I'm not sure of the age of this Glenn Confections Fun Gum. It has a 9-digit zip code. Zip+4 was introduced in 1983 in the United States. Glenn confections went out of business in 1994. At any rate, it's a survivor. The original recipient resisted the urge to chew it.
I've written before about my own memories of Halloween and wax nostalgia. I was never a fan of chewing wax, but I did enjoy the wax Wowee Whistles. I also liked Nik-L-Nips, but never chewed the bottle after I drank the sugary liquid.
Paraffin, which modern candles and wax teeth/lips are made from, is actually a byproduct of Kerosene distillation from crude oil. When it was discovered in 1859, both Kerosene and paraffin quickly became a boon technologically and economically. Lamps no longer needed to rely on animal fats and candles could be made with paraffin instead of bee's wax. By the late 1800's, wax began to be used in novelties such as chewing gum. In the 19-teens, John W. Glenn introduced "penny chewing gum novelties" and business grew. He soon joined forces with Franklin Gurley, of Gurley Candles, specifically of their W&F Mfg. Co. division where they produced novelty candles for the Socony Oil Co. (Standard Oil Company of New York) which explains the confusing multitude of labels you find on novelty candles (Socony, W&F, Gurley).
By the way, I just learned the above today. I had no idea paraffin came from oil. That would explain why wax was sold by oil companies.
As mentioned earlier, W&F ceased production in 1994, but wax lips continue to be produced by Concord Confections.
Funny how yes, i am sure i chewed the wax lips, but i don't think i chewed the Nik-L-Nips bottles, either. once the liquid was gone, so was the (perceived) flavor, right? It's pretty horrifying by today's standards that some company sold petroleum-based products as basically confections for kids to chew on, haha. Oh well, it clearly didn't kill us, right?
ReplyDeletei often wonder what is around today in abundance that future generations will look back on in horror and wonder. cell phones, or social media for sure. but food-wise? Not sure. maybe coffee from those Keurig pods, or kombucha. Or gummy things, like gummy bears, etc.? Not sure why though. Gummy bears are DELICIOUS.
My mom used to chew tar off the road. I used to eat rock salt off the playground.
DeleteTAR?? omg. But i used to eat the rock salt, too, after the snow plows had come by.
DeleteVaseline is petroleum and think of the orifices that used to go in! We never ate the wax either - we thought it was gross.
ReplyDelete>Vaseline is petroleum and think of the orifices that used to go in!
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Always hated the wax lips and candies. Only plus to them was to bite off the top and drink the minimal flavored liquid in them, well, in some of them. Lot of work for little reward.
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