Every PEZ dispenser carries a set of markings molded into the plastic of its stem. Patent numbers, country of origin, and injection mold codes. Most collectors glance at these and move on. That's a mistake. These markings are the fastest way to date a dispenser and verify its authenticity without any reference book.
Here's how to read them.
Where to Look
Flip the dispenser so you're looking at the stem, not the head. One side has the word PEZ reading top to bottom. The other side has PEZ reading bottom to top. The patent number and country of origin are molded on the lower portion of the stem, usually beneath the words "U.S. Patent." The injection mold code (IMC) sits near the top of the stem, close to the "Z" on the side where PEZ reads bottom to top.
All of these markings are molded into the plastic. Not printed, not stamped. If they look painted on, something is off.
The Patent Number Timeline
The patent number is your primary dating tool. PEZ used specific U.S. patents across defined production eras. When you see a patent number, you can immediately place the dispenser in a window of time.
Patent 2,620,061 (issued 1952). "Pocket article dispensing container." Found on dispensers produced from roughly 1952 to 1968. These are the earliest character dispensers. If you have a 2.6 patent, you're holding something from the first generation.
Patent 3,410,455 (issued 1968). "Dispensing device for tablets." Used from approximately 1968 to 1974. The transition from 2.6 to 3.4 marks the shift into PEZ's second major production era.
Patent 3,845,882 (issued 1974). "Spring cage for use in a tablet dispensing receptacle." Covers roughly 1974 to 1976. A short window, but a common marking on mid-1970s dispensers.
Patent 3,942,683 (issued 1976). "Tablet dispensing receptacle." Used from approximately 1976 through the late 1980s. This is the patent you'll see on the largest number of vintage no-feet dispensers.
Patent 4,966,305 (issued 1990). "Tablet dispenser." Introduced around 1990 and used well into the 2000s. If you see a 4.9 patent, the dispenser is post-1990.
Patent 5,984,285 (issued 1999). "Plastic spring." Found on dispensers from the late 1990s onward.
Patent 7,523,841 (issued 2009). "Tray for storing and individually dispensing tablets." The most recent patent marking, found on modern dispensers.
Collectors shorthand these by the first digits. A "3.9" is patent 3,942,683. A "4.9" is patent 4,966,305. You'll see this notation everywhere in PEZ forums and price guides.
Country of Origin Markings
The country molded into the stem tells you where the dispenser was manufactured. PEZ has operated factories across multiple countries over the decades, and the markings track those shifts.
Made in Austria. PEZ's home base. Austrian-made dispensers span from the earliest production through the 1990s. If it says Austria with a 2.6 or 3.4 patent, it's a serious vintage piece.
Made in Hungary. Production moved significantly to Hungary starting in the late 1980s. Most dispensers marked Hungary carry 4.9 patents or later.
Made in Yugoslavia / Made in Jugoslavia / Made in Slovenia. PEZ opened a factory in Ormoz, Yugoslavia (now Slovenia) in the 1960s. The country name on the stem tracks the political changes. "Yugoslavia" or "Jugoslavia" means pre-1992. "Slovenia" means post-1993. Same factory, different country name. This is one of the clearest dating tools in the hobby.
Made in Hong Kong / Made in China. Hong Kong markings generally date to the 1970s. China markings start appearing in the late 1970s and continue today. Chinese production ramped up significantly from the 1990s onward.
Made in USA. Rare. PEZ has a factory in Orange, Connecticut, but most dispensers sold in the U.S. were manufactured overseas. A "Made in USA" stem is notable.
Feet vs. No Feet
This is the single most well-known dating method in PEZ collecting. Look at the bottom of the stem. If it has two small plastic tabs that help the dispenser stand upright, it has "feet." If the bottom is flat and squared off, it's "no feet."
PEZ introduced feet in Europe around 1984 and in the United States in 1987. Any dispenser without feet was produced before that cutoff. No-feet dispensers are considered vintage and generally command higher prices than their footed counterparts.
One critical warning. Some dishonest sellers sand the feet off modern dispensers to fake vintage status. Check the spine, the thin ridge running the length of the stem on both sides. Original no-feet dispensers have a very shallow, low-profile spine. Modern stems have a taller, more pronounced spine. If the bottom looks sanded but the spine is raised, walk away.
Combining Clues to Narrow the Era
No single marking gives you the full picture. Stack them.
A no-feet dispenser with patent 3,942,683 and "Made in Yugoslavia" is from roughly 1976 to 1987. A footed dispenser with patent 4,966,305 and "Made in Slovenia" is from the early to mid-1990s. A footed dispenser with patent 5,984,285 and "Made in China" is late 1990s or later.
The injection mold code adds another layer. IMC 5 means Yugoslavia or Slovenia. IMC 6 means Hong Kong or China. IMC 4 means Austria, sometimes with a secondary digit (4.1 through 4.8) identifying the specific Austrian factory. IMC 9 means the dispenser was made in the United States.
Patent number gives you the era. Country gives you the origin. Feet status confirms the vintage threshold. IMC corroborates the country. Use all four together and you can place most dispensers within a five-to-ten-year window.
Common Mistakes
Assuming no feet always means valuable. No feet means pre-1987. It does not mean rare. PEZ produced millions of no-feet dispensers. A no-feet Clown or Witch might be worth a few dollars. Rarity of the character matters more than feet status alone.
Ignoring stem color. Two dispensers with identical heads can have different stem colors, and stem color variations affect value. Always note it.
Trusting the head alone. Heads and stems can be mixed and matched. A vintage head on a modern stem is a "married" dispenser. Always check whether the stem markings match the era the head should come from.
Overlooking patent transitions. Some dispensers were produced during the overlap between two patent eras. A character released in 1974 might exist with both 3.4 and 3.8 patents. The earlier patent version is typically scarcer.
Further Research
The PEZ collecting community has cataloged these markings in extraordinary detail. For deeper dives, check the EncycloPEZia at pezlist.com, which maintains the most comprehensive patent and IMC reference available. The PEZ Collectors Store at pezcollectors.com has visual guides to patent markings and injection mold codes. And for active discussion with experienced collectors, the PEZ Collectors News community has been the hobby's gathering place for decades.
The markings are right there on the stem. Once you know what to look for, every dispenser tells you its own story.