What’s that funny number on the side of the dispenser?
These are what pez collectors refer to as the PEZ patent. The first one was issued in 1952. Currently the PEZ Company is using the 5,984,3285 patent.
This number also can help the collector get an estimate of just how old that”find” really is.

  • 2,620,061 - patented Dec. 2, 1952
  • 3,410,455 - patented Nov. 12, 1968
  • 3,432,074 - patented Mar. 11, 1969
  • 3,845,882 - patented Nov. 5, 1974
  • 3,942,683 - patented Mar. 9, 1976
  • 4,966,305 - patented Oct. 30, 1990
  • 5,984,285 - newest patent

The 3.8 series were only available for a couple of years. These were actually made in the United States by Reddy Plastics. Some of these can be truly unique dispensers.

Ok so I understand the patent thing but what about that number on the side of the stem? Well that is the country code. To see where your dispenser was made check below:

  • 1 Hungary - Austria
  • 2 Austria - Hong Kong
  • 3 Hungary - Austria
  • 4 - Austria
  • 5 Slovenia - Yugoslavia
  • 6 China - Hong Kong
  • 7 -Austria
  • 8 -Austria
  • 9 USA
  • V Yugoslavia
    Pretty neat in my opinion!

Did you know you can get shoes for your older Vintage Pez?
Click here

Places for the PEZ enthusiast to have a successful PEZ hunt:

  • Wal-mart
  • Cost Plus World Market
  • 99 center
  • Target
  • Deals Dollar Stores
  • Hobby Lobby
  • Dollar Tree
  • Jo-Ann Stores
  • Walgreens
  • CVS
  • Rite-Aid
  • Dollar General
  • Eckerd
  • Albertsons
  • Kroger Co.
  • Toys R Us
  • K-Mart
  • KB Toys
  • Meijer
  • Cracker Barrel
  • World Market
  • Bed, Bath & Beyond

Pez Musuem:

Yes, there really is a pez museum. The Burlingame Musuem of Memorabilia is located in San Franscisco. Their address is 214 California Drive, Burlingame, California, 94010. They are currently charging a $3.00 admission charge but I've been told its worth it. If you need more information their phone number is (650) 347-2301. There used to be a second museum, the Easton Museum of PEZ dispensers, but unfortunately it closed its doors in 2008.

Neat Books to read :

  • Collecting PEZ
    Author: David Welch
    This book really goes in depth with the history behind pez. Has a lot of interesting information and is fun to read the employee interviews. Highly recommend if you are going to seriously collect pez
  • The Pictorial Guide To Plastic Candy Dispensers Featuring PEZ
    Author: David Welch
    This book is great for pictures. It was one of the first books I purchased and the pictures of vintage pez were great!!!
  • PEZ Collectibles
    Author: Richard Geary
    I believe there are 3 or 4 versions of this book out there. Nice for pictures and some of the promotional items that are out there.
  • Collecting PEZ: Identification and Price Guide
    Author: Shawn Peterson
    Highly recommend 1st and 2nd edition of this book. Great pictures from some of the top people in the pez collecting field. The second edition goes more into “test” pieces. Shawn has some great pictures from Johann Patek and Mary Ann Kennedy’s collections.     Shawn also put out a small field guide in 2004 which is a nice handy book that is easy to carry around with you.
  • PEZ: A Little Collectible Book
    Author: Mindy Schultz
    Cute book but nothing that great about it in my opinion. You or I could have written this book but we just didn’t think of it. LOL
  • Celebrating Pez
    Authors: Nina Chertoff and Susan Kahn
     I absolutely love the pictures in this book. Great book to have and to read. It came out in 2006. They met with John Laspina I believe to compile this book. I actually bought a second book just for the pictures...not sure what Im going to do with it but they are just so colorful and vivid
  • Pez Collectors News
    There is also a bi-monthly newsletter that is available by subscription only. For more information please visit the
    PCN website located at http://www.pezcollectorsnews.com