Title: Antique Potato Spud Metal Toy Gun Weapon
Shipping: $29.00
Artist: N/A
Period: N/A
History: Art
Origin: North America > United States
Condition: N/A
Item Date: N/A
Item ID: 97
Antique Potato Toy Gun, Die-Cast Metal Spud Gun / VINTAGE METAL SPUD-GUN ORIGINAL COSSMAN CO. POTATO GUN FROM THE 1950'S / Authentic Spud-Gun manufactured by Crossman Co. in Hollywood CA. 6" L x 3" H x 7/8" D. In great condition. Pictures were all taken at close range. This is in the original condition as it has not been cleaned, refinished, or refurbished. What you're looking at is a rare EJ Cossman number 504 SpudGun circa 1955. It is in GREAT shape for its age. How it works: You push the end of this gun into a potato, then pull the trigger and the potatoe piece shoots out the end. The spud gun was produced by E. Joseph Cossman who was also the inventor of the ant farm, & the plastic shrunken head among other things. He was also the original pioneer of the TV infomercial. EJ Cossman took advantage of one of the largest potato surplus' that this country ever had by touting the sales of the "spud gun" would solve their economic problems (the public would start buying more potatoes). He managed to get himself major publicity (and arrested) when he had tons of potatoes dumped at his doorstep in preparation for new demand for SPUD AMMO. This is a highly collectible antique toy gun which you won't see on auction very often. So, take advantage now.
All metal spud gun by E. J. Cossman Co. in Hollywood, California toy “Potato” gun. The gun is approximately the same size as a real gun.
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spud_gun
A spud gun is a small toy gun used to fire a fragment of potato. To operate, one punctures the surface of a potato with the gun's hollow tip and pries out a small pellet which fits in the muzzle. Squeezing the grip causes a small build–up of air pressure inside the toy which propels the projectile. The devices are usually short–range and low–powered.
The first spud gun was invented during the Great Depression, when few people would have wanted to waste a potato. The original inventor sold his patent to E. Joseph Cossman for US$600 after World War II. Cossman, the brother–in–law of "Uncle" Milton Levine, discovered there was a potato glut at the time, and through an advertising campaign sold two million spud guns in six months.
