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✨ 1942 Little Orphan Annie Altascope Ring
A Rare Quaker Cereals Radio Premium
An important rarity from the golden age of American radio premiums, this original 1942 Little Orphan Annie Altascope ring combines ingenious miniature construction with the aviation imagery of wartime America.
Issued briefly by Quaker Cereals during its final year sponsoring the Little Orphan Annie radio program, the Altascope occupies a distinguished place in premium collecting. Hake’s has described the model as the rarest Orphan Annie ring and among the rarest of all premium rings, a compelling acquisition for the dedicated specialist.
🔍 Item Details
• Date: 1942
• Character / Program: Little Orphan Annie
• Sponsor: Quaker Cereals / Quaker Oats
• Model: Altascope aircraft altitude ring
• Construction: Gold-tone brass with an adjustable overlapping band
• Origin: Marked “Made in U.S.A.”
• Sight plates: Three pivoting plates marked 2,500 FT, 5,000 FT and 10,000 FT
• Shoulder decoration: Aircraft reliefs labeled “Pursuit Plane” and “Bombing Plane”
• Authenticity: Original period collectible
✈️ An Inventive Wartime Premium
Designed for young aircraft spotters, the Altascope used graduated sight apertures to estimate an airplane’s altitude overhead. Its three plates pivot outward from a shared rivet, creating a miniature instrument that captures the imagination and resourcefulness of the radio era.
🏛️ Collector Significance
An elusive addition to an advanced collection of radio premiums, cereal advertising, character memorabilia or wartime aviation novelties. Its distinctive mechanical design and documented scarcity give this small object considerable historical presence.
📦 Included
One original Little Orphan Annie Altascope ring with all three graduated sight plates present.
📋 Presentation
An authentic vintage example with aged surface character and clearly identifiable aircraft motifs. Photographed with the sight plates both stacked and extended to showcase its construction.
Please review all photographs carefully; they form part of the description and show the exact ring you will receive.
🚚 Shipping & Seller Information
Your collectible will be carefully packed and shipped with tracking, backed by more than 25 years of experience shipping collectibles safely. Combined shipping is available when practical.
🏡 From a smoke-free home.
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