Creating a new toy was furthest from his mind when, in 1927, Austrian food producer Eduard Haas III developed a peppermint breath mint he called Pez. Pez mints were popular as a substitute for smoking, so Haas designed a dispenser that resembled a cigarette lighter.
To read this article — and over 25,000 more — try Kovels Membership FREE for 7 Days
Kovels Knowledge Members get full access to 25,000 articles on antiques and collectibles from 60 years of publication.