Radio premium

By the 1930s, a wide range of novelties appeared as premiums, most obtained by sending the sponsor's agency a proof of purchase, such as a boxtop or jar's inner seal, and frequently a small amount of cash, such as a dime.

Programs that offered such Look-Around rings included Tom Mix Ralston Straight Shooters, Captain Midnight, and The Lone Ranger.

Besides rings, there were many pocket items, including sundial "watches," compass-and-magnifiers, pedometers, truth detectors, and signaling devices.

Premiums demanding many boxtops included cowboy outfits, a set of cooking equipment for camping, and special badges such as "Chief Inspector", "General", etc.

As a result, virtually all premiums manufactured during the war were made of "noncritical" materials, such as wood, paper (including cardboard and card stock), and cloth.