Redartz: Most of us have memories of comic spinner racks, candy displays, shelves of baseball cards, and so on. I'd wager most of us also have plunked some coins into gumball machines at some time or other. Just about every grocery, drug store, and restaurant had gumball machines in place (often near the exit, to catch those kids coming and going). You had penny machines, nickel machines (you got five gumballs or a fistful of toys), even quarter machines (for GIANT jawbreakers). Most dispensed gumballs, but others had candy, peanuts, or toys. Some of those gumball machines had gum and 'toy surprises' as well, so you never knew what you'd end up with.
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Those little toys took many forms: charms, little dolls (remember the "Wishniks" or "trolls"), little devices (magnifying glasses, 'super balls'). There were rings, puzzles, and "mini books"- tiny books, about an inch tall. The mini-books often had jokes, but Marvel Comics released a set back in the 60's that are now scarce collector's items.
