I love gum, but I don’t chew it so much these days. When we were kids, we went to the corner store and always had a penny or two for bubble gum. Packets of gum were a bit of a luxury. I recently listed a set of “gum parker cats” and wanted to learn more about the history of chewing gum and about the memorabilia of gum collectibles.

Four “gum parker cats,” available from **AuntHattiesAttic** on Etsy, $46.99.

A Brief History of Chewing Gum

As far back as 10,000 years ago, Europeans were chewing birch bark, which would have tasted quite nice as birch has a minty flavor. It may have been helpful for cleaning their teeth. I’d like to jump in right now and say that early “gum” also doubled as a nifty adhesive.

A wad of this “gum” was found near a teenage Neolithic girl in Denmark. Scientists extracted her DNA from it and also collected minute bits of food that also were part of her diet. This was the first time a full ancient genome was derived from anything other than bone or tooth.

Chicle is a form of gum from the pre-Columbian Aztec Mexican Spanish and was translated from the ancient word tzictle, which means sticky stuff. The American brand founder Thomas Adams attempted to make a material similar to rubber for tires from this natural material in 1901, but failed in this process. In the end he created American Chicle Gum.

As for bubble gum, most gums were not very elastic. In 1928, Walter Diemer worked at Fleet Chewing Gum Company and created a bubble blowing gum named “Blibber Blubber,” which less sticky, more stretchy and highly successful for blowing bubbles. This bubble gum was marketed as Dubble Bubble. The flavor of bubble gum was created by mixing several flavors together.

Here are just a few of my favorite antique and vintage Gum Memorabilia

Adams California Fruit Gum pack

What an amazing find! It is just too precious to chew. Thomas Adams created this American Chicle product. The colorful graphic design includes an artful array of fruit. My mouth is watering. This rare find is offered by CopperPotVintage66 on Etsy for $350.

Clarks Glass Gum Display

Just imagine, going into an old-fashioned country general store or candy store to get some chewing gum. Right on the wooden counter, yes, right next to the huge brass cash register you will see this elegant glass stand holding packs of Clarks Teaberry Gum. Teaberry is another name for wintergreen. We New Englanders can chew the shiny leaves or the berries and get a luscious strong minty flavor. The flavor of the gum may have lasted longer than the flavor of the wild plant. I would use this display piece to hold more packs of this delicious gum to grab and go. This lovely gum display is available the Etsy shop ThrifTbyTasha for $75.

Vintage Beechnut Gum Display

Beechnut was founded in 1890, and in 1910 launch chewing gums of five different flavors. This 1950s era stepped display is made with open metal mesh design, fabricated to hold just Beechnut gum at the store. I think this might be a great way to use in my kitchen to display herbs and spices. It’s available on Etsy in the Ghostofthetime shop for $165.

Vintage Valentine Card STICK WITH ME

This mid century valentine is so cute! If you find him cute as well, he will get you a stick of bubblegum, and you can share the love of blowing big bubbles together. I’m inclined to frame this in a bubblegum pink frame and put it out at Valentine’s Day. ReTroStyleMerCantile, an Etsy shop has this die cut card for $8.

Vintage Clark’s Teaberry Gum Halloween Masks Advertising & Activity

What fun to get these two booklets near Halloween. Both have a jack o lantern mask on one side and a green monster mask on the other. Inside is the Clark’s elf with a connect the numbers activity for you to do. Which mask would you wear?? PutFamilyFirst, a store on Etsy has this pair for $22.

Vintage Pair of Papel Hippo Gum Savers

If you are a fan of house hippos to guard your gum well here they are! These are 1960s to the max and were made in Japan. They are a style of gum parker which I mentioned earlier in the post. With kitschy sweet guards like this pair, I’m certain no one will steal your chewing gum overnight. Etsy shop thriftwithgyp would love for you to have these two for $32.