Fizzies Fountain from Hasbro (1960)

Company: Hasbro | Release date: 1960 | Where to purchase: eBay

In 1960, Hasbro released Fizzies Fountain, a tabletop playset that mimicked a real carbonated soda fountain, complete with the fizz. The fountain was made of durable, washable plastic measuring approximately 12-inches wide by 12-inches tall by 6-inches deep, and included a red tray that housed two bottles and two fountain cups. Each plastic bottle had a metal valve cap and valve lever used to dispense a drink.

FIZZ FACTOR

Kids combined cold water and Fizzies tablets to create a fizzy fountain drink. Fizzies were effervescent tablets that hit the market in the late 1950s. Manufactured by Emerson Drug Company, these tablets were a novel way to enjoy flavoured beverages at home. Fizzies came in various flavours ranging from root beer and orange to cherry and grape. The concept was simple yet delightful – drop a Fizzie tablet into a glass of water, and it would fizz and dissolve, transforming the plain water into a sparkling, flavoured beverage.

SODA POP

A Fizzies Fountain came with six flavoured tablets: orange, lemon & lime, cherry, grape, root beer, and strawberry. Later, Hasbro added cola flavour into the mix. To help set the mood, Hasbro included a cardboard diorama with an illustrated scene from an old-time diner.

FIZZLED OUT

Fizzies Fountain had a limited time on the market, primarily due to the tablets being pulled from the market due to some of their chemical components being considered unsafe for human consumption. Fountain sets are available on secondary reseller sites, complete with unused tablets, which should considered for display purposes only.

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