PEZ^® history as presented. The information was obtained from sources that were deemed accurate and reliable. Thank you for understanding.

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AND START YOUR OWN WONDERFUL PEZ^® COLLECTING JOURNEY TODAY...!!!