Mickey Mantle Gumball Locket

CIRCA - 1950s
MANUFACTURER - Samuel Eppy
SIZE - 7/8"
PRICE GUIDE- $100.00 - $200.00
Excellent - Near Mint Condition
Due to rarity and a limited sales history value is estimated based on similar items

Information Provided by:
Keymancollectibles.com

NOTES:

These Mickey Mantle key chain lockets would have been placed in vending capsules to be dispensed in gumball machines in the 1950s. The molds are the same used by Samuel Eppy & Co. and Penny King to produce the baseball player lockets that were first issued in 1950. Back in the 1950's, vending machine suppliers did not secure licenses for the images used in the lockets. The plastic charms were made from common molds and they would paste images of choice. These 1950s lockets use an image of the 1954 Red Heart Mickey Mantle Baseball card.

The silver and gold plated lockets were made using a vacuum plating process, called "vacuum metalizing" introduced by Samuel Eppy. The method was used on plastic charms to give it a metal like finish. Samuel Eppy designed, and built a specialized machine for the process. By 1965 Eppy the world's largest charm manufacture was producing 1.5 million charms a day, creating 7 new charms a week. Such a number production could not be reflected in charm adverting.

Mickey Mantle Vending Machine Locket Charms


Back of silver vacuum metalized Locket	Back of Gold vacuum metalized Locket

KEYMAN COLLECTIBLES RELATED RESOURCES

	Collectors Showcase - Half the fun of collecting is showing it off to others. Send KeyMan Collectibles pictures of your Memorabilia Room or Display, and get your own Free Collectors Showcase Room.
	KeyMan Collectibles Baseball Memorabilia Facebook Group - Post Questions and comments relating to Baseball Collectibles and Memorabilia. Interact with other collectors or show off your collection.
	KeyMan Collectibles Forum - A great option for those that "Don't do facebook" Post Questions and comments relating to Baseball Collectibles and Memorabilia