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Source: Personal Collection
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Captain Midnight Secret Squadron Decoders, Manuals and Badges - 1940's and 1950's
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Captain Midnight was originally an American radio broadcast from 1938 to 1949 with Skelly Oil being the
main original sponsor with Ovaltine taking its place as of 1940. During the period of 1954 to 1956, it
became a television series.
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Related websites:
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Click for more info
Source: Personal Collection
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Radio Orphan Annie Secret Society Decoders, Manuals and Badges - 1930's and early 1940's
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Radio's Little Orphan Annie originally aired an American radio broadcast from 1930 to 1940 with Ovaltine
being the main original sponsor with Quaker Puffed Wheat Sparkies taking over from 1940 to 1942.
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Related websites:
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Source: Personal Collection
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Boy Scout Code Wheel - 1931
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Boy Scout code wheel made by F. Pitchford and Co in Great Britain. Codewheel measures
about 10 inches in diameter. Also containts semaphore flag patterns, Morse code, watch compass.
Here is a photo of the obverse of the code wheel.
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I have researched for more information on this item as it has British Patent number 347,342 and it
would date it at 1931 which would make some sense. However when I look this british patent number,
it describes something that is entirely different than this codewheel.
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Click for larger photo
Source: Personal Collection
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Burnoy Codemaker - 1934
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The Burnoy Codemaker was made by the B.W. Burke company. Codemaker has 6 concentric cardboard
disks for a total diameter of about 5 inches.
Here is a photo of the obverse with instructions on its use.
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If anyone has information on Burnoy, it would be much appreciated. Many cereal, bread and beverage
companies had decoders made as premiums in the 1930's.
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Click for larger photo
Source: Personal Collection
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Tom Mix Ralston Straight Shooters Decoders, Manuals and Badges - 1930's and early 1940's
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Tom Mix Ralston Straight Shooters originally aired an American radio broadcast from 1930 to 1944 with Ralston
Purina as sponsor. Tom Mix
was a Western film actor early in his career (early 1900's).
Other photos:
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Related websites:
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Click for larger photo
Source: Personal Collection
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James Bond Code-o-Matic and CodeBook - 1966
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This coder/decoder was made by Multiple Products in 1966 and was either sold separately or as part of the
classic James Bond Attaché Case with toy rifle (assembled from components), plastic bullets, currency
bills, plastic knife and instructions.
Other photos:
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Related websites:
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Click for larger photo
Source: Personal Collection
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Sky King Spy-Detecto Writer Premium - 1949
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Sky King originally aired as radio and televison broadcasts in the 1940's and 1950's.
This brass-aluminum version of the Spy-Detecto Writer was a premium sponsored by Peter Pan Peanut Butter
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Related websites:
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Click for larger photo
Source: Personal Collection
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The Amazing Spiderman Codebreaker - 1980
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Manufactured by Gordy International and includes very nice plastic coder/decoder disc on cardboard
backing for the 10 digits and 26 letters of the alphabet.
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Click for larger photo
Source: Personal Collection
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Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars - Secret Messages - 1984
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Produced by Mattel and includes good quality cardboard coder/decoder disc for the 10 digits and 26 letters of the
alphabet.
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Source: Personal Collection
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Spiderman Code-Decode Wheel - 1984
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Good quality cardboard stock coder/decoder disc with cardboard instructions.
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Source: Personal Collection
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Sears ISA-07-11 Super Spy Attaché Case with Decoder Disks - 1967
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Comes complete with plastic coder/decoder wheel integrated in the case itself and also a functionally
identical cardboard coder/decoder. Here is a photo of the cardboard box.
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Click for larger photo
Source: Personal Collection
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Secret Agent Lunchbox and Thermos with Decoder Disk - 1967
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Comes complete with original thermos and lunchbox including the magnetic concentric inner disk for the coder/decoder on the lunchbox.
Here is a photo of the coder/decoder.
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Click for larger photo
Source: Personal Collection
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Chex Decoder ring - 1967
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Came as part of premium in Wheat Chex cereal boxes. There were two colors as far as I know - green (as pictured) and red.
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Related websites:
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Click for larger photo
Source: Personal Collection
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Dick Tracy Magic Decoders - 1957
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Came as part of premium in Post Cereal boxes such as Sugar Crisp and Raisin Bran. There were two colors as far as I know - green
and red (as pictured).
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Related websites:
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Click for larger photo
Source: Personal Collection
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Dick Tracy Crimestopper Kit with Secret Code Maker - 1961
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These were apparently part of a major newspaper promotion in the early 1960's (Chicago paper?).
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Related websites:
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Source: Personal Collection
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Robin Secret Code Maker - 1961
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These were apparently part of a major newspaper promotion in the early 1960's (Chicago paper?). Here is a scan of the instructions on very brittle
paper:
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Related website:
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Click for larger photo
Source: Personal Collection
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Dick Tracy Secret Service Patrol Secret Code Books - 1938 and 1939
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The promoter for these was Quaker Puffed Wheat and Rice in the late 1930's as part of Dick Tracy episodes on radio.
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Related websites:
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Click for larger photo
Source: Personal Collection
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Lawrence Secret Code Outfit - 1939
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This kit came with a wooden slide-rule decoder and instruction booklet within a small cardboard box.
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Related websites:
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Source: Personal Collection
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Buck Rogers & Twiki Communications Set - 1979
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This communications set was made by H.G. Toys Inc and came with a cardboard decoder disk along with a communications belt and other accessories.
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No other information found on the web.
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Click for larger photo
Source: Personal Collection
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Disney's Happy Soup Club Codophone - 1965
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Disney promotion as part of the Happy Soup Club show in the 1960's. Photo shows cover and decoder of codophone. Other photos:
- Photo of accompanying manual (forthcoming)
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Related website:
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Click for larger photo
Source: Personal Collection
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Disney's Indiana Jones Decoder - Mid 1990's
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Disney promotion as part of the Indiana Jones attraction at MGM Studios (now Hollywood Studios) in the mid 1990's.
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Related website:
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Click for larger photo
Source: Personal Collection
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McDonald's Code Card - 1980's
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As part of McDonald's many promotions in the mid 1980's.
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Source: Personal Collection
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Top Secret Dossier avec roue codeuse - 1992
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Accompagné d'une trousse d'articles qui facilitent les transactions d'informations secrètes.
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Source: Personal Collection
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P.F. Flyers Magic Whistle & Decoder - 1966
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Whistle apparently sounded like a dolphin. Neat little decoder to be assembled.
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P.F. Flyers was a manufacturer of popular running shoes in the 1960's. Here are other related websites:
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Click for larger photo
Source: Personal Collection
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Alex Under Cover - Secret Code Kit - 1990's
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Secret Code Kit in a box for children ages 8 and above.
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Updated versions of this "Alex Under Cover" code kit still being sold on the web.
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Click for larger photo
Source: Personal Collection
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Alex Under Cover - Detective Activity Kit - 1990's
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Secret Code Kit in a box for children ages 8 and above.
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Updated versions of this "Alex Under Cover" code kit still being sold on the web.
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Click for larger photo
Source: Personal Collection
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Wendy's Bruno the Kid Decoder Pencil - 1994
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Plastic coder/decoder pencil promoted by Wendy's in the mid 1990's.
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Thank you Dr. Welsh!
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Click for larger photo
Source: Personal Collection
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Spy Master Code Kit - 1990's
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This kit includes a scytale amongst other items.
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Updated versions of this kit still being sold on the web.
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Click for larger photo
Source: Personal Collection
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Secret Codes Code Kit by Robert Jackson - 1990's
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This kit includes semaphore flags, small book on codes, a pair of Jefferson plastic decoder wheels/cylinders.
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Likely still available for sale on the web.
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Click for larger photo
Source: Personal Collection
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Secret Code Breaker Secret Message Kit - 1990's
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This kit includes slide-rule kits for assembly and software.
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Likely still available for sale on the web.
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Click for larger photo
Source: Personal Collection
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Batman Cards (Riddler Series) and Decoder - 1966
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These were part of bubble gum backs (5 cards per pack) with 38 different cards.
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There are several websites devoted to this type of cards. Here are some:
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Click for larger photo
Source: Personal Collection
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Superman Secret Code Card - 1948
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Here is a photo of the back of the card with code.
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No other concrete information on the web.
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Click for larger photo
Source: Personal Collection
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Kellogg's plastic decoders - 1983
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The four shown include secret decoders "The Apple Jack Kids", "Dig'Em's", "Toucam Sam", "Poppy".
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There are several websites devoted to sales of these decoders. Here is one:
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Click for larger photo
Source: Personal Collection
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Captain Crunch Seadog Spy Kit with decoder - 1974
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Kit included decoder, case, mirror and instruction booklet.
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There are several websites devoted to sales of these decoders. Here is one:
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Click for larger photo
Source: Personal Collection
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Gilbert Chemistry Experiment Lab (No. 12002 Junior) - 1956
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Lab includes 250 experiments including some on secret writing, magic tricks and invisible inks.
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There are several websites devoted to many lab sets by the Gilbert company. Here is one:
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Click for larger photo
Source: Personal Collection
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Black Light Magic-Glo Kit - 1963
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Kit comes with manual and includes numerous black light experiments including some on invisible ink
for secret writing, invisible detection powder, etc. Manufacturer is Black Light Eastern Corporation
in New York.
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There are a few websites that refer to the company in terms of advanced research but nothing of
substance to this Magic-Glo kit.
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