 Charms
-- Charms, sometimes called dangles, usually have a ring at the top
for connecting to jewelry or sewing onto a beanie.
The most recognized alphanumeric charms are the "Varsity Letters" originally
made by the Eppy Company that look like the alphabets that were found on
varsity letter jackets awarded for sports and other activities in high
schools and colleges. The
charm pictured at the right is one of my favorites -- probably because
it is from a set that is hard to complete.
Charms provide the greatest variety and scope for alphabet prizes in the
gum machine prize catagory (Section G) of the Alphabet26 Museum.
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![[Red M Charm Image]](charmM.jpg)
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Click on image to go to Charms |
Connecting
Letters -- The brand name that I have seen on these is "Magic Letters."
They came out in the 1950s, but smaller, cheaper versions were produced
in later years. They have
a bar that sticks out on each side -- one side with a hole, the other with
a peg. They connect together
to form words. The original
Magic Letters have 35 different alphanumeric shapes -- A through
Z,
and
1 through 9.
The letter O doubled as the number zero, so the O
is easily the most common shape.
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![[Green Magic Letter A]](MLGrnA.jpg)
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Click on image to go to Magic
Letters |
Pop
Beads -- These are also early plastic prizes with a letter on two sides. They
have a hole below the letter and a tab above to connect into the next letter.
One would have to read down (or up) for words made with these.
I have only seen these with letters and not numbers.
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![[Pink A Pop Bead Image]](popA.jpg)
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Click on image to go to Pop
Beads |
Alphabet
Watches -- These prizes probably belong in the charms category, but
I think they are unique enough to give them their own listing here.
These are shaped like pocket watches with an antique gold finish.
Each has an alphabet letter on the reverse and a clock face on the obverse.
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![[Watch Face Image]](watchfront.jpg)
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Click on image to go to Alphabet
Watches |
Alphabet
Rings -- These rings are from the same era as the watches.
Due to the popular demand for toy rings these days, I have had to pay more
for these than most gum prizes.
They are metal coated plastic with paint in the depressions.
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![[Ring Image]](ring131.JPG)
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Click on image to go to Alphabet
Rings |
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