Garbage Can-dy

Credit: JasonLiebig @ Flickr

Name of Toy Line: Garbage Can-dy
Production Company: Topps Chewing Gum, Inc.
Distributor: Topps Chewing Gum, Inc.
Years of Production: 1977 - present
Countries/Regions Available: USA, Canada
Size/Scale: 2"
Figure Trade Markings: © Topps Chewing Gum, Inc.
Approximate # of Figures: Dozens

Details:

If the phrase "sex sells" so often used in the world of adult consumerism had a child equivalent, it might be "garbage sells." Kids, especially those that happen to be boys, love toys that look like garbage. Let's face it, gross stuff is cool!

Topps, and in particular Art Speigelman, makers of Wacky Packages, the Garbage Pail Kids cards and toys, certainly knew this. In the very same garbage-filled vein as those amazing creations, they brought us Garbage Can-dy. Garbage Can-dy is, of course, tiny bits of hard, sugary candy shaped like bones, fish, old sneakers, bottles, and empty soup cans packaged in tiny, bright-colored, and highly collectible plastic garbage cans made of hard plastic.


Click to enlarge

From what I can gather, Garbage Can-dy has seen any number of reincarnations over the years usually in the form of new can colors or new candy shapes. Somewhere along the line, the tiny garbage cans got a little bigger as well.

The cans come in many different colors. Unfortunately, I don't have enough knowledge about this line to produce a list. (The image at the end of this article should give you a good idea though!) Some colors are totally opaque while others are slightly transparent.

The cans came in the typical cardboard box designed to sit on the counter top of the local five and dime and catch the eye of the little, candy-crazed youngsters.


Credit: Mr. Potter's Funtime Blog

Topps had the foresight to make the garbage cans different colors and thus collectible. It's a pity that Mattel didn't do the same for the M.U.S.C.L.E. toy line, despite the fact that the same cans used for M.U.S.C.L.E. were colored in previous toy lines, such as Canfull of Monsters.

In typical Topps fashion, the box art for Garbage Can-dy was amazing. Here's a good look at a newer flat box courtesy of JasonLiebig @ Flickr. Be sure to check his account for a larger version of the below image, and other great images!



Okay, let's take a closer look at some cans. The following cans belong to a 2006 Canadian release.


Blue

The cans come with with an easily removable sticker holding the lids closed. However, I've found that the cans are constructed well enough that the lids close tightly and stay closed on their own.


Pink Can with Green Bad Eggz Bunch Poacher


Green and Purple



The cans are a little too small to be used as storage for figures, but they definitely go well together otherwise.

Here's a look at some of the older cans courtesy of master Garbage Can-dy collector, RusVan.


Circa 1986 set


1991 set

Here's a comparison shot with a Canfull of Monsters can. Recall that the Canfull can is the exact same as a M.U.S.C.L.E. can, just colored.



Finally, we'll end with this great picture of RusVan's collection!



While Garbage Can-dy technically isn't a minifigure toy line, it's definitely in the same fun, enjoyable, and highly-collectible spirit. I hope you've enjoyed!

Related Websites:

Garbage Can-dy Thread @ Cheaptoyland

Garbage Can-dy @ CandyAddict.com