PEZ

http://www.burlingamepezmuseum.com/pezexhibit.html

Pez (which is trademarked as PEZ in capital letters) is the brand name of an Austrian candy company. Of course, most of know them more for the dispensers than for the rather forgettable candy inside.

The mechanical PEZ pocket dispensers have been quite collectible. The candy is a small pressed block of sugar. PEZ dispensers hold 12 candies.

The name Pez comes from using the letters at the start, middle and end of the German word for peppermint, pfefferminz, which was the first Pez flavor.

The candy and dispenser was originally introduced in Austria, but went worldwide and is particularly popular in the U.S.

The logo is all-uppercase and in perspective and made from 44 Pez candies.

The company says over 3 billion candy bricks are consumed each year in the U.S. alone - though I suspect a lot of those candies that are sold are NEVER consumed!

Not every PEZ candy or dispenser has been a hit. Some failed PEZ flavors include coffee, eucalyptus, menthol, and flower. Flower?

The highest verifiable sale of a Pez dispenser was a private sale of a Mickey Mouse softhead at $7000 between an Austrian dealer and a California collector. This dispenser was never available for sale to the public, and was a factory prototype. The high prices which some Pez items fetch has led to the manufacturing of fake Pez items as well. The 2006 eBay sale of a clear 50s Space Gun for $11,000 took place but according to noted Pez author, David Welch, the dispenser was later proven by chemical testing to be a well-made fake. (Wikipedia)

www.PEZ.com

What better tribute to our distinguished Presidents this weekend than to push back their heads to get some sugar?

This is Volume 1 in a series.