The 1973 Pinocchio B Disney PEZ Dispenser Is the Rare No-Feet Classic Every Vintage Disney Collector Has to Find
A Nose That Grows Into Your Collection
There is something quietly magical about holding a piece of Disney history in your hands -- and the 1973 Pinocchio B Disney PEZ Dispenser is exactly that. Released in 1973 as part of PEZ's early Disney character lineup, this no-feet vintage dispenser captures the beloved wooden puppet in a form that serious collectors have been hunting for decades.
If you have been building a vintage Disney PEZ collection, Pinocchio B belongs on that shelf. Full stop.
What Makes This the "B" Version?
PEZ produced multiple sculpt variations of Pinocchio over the years, and the B designation sets this version apart in a few key ways. The Pinocchio B features a distinctly rendered head with a fleshy pink face, painted black hair swept back under a red hat, and pinhole-style eyes that give the dispenser a slightly more stylized, graphic look compared to earlier iterations. The sculpt sits atop a yellow 3.9 Austria stem -- the hallmark of authentic early-1970s PEZ production.
- Head sculpt: Pinocchio's signature face with red hat, black painted hair, and pinhole eyes
- Stem color: Yellow, Austria-stamped 3.9 stem
- No-feet base: Flat bottom with no foot extensions -- the defining marker of pre-1987 PEZ production
- Manufactured: Austria, mid-1970s era
- Disney licensing: Officially released under Walt Disney Productions agreement
The No-Feet Detail That Changes Everything
If you are newer to vintage PEZ collecting, the no-feet distinction might seem minor -- but it is one of the most important production markers in the hobby. PEZ added small foot extensions to dispenser stems starting in 1987 to improve stability. Dispensers produced before that change stand flat at the base and are immediately recognizable as pre-1987 vintage pieces. The 1973 Pinocchio B is a no-feet dispenser, which places it firmly in that classic era and makes it a desirable artifact for any collector focused on the early Disney PEZ catalog.
The no-feet variants always felt more delicate to me -- like little sculptures from a time when PEZ was still figuring out what it wanted to be. Finding a clean Pinocchio B with the hat intact and the paint sharp is one of those genuine hunting moments. You know it when you see it.
The Disney PEZ Class of 1973
Pinocchio B was not released in isolation. The 1973 Disney PEZ wave included several characters from the Walt Disney Productions licensing catalog, among them Jiminy Cricket and other classic animated figures. Finding dispensers from that wave together -- especially in similar condition -- has become a collecting goal of its own. A complete 1973 Disney grouping on a display shelf is a serious statement piece.
Condition and What to Look For
Because these dispensers are now over 50 years old, condition varies significantly in the secondary market. Key things to inspect when evaluating a Pinocchio B:
- Hat and hair attachment: The red hat and black hair piece should be secure and intact -- loose or missing hats are common on aged examples
- Paint quality: Face paint, eye detail, and hat color fade over decades; brighter examples command a premium
- Stem legibility: The Austria stamp on the stem should be readable
- Stem color: Yellow stem is correct for the B variant; mismatched stems from replacements do happen
- Candy residue: Interior cleaning matters for display condition, though many collectors leave them as-found
Display Value and Collector Context
The 1973 Pinocchio B fits naturally into several collection themes: Disney animation history, vintage no-feet PEZ, early 1970s production, and classic storybook character dispensers. It groups beautifully alongside the Jiminy Cricket variant from the same era, and it holds its own in any Disney-focused PEZ display. For collectors who focus specifically on the pre-feet era of PEZ production, this one is essential.
Whether you display it alongside other 1973 Disney releases or feature it solo as a centerpiece of a Pinocchio-themed shelf, the Pinocchio B brings genuine vintage charm and a half-century of history into the room.
- 🍬 Callie
