The Phantom 3D Puffy Magnets were produced by Al Nyman & Son, Inc in USA in 1974. A full set is made up of 6 square magnets measuring 2.5” x 2.5”, made of vinyl plastic (hence the common reference of ‘Puffy Magnets’).
Puffy Magnets were a global collectible phenomenon from the 1960s thru to the 1980s. Between 1973 and 1979 a plethora of these collectible vinyl Puffy Magnets were sold in local convenience stores, newsagents and departments stores across the country.
These magnets were distributed to retail stores in several ways; boxes, packets and particular sets were shrink wrapped to magnetic board displays.
The colorful boxes containing the magnets were designed to be a counter top store display, or in many cases the individual magnets were placed on a magnetic display board for customers to view.
2 sets of the 6 2.5” x 2.5” Phantom 3D Puffy Magnets were shrink-wrapped to a 17” x 9.5” magnetic board, and mailed to various retailers. Below we see the magnetic board and how the Phantom 3D Puffy Magnets would of been displayed in retail outlets.
Interestingly, 3 of the 6 magnets had the same illustrations as in the 1974 King Features Blue Book.
United States Puffy Magnet History
In the 1970s the primary company to trademark these magnets in United States was ‘Al Nyman & Son, Inc’.
There is no factual documented history of Al Nyman & Son, Inc, but what we do know is that on the 16th of August, 1967 under the name Alco, they trademarked a huge array of products not limited to the following: school tote bags, knapsacks, make up mirrors, book ends, pens, crayons, telephone and address books, memo pads, and a wide range of stationary. Taiwan was their primary source for production.
And it is likely that on the 25th of June, 1973, along with an array of school accessories that Alco trademarked puffy magnets with the following businesses.
Note: Puffy magnets were produced prior to 1973 but under other business names.
It appears that Al Nyman & Son, Inc., must have acquired licenses from at least 5 companies; © K.F.S, © Walt Disney Productions © Hana – Barbara Productions Inc., also known as ©H.B.P Inc, © Warner Bros, Inc. and © L.I. LTD. Each puffy magnet bears the name of character/topic, as well as the copyright business.
Note: Copyright protects original work, whereas a trademark protects items that distinguish or identify a particular business from another. Copyright is generated automatically upon the creation of original work, whereas a trademark is established through common use of a mark in the course of business.
Thank you Christopher Smith for assisting with images and information.
The Phantom 