There was a time when children’s cereal came with a variety of freebies, from fun toys to tat that was dumped in the bin within minutes.
Getting a free item in a cereal box was a common occurrence right up until the 2010s. The MEN has looked back at some of the most iconic cereal toys and tat from across the decades that came in boxes of Cornflakes, Coco Pops, Ricicles, Frosties and more.
Most Manchester families will remember many of the below, whether you were a child who excitedly ripped open the box to see what was inside, or a parent who rolled their eyes at another cheap plastic toy to add to the draw full of clutter. The list includes images from Cereal Offers, a website all about cereal toys and promotions, which is ran by Nick who also owns the YouTube channel cerealmad.
READ MORE:
-
Lost breakfast cereals Manchester families would love to see back on the shelves
-
Iconic 1980s television adverts many Mancunians will still remember
Baking powder submarine, diver and boat
If you bought a box of Kelloggs cereal in the 1950s and 60s, it’s more than likely you came across this plastic submarine. The toy first appeared in Cornflakes in 1957 and was available in six colours.
You’d fill the submarine up with baking powder and place it in the water where it would move on its own. The toy came with a plug to stop the baking powder from pouring out of the base.
The instructions on the box encouraged children to collect all six colours and race them against each other. The submarines reappeared in cereal boxes such as Frosties, Coco Pops, Ricicles and All Stars in 1967.
In 1986, Kelloggs reintroduced the submarine toy alongside a boat and diver. While the submarine was only available in yellow, the boat came in four different colours. The divers were mainly available in red and green, but a rare orange one occasionally made an appearance. The divers also came in three different poses with the hands in varying positions.
Bike reflectors
Various cereal boxes have contained bike reflectors over the years, with Cornflakes offering six different coloured cockerel-shaped reflectors in packets of Cornflakes between 1988 and 1990. Frosties also contained a Tony the Tiger bicycle reflector in 1988, with six colours available.
Coco Pops introduced its variation in 1995, offering four different bike reflector designs. They were available in three colours and were shaped as the iconic Coco Pops characters - Coco the Monkey, Hefty the Hippo, Kylie the Kangaroo, and Shortie the Giraffe.
Pencil toppers
Pencil toppers were another common find in cereal boxes. In 1995, Kelloggs offered Rugrats characters in Ricicles to pop on top of your pencil. There were four characters available - Chuckie, Angelica, Tommy and Spike.
In 1998, Wallace and Gromit pencil toppers were found in boxes of Cornflakes. There were six to collect and included characters from The Wrong Trousers and A Close Shave.
Noddy & Friends figures
For those of you who were 1960s kids, you may recall getting figurines from Noddy in your cereal. First introduced in Kelloggs boxes such as Ricicles in 1962, there were six characters available in different colours - Noddy, Big Ears, Mr Plod, Tubby Bear, Golly and Miss Fluffy Cat. They reappeared in boxes in 1967.
Star Wars statues
To celebrate the release of The Phantom Menace in 1999, Kelloggs included gold statues of Star Wars characters in its cereal boxes, including Coco Pops and Cornflakes. There were 10 to collect, including Obi-Wan Kenobi, Qui-Gon Jinn, Darth Maul and R2-D2. Each figure had a removable top to reveal a fact card about each character.
Ice lolly moulds
Cereal boxes in the 2000s often contained ice lolly moulds in the shape of film characters. In 2006, Cornflakes had Ice Age 2 character moulds in the shape of Sid, Diego, Manny and Scrat. You simply removed the plastic base and poured in a drink of your choice before inserting the plastic stick and popping it in the freezer to set.
Squirt rings
We bet many 1990s and 2000s kids caused havoc in the playground with the Kelloggs squirt rings. You filled the toy with water, popped it on your finger, and squoze it to soak whoever was nearby.
In 1997, Frosties boxes offered six different squirt toys featuring a variety of Simpsons characters. Coco Pops contained the toy in 2002 with Coco the Monkey perched on the front.
Mr Men stickers
Boxes of cereal in the 1970s contained stickers of the beloved Mr Men characters. Ricicles introduced them in 1976, with there being 12 to collect. Each pack came with two different stickers, but it was frustrating if you kept getting the same two characters!
Colour changing Dalmatian
To celebrate the release of 102 Dalmatians, boxes of Golden Nuggets in 2000 contained dog figurines that changed colour. There were four dogs from the film to collect - Dipstick, Dotty, Domino and Oddball.
Each dalmatian would lose its spots when warmed, with them miraculously reappearing when cool. The cereal box featured a cut out kennel for you to place your figurines on.
Which cereal box toy or tat was your favourite? Let us know in the comments section below.
Join our Greater Manchester history, memories and people Facebook group here.
Love Greater Manchester's past? Sign up to our new nostalgia newsletter and never miss a thing.
Read next:
- 'Fond memories' of lost underground market that was 'heart of Manchester' now left 'eerie' and 'empty'
-
Fascinating photos of Manchester's old Shambles Square being 'lifted' in 1971
-
Inside nine abandoned buildings left decaying in Greater Manchester and beyond
- Lost Manchester city centre restaurant known for its 'massive plates' and 'curry pancakes'
-
The lost shops and restaurants along bustling Manchester road
