Ring Round: my Home-Made Radio Premium Rings

 My latest interest (read obsession!) are American Radio ring premiums from the 1940's and 50's.

True objects of desire, here's a beautiful array featured on Hakes. They really are gorgeous and must have been thrilling to get in the post or in a cereal box.

So smitten was I that I've begun to make my own versions of some of them.

Here's my first four.

The first one I made and the first one that caught my eye way back in the 1990's was the Carey Salt The Shadow ring, bottom right.

A lovely simple cream ring with crocodile jaws, a black ellipse lozenge and it glows in the dark. What more could an American kid want in 1949, after listening to The Shadow on the radio.

I couldn't find an ad for the Carey Salt ring but here's the mailing pack for it's stablemate, the Blue Coal The Shadow Ring (borrowed from Martin Grimes' fabulous site. Just Google his name)

The two rings I've 'copied' are these, although the lower black coal ring is a fan custom I understand, as Blue Coal only issued blue coal rings.

Here are my much simpler impressions using a plain white ring and bits from my tat box.

Mere shadows, I was pleased how these simple attempts turned out. Glow in the dark paint is on order!

Much more complex, the Quaker Pirates Gold Detector ring must have been stupendous to own and wear back in the day.

Here's a cereal ad and the magnificent ring itself courtesy of Hakes. Just send one box top! I wish! 

And my own pirate rendition comprising of a plumbers' clasp and red caps from my late Father in Law's toolbox. You can't see but I've installed a tiny film lens inside the bigger cap.

Last but not least, this is purported to be the biggest premium ring ever issued, Sky King's Tele-blinker Ring!

Here's an original comic ad and the spectacular telescopic ring courtesy of Hakes. What a fabulous beast!

And here's my MoonBase Tele-blinker.

What do you think? 

Did you ever have any of these?

Do you own a ring?