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Rocket Gumball

Sydney A. Tarrson, c. 1960, 12 ¹/₄". A seller I know pulled this out at the Chicagoland show in April 2022 and before he put it on the table I said "oh, man, that's cool!" He looked up, handed it to me, named a low price, and I said "I'll take it." And "thank you."

It's made completely of plastic and has "Rocket" embossed in the lid. I loved the colors and the machine's party-like vibe. It reminds me of the Ring Ding Clown---they evoke the same sense of nostalgia, something I can relate to from my own childhood, not vicariously through my parents' or grandparents' or great-grandparents' childhoods. I did not recall ever having seen another one before this and neither had anyone else who was around the table when I bought it.

Now here's the weird part of this story. I originally posted this page on April 16, 2022, listing the maker as "unknown" and proclaiming my ignorance about the model's history and saying that I'd never seen one before. Less than two weeks later I came across a listing for this model here, which is a Bidsquare page showing this model with its original box as Lot 81 at the Potter & Potter auction in September 2017. Since I don't know how long that link will last, I'll reproduce the description and picture from that listing:

Sydney A. Tarrson. 1 Cent / 5 Cent / 10 Cent Jumbo Bubble Gum Bank / Vendor. Chicago, ca. 1960. Plastic. Original box and instructions. No key or gumballs. Working. Excellent.

I'm sure the Sydney Tarrson information is on the box although it doesn't show in the picture, 'cause how else would they have known?

Now here's the really weird part of this story: I attended that auction in person and don't recall seeing this machine. I distinctly recall focusing on other lots but I'd've thunk that I'd remember seeing it there....but nope, I have not even a vague recollection of maybe perhaps possibly ever having seen one before the one I bought. That Potter auction was the first auction I attended after the ultra-lean Tuition Years and I kinda went a little nuts (like, on this and this and this and this and this and this), and I guess I was distracted by all the other fine stuff and just didn't notice the Rocket. I can't remember what I was looking for when I stumbled across the old Bidsquare page, but it had absolutely nothing to do with my Rocket specifically or this model in general. It was total serendipity.

The Rocket above is 100% original and in great condition. My wife likes it, which is always a plus. The gumballs in it were there when I bought it, and they're too large to vend but I like the way they look so they're staying in it....for now, anyway. Since I bought this one I've seen others, so they're out there.