Pack and Wrapper Checklist

Lonnie,

Welcome to the boards! We're happy to have another collector weigh in on non-sport packs! - Jon

Checklist 10.1

A few more tweaks thanks to Paul! (Everybody, keep these coming!)

All the Odd Rods packs and Spook Theatre packs are grouped together.

I added a line next to each pack grouping as a visual clue that they are not in alphabetical order. Do people like this?

Changed the issue date for Super Sneekies to 1964

Checklist 10

I've been working on version 10 of the Checklist with Paul Hotchkin and I'm going to post it here. With all the information that Lonnie has just sent, it should be viewed as a work "in progress" and further updates are on the way!

Thanks to Paul for all these great suggestions:

Changes:

Added packs from 1978 and 1979

regrouped listings to place the Dark Shadows, Monkees and Backslapper packs together

Added:

added another 1964 Topps Push-Pull ad

a couple of Superman 1966 packs (2 different fronts)

a Tac-it-to-me red wrapper variation

Funny Monsters 1959 1c & 5c

Outer Limits 1965 1c

Krazy People Posters – See Yourself on a Giant Poster ad

Kooky Awards (white wrapper test)

Partridge Family - Large and small version ads

Silly Signs

Button Factory Fleer

Mini Model cars (Topps)

Comic Book Hero stickers 1975 – 2 x test variations

a.    “With 1 stick of bubblegum”

b.    “with puzzle card”

Marvel Superheroes “Secret Wars” (Leaf)

Pop-Ups (Topps

Thunderbirds – Philadelphia (yellow wrapper made in USA)

Sneekies 1971 – 600 address labels (Yellow & pink wrapper)

Nice or nasty Valentines – Make your own Valentine Card & Gold Plated Ring

Wacky Plaks – “Big Twin Chews” & “Hang Wacky Plaks in your room”

Batman Real Photos – Umpires Indicator ad

Green Hornet 1966 – Kids Demand Super Bubble ad

Football Superfreaks – 3 different variations with arrow – 02, 03, 04 / 06, 07, 08 / 10, 11, 12 – under each pic bottom of wrapper.

Monkees 1st Series – Vote for your favourite

Stupid Buttons (Swell 1971) – Onion Gum ad

Dumb Dabs Mini-stickers (Fleer 1969) blue and red wrapper silly face figure on bottom

wrapper with “20 stickers per pack” on lower right w/ 4 Esterbrook Felt Pens ad

wrapper with “20 for 5c” on lower right in red oval w/ 8 Color Pen only $1.00

Nutty Awards (Topps 1964) #427 Secret Club ring ad

Giant PLak (Topps 1968) – Test white envelope

"Wacky Package Posters (Topps 1973) yellow wrapper" – Shake it up Baby ad

Superman 1966 – Baseball Sunglasses ad

Presidents and Famous Americans (Topps 1965) – # 429 Cowboy Boot Ring & Lariat ad

Charlies Angels (Topps 1977)

First series - "Lotsa Friends" ad, "Bazooka has it all" ad

3rd series - "Lotsa friends", All 26 checklists"

4th series - "Lotsa friends, "Bazooka has it all", "All 26 checklists".

Marvel Super Heroes Topps 1975:

Spiderman wrapper "#464 Zodiac Birthstone Necklace"

Hulk wrapper " Fly the Bazooka Airfleet", "Gold or Silver Name Tag"

Captain America " #464 Zodiac Birthstone Necklace"

Go-Go Pennants (Leaf) - instructions

Charlies Angels - Test white wrapper

Mike, I left these out of the first half of the list by mistake...

Contained 1972 "Bazooka Joe" cards - no numbers

Big Bazooka Wax 1972 Grape (Worth 15) 0-290-95-01-2

Big Bazooka Wax 1972 Cherry (Worth 15) 0-291-95-01-2

Big Bazooka Wax 1972 Fruit (Worth 15) 0-293-95-01-2 Exist?

Big Bazooka Wax 1972 Fruit (Worth 15) 0-293-95-02-2

Big Bazooka Wax 1973 Apple (Worth 15) 0-294-95-01-3

Big Bazooka Wax 1974 Fruit (Worth 20) 0-306-95-01-4 Exist?

Big Bazooka Wax 1974 Grape (Worth 20) 0-307-95-01-4

Big Bazooka Wax 1974 Cherry (Worth 20) 0-308-95-01-4

Big Bazooka Wax 1974 Apple (Worth 20) 0-309-95-01-4

Contained 1975 "Bazooka Joe" cards - numbered on front 75-x

Big Bazooka Wax 1975 Fruit (Worth 20) 0-306-06-03-5 Exist?

Big Bazooka Wax 1975 Grape (Worth 20) 0-307-06-03-5 Exist?

Big Bazooka Wax 1975 Cherry (Worth 20) 0-308-06-03-5 Exist?

Big Bazooka Wax 1975 Apple (Worth 20) 0-309-06-03-5

Contained 1976 "Bazooka Joe" cards - numbered on front 76-x (most likely these wrappers, no evidence of 1976 wrappers)

Big Bazooka Wax 1977 Fruit (Worth 20) 0-306-06-01-7

Big Bazooka Wax 1977 Grape (Worth 20) 0-307-06-01-7

Big Bazooka Wax 1977 Cherry (Worth 20) 0-308-06-01-7

Big Bazooka Wax 1977 Apple (Worth 20) 0-309-06-01-7

Contained 1978 "Bazooka Joe" cards - numbered on front 78-x and Scratch-Off game cards

Big Bazooka Wax 1978 Fruit (Worth 20 "New-Improved Flavor") 0-306-06-01-8

Big Bazooka Wax 1978 Fruit (Worth 20 "Scratch-Off Games Inside") 0-306-06-02-8

Big Bazooka Wax 1978 Grape (Worth 20 "New-Improved Flavor") 0-307-06-01-8

Big Bazooka Wax 1978 Grape (Worth 20 "Scratch-Off Games Inside") 0-307-06-02-8

Big Bazooka Wax 1978 Cherry (Worth 20 "New-Improved Flavor") 0-308-06-01-8

Big Bazooka Wax 1978 Cherry (Worth 20 "Scratch-Off Games Inside") 0-308-06-02-8 Exist?

Big Bazooka Wax 1978 Apple (Worth 20 "New-Improved Flavor") 0-309-06-01-8

Big Bazooka Wax 1978 Apple (Worth 20 "Scratch-Off Games Inside") 0-309-06-02-8 Exist?

Contained 1979 "Bazooka Joe" cards - numbered on back 1-66

Big Bazooka Wax 1979 Fruit (Worth 20 "Comics Fortunes Prizes") 0-306-06-01-9

Big Bazooka Wax 1979 Grape (Worth 20 "Comics Fortunes Prizes") 0-307-06-01-9 Exist?

Big Bazooka Wax 1979 Cherry (Worth 20 "Comics Fortunes Prizes") 0-308-06-01-9

Big Bazooka Wax 1979 Apple (Worth 20 "Comics Fortunes Prizes") 0-309-06-01-9 Exist?

Mike, here is part two of the list of additions and corrections.

Mini Model Cars Paper Envelope 1970

Monster Flip Movies Wax 1963

Nose Flute Test Cello Pack with Header (T-4-12) 1973

Nutty Initial Stickers Test Pack (T-91-5a) 1977 ("With 1 Stick Bubble Gum")

Nutty Initial Stickers Test Pack (T-91-5b) 1977 not seen

Nutty Tickets Test Pack 1967 (Single tickets, not panel of 2)

Outer Limits Wax 1 cent 1964 (No "Monsters From...")

Outer Limits Wax 5 cent 1964 (No "Monsters From...")

The Partridge Family Wax 1971 0-490-87-01-1 (Red to indicia)

The Partridge Family Wax 1971 0-490-86-01-1 (Red past indicia)

Phoney Records Test Pack 1967

Planet of the Apes Test Pack 1968 (Movie 5 cent)

Planet of the Apes Test Pack (T-15-5) 1974 (TV no price)

Pop Guns Paper Envelope 1966 Possible test

Pop-Ups Paper Envelope 1967

Put-On Stickers Test Paper Envelope 1968

The Rookies Test Pack (T-2-5) 1973

Room 222 Test Pack 1969 (B&W and Color)

Shock Theater Test Pack (T-64-5) 1975 (US)

Shock Theatre Wax 1976 (UK)

The Six Million Dollar Man Test Pack (T-29-A-5) 1974 ("With 1 Stick Bubble Gum")

The Six Million Dollar Man Test Pack (T-29-B-5) 1974 not seen

Speed Wheels Paper Envelope 1974

Stacks of Stickers Test Pack 1970

Superman Wax 1966 (Bubble Gum - Exploding Battleship)

Superman Wax 1966 (Bubble Gum - Baseball Sunglasses)

Superman Wax 1966 (Bubble Gum - Bazooka Ad)

Superman Wax 1966 (Bubble Gum - Cowboy Boot Ring)

Superman In the Jungle Test Pack 1966

Topps Fun Paks Wax 1962 (Blue with boy & girl heads)

Topps Fun Paks Wax 1964 (Blue with two boys, half figures)

Topps Fun Paks Wax 196x (Red with boy & girl full figure)

Topps Fun Paks Wax 1968 (Red - "Trading Card & Bubble Gum")

Topps Fun Paks Wax 1968 (Red and Yellow - "Trading Card & Bubble Gum")

Topps Fun Paks Wax 1969 (Blue - "Assorted Subjects Trading Card & Bubble Gum")

Twiggy Cello Test Pack 1967

Vote For Shafer Wax 1966 (Contained 1 card and gum)

Wacky Ads Wax 5 cent 1969

Wacky Ads Wax 10 cent 1969

Wacky Labels Wax 1966 (Small)

Wacky Patches Colorfast Sew-On Test Cello Pack (T-32) 1974

Wacky Wanted Stickers Test Pack (T-49-5) 1975

The Waltons Test Pack (T-8-5-A) 1974 ("With 1 Stick Bubble Gum")

The Waltons Test Pack (T-8-5-B) 1974 ("America's Favorite TV Show")

Wild Animal Surprise Box Box 1968 (contained gum and plastic animal)

For Mike... these aren't mine, just saved the image from an old auction.

Here's a bonus... "Civil War" non-repeating 1 cent pack! The flat wrapper below is "reconstructed" from the pack images.

As far as the dating on the "Flying Things" test packs, let me give a brief review of Topps' testing over the years. Before about 1965, Topps tested (and they claim to have tested everything!) issues using fully printed wrappers and display boxes, so test material might be out there, but unless there are differences to the final retail, we just don't know. Some issues have scarce variations and the like that I believe might be due to testing and then changes were made for retail.

Starting about 1965, Topps began using plain white wax (or paper) wrappers (or envelopes) with a sticker applied to test market issues. Supposedly, Topps employed three basic methods for testing... informal feedback from handing out cards to kids at playgrounds and schools (try that today!), a little more formal "focus group" feedback at Topps offices with kids and their parents, and finally, the familiar test pack on retail shelves. When Topps moved production to Duryea, PA in 1966, they developed their "commodity number" system to help communicate about issues between Brooklyn and Duryea, and put the numbers on every commodity (wrapper, display box, print sheet, shipping case, etc.). Most collectors call the numbers "production numbers", but Topps paperwork uses the term "commodity number" so that is what I call them. Finally, in 1973, after Topps went public, they began to put test commodity numbers on their test products... I refer to them as "T codes". This continued until at least 1980, when Topps returned to using fully printed wrappers and boxes for testing since collectors had "caught on" to their testing methods and test sales were increasingly invalid because of collectors buying up the test product.

I wrote an article for "The Wrapper" back in 1989 with my hypothesis that these test codes were assigned sequentially to each product being tested, regardless of them being sports, non-sports, candy, gum or novelty products. 30+ years later and the evidence still backs up my hypothesis. So, starting with T-1-5, "Emergency & Adam-12", and running through T-126-26, "Major League Baseball" blister pack with 'Collector Box' from 1980, virtually all T coded test issues fall in line, date wise, where they should be with only a couple of anomalies, which I have some thoughts about. Here is my current list of "T coded" test issues (that I'm aware of). As you can see, the "Flying Things" test of T-42, falls perfectly in 1975, and was a test for the packaging of the 1975 retail release. Look at the test wrapper and the retail cello wrapper... both only show the same 6 "Things" on the checklist, and both show they were made in the U.S.A., the first, and only "Flying Things" not made in Japan or Hong Kong.

And finally, "Monster Gumsters Bubble Gum"! This was a bubble gum test, using Universal Monsters in 1974. I'm sure the gum was originally purple (being grape) back in the day, but after 45+ years... grey.

Second, "Leapin' Lizards". These (and "Drac-Snax") were a candy product test that included collectible backs on the packs. There are a few different backs known. Unfortunately, these are the best images I currently have...

And now for Wax Pack Dude...

First, "Attack From Space", the name that "Mars Attacks!" was tested under. To be fair, no known packs or wrappers from the wild have ever been seen, but proofs and file copies exist. I am confident that some exist out there some where! The 5 cent wrapper is an image of the mechanical paste-up used for photography, and I have never seen any image of the wrapper... proof or otherwise.

Hi Lonnie and welcome. Thanks for joining up! There aren't many of us pack collectors around!

The list you posted looks a lot like my want list. Do you have any of the harder test packs in your collection? My understanding was that they were placed only in select stores - some maybe on Long Island to gauge demand. Can you imagine these being at your local shop? Amazing to think about.

What part of the country are you in and what do you collect? (Most importantly, do you have anything to sell or trade?) I've always been amazed at the relative scarcity of nonsport wax packs. I went to the National Baseball Card show for the first time last year. If you wanted a Mickey Mantle Rookie card and had a couple of hundred thousand dollars, you had a choice of at least ten or more to pick from. If you wanted a Beverly Hillbillies pack or any of the other rarer ones from the 50s or 60's, forget about it. Not for sale at any price. No where to be found. I wonder where they all are? Some lucky person's attic just waiting to be found (hopefully)!

Getting back to the checklist, what does everybody think about test packs? Should we include them on the regular checklist or make a special checklist for test packs. I understand that many of them have different design variations.

Lets get serious for a minute. I have spent the better part of 15 years trying to complete the Topps Flying Things packs. I knew about the two test packs (header card with cello bag). I was always under the impression they were early test packs (like 1960s). You have them listed as 1975 release. Which honestly makes a ton more sense now that I think about it considering the clear cello bags came out that year. Would love to hear any additional info you have on these.

Oh boy. Do I have some questions for you sir. I get real excited when I see a list that has things I have never even heard of.

Attack From Space

Leapin Lizards

Monster Gumsters Bubble Gun

Dont think I have ever seen these. Would love to see pics if anybody has them.

Hi Mike, I've lurked for awhile and finally decided to join once I saw the checklist you guys were building. I thought I could help a little... I've been going through my notes and saved images and have some additions and corrections for the checklist. I'm only halfway through the alphabet so far, so I'll post these and let you look them over and ask any questions before I continue and post the second half. Hope this is helpful.

Lonnie

24 Tattoos Wax 1971 (UK wrapper)

32 Mini Stickers Test Pack (T-90-5a) 1977 ("With 1 Stick Bubble Gum")

32 Mini Stickers Test Pack (T-90-5b) 1977 not seen

ABC's Wide World of Sports Paper 1975

Angry Signs Test Pack 1967

Angry Stickers Test Pack 1967

Attack From Space 1 cent wax 1962

Attack From Space 5 cent wax 1962

Batman Wax indicia at top 1965

Batman Wax indicia at right 1965

Batman Real Photos Wax indicia at top 1965

Batman Real Photos Wax indicia at right 1965

Bay City Rollers Wax 1975 (UK)

Bay City Rollers Test Pack (T-96-5a) 1976 (US) ("With 1 Stick Bubble Gum")

Bay City Rollers Test Pack (T-96-5b) 1976 (US) not seen

Beatles Wax indicia at right 1964

Beatles Wax indicia at bottom 1964

Beatles Color Photos Wax indicia at bottom 1964

Beatles Color Photos Wax indicia at right 1964

Big Bad Buttons Paper envelope Test Pack (T-75-16) 1976

Brady Bunch Test Pack 1970

Bobby Sherman Plaks Test Pack 1970

Bugs Bunny Roadruner Tattoo Test Pack (T-73-0) 1975 Bugs (Yellow), Bugs (Purple), Roadrunner (Red)

Captain Nice Test Pack 1967

Casey & Kildare Wax with gum 1962

Casey & Kildare Wax no gum 1962

Casey & Kildare Cello no gum 1962

Civil War Wax 1 cent repeating 1961

Civil War Wax 1 cent non-repeating 1961

Civil War Wax 5 cent 1961

Comic Book Heroes Stickers 1st Test Pack (T-34-5-A) 1974 ("With 1 Stick Bubble Gum")

Comic Book Heroes Stickers 1st Test Pack (T-34-5-B) 1974 ("With Puzzle Card")

Comic Book Heroes Stickers 2nd Test Pack (T-47-5) 1975

Comic Cover Stickers Test Pack 1970

Crazy TV Test Pack 1969

Drac-Snax Test Pack (T-77-11) 1976

Emergency & Adam-12 Test Pack (T-1-5) 1973

Fabulous Rock Records Paper Sleeve (no hole) 1967

Fabulous Rock Records Paper Sleeve (with hole) 1967

Fancy Pants Real Cloth Jean Stickers Test Pack (T-85-5) 1975

Far Out Iron-Ons 1st Series Paper Envelope 1975

Far Out Iron-Ons 2nd Series Paper Envelope 1975

Fighter Planes Paper Envelope 5 cent 1967

Fighter Planes Paper Envelope 10 cent 1967?

Flags of the World Test Paper Envelope 1969

Flags of the World Wax 1970 Topps

Flipper's Magic Fish Paper Envelope 2 cent 1966

Flip-Ups Test Paper Envelope 1966

Flying Things 1st Series Paper Envelope 1966 Blue (Flying Skeleton)

Flying Things 2nd Series Paper Envelope 1967 Yellow (Flying Sub)

Flying Things 1970 1st Series Paper Envelope 1970 (Flying Hot Dog - yellow wings)

Flying Things 1970 1st Series Paper Envelope 1970 (Flying Hot Dog - green wings)

Flying Things 2nd Series Paper Envelope 1971 Orange 10 cent (Flying Bathtub)

Flying Things 2nd Series Paper Envelope 1971 Orange 15 cent (Flying Bathtub)

Flying Things 2nd Series Paper Envelope 1971 Purple 10 cent (Flying Bathtub)

Flying Things Test Pack Paper Envelope (T-42A) 1975

Flying Things Test Pack Cello with Header Card (T-42B) 1975

Flying Things Cello Pack 1975

Fold-A-Roos Test Pack 1967

Funny Ad Foldees Test Pack (T-67-5) 1976

Funny Button Test Paper Envelope 1960

Funny Monsters Wax 1 cent repeating 1959

Funny Monsters Wax 1 cent non-repeating 1959

Funny Monsters Wax 5 cent 1959

Funny Valentines Cello (Rak-Pak) 1959

Getting Together With Bobby Sherman Test Pack 1971

Giant Plaks Test Paper Envelope 1968

Googy Goggles Test Paper Envelope 1970

Green Hornet Stickers Wax 1966 Topps

Groovy Stick-Ons Wax 5 cent 1969

Groovy Stick-Ons Wax 10 cent 1969

Happy Days Test Pack (T-87-5A) 1975 ("With 1 Stick Bubble Gum")

Happy Days Test Pack (T-87-5B) 1975 not seen

Hysterical History Test Pack (T-72-5) 1975

Idiot Cards Wax 1961 Donruss

Julia Test Pack 1968

King Kong Wax 1965 Donruss

Kooky Awards Test Pack 1968

Krazy Little Comics Test Pack 1967

Krazy Little Comics Wax 1967

Kung Fu Test Pack (T-82-0)? 1976

Land of the Giants Test Pack 1968

Leapin' Lizards Test Paper Envelope (T-76-11) 1976

Lotsa Labels Test 1968

Magic Funny Fortunes Paper 1960

Marvel Flyers Paper Envelope 1966

Mars Attacks! Wax 1 cent 1962

Mod Initial Stickers Test Pack 1972

Mod Generation Stickers Test Pack 1965

Mod Squad Test Pack 1969

Monster Gumsters Bubble Gum Test Blister Pack (T-13-4) 1974

Monkees Flip Movies Wax 1967 Topps

I'm going to change the checklist numbering scheme. Instead of version 1.09, I'm just going to go with version 9. It seems simpler.

Thanks to long time collector and new member Don Onodi for suggesting Funny Rings and Krazy Pennants - see his forum post for a great write-up (titled "Topps Funny Rings and Krazy Pennants")

Added:

Funny Rings

Crazy Pennants

Ton O Gum (there's a US version in addition to a bunch of Canadian variations!)

Changed:

1963 Fleer Football now listed under Goofy Gags

Version 1.08 posted

Added:

Charlie's Angels series 4

Removed:

Canadian ads removed from Back-Slapper Stickers and Welcome Back Kotter

(Thanks to Paul Hotchkin for catching this!)

You know I need that thing sealed. Plus, that check might bounce, let me check my balance real quick...yeah $999,970 short. Then he would send me to collections, maybe even get a hit man involved. FBI top ten most wanted. Sounds like it could be a messy transaction.

Marc has a grape wrapper - I bet he'll take a check from you!

I have never seen or even heard about big wad grape. That pack has got to be worth about a million dollars.