Of course, this Cracker Jack prize is supposed to say "Puzzle" instead of "Fuzzle," but it was imported from Japan and, as sometimes happens with imports, something was lost in the translation--or more precisely, in the spelling.

The "Special Match Fuzzle" consists of a 2 1/4" x 1 1/8" x 7/16" wooden matchbox container made of wood with paper labeling containing 2" wooden sticks, or "lumber," in five different colors.

Actually, the "Special Match Fuzzle" isn't a puzzle at all. An instruction sheet folded inside the box shows different designs that can be created by laying out the "stick lumber," and the illustration on the top of the box shows different words that can be spelled out, such as "LOVE" and "XOMA," whatever that is.

This prize dates back to 1935 and was supplied to the Cracker Jack Company by Taneya & Co. of Osaka, Japan. The prize is not marked Cracker Jack.

Another version of this prize from earlier in the 1930's, referred to as kindergarten sticks in company records, has a narrower box and the label colors are slightly different. The back of the box says "Make Alphabets and Pictures." It was supplied by Takahashi & Co., the earlier name of the Taneya Company.

X O M A !