From the Archives: Sonny Boy Cereal and Aircraft Recognition

What was once called ‘porridge’ is now called ‘hot cereal’.  Developed in 1929 in Alberta, Sunny Boy cereal was a combination of wheat, rye and flax.  There is also a suggestion that it was developed in Winnipeg by the Red River Cereal company in 1924 and yet another website suggests Calgary 1943 (though that location and year may have to do with the promotion of the game)

Radio was becoming very popular entertainment and advertisers recognizing its potential started promoting their products.  It was not unusual for promotional items to be included in the product packaging.  Many advertisers included stamps, coupons or trinkets.

Sunny Boy, as it names suggests was aimed at children and they promoted collecting stamps for the Radio Game.

Players would ‘send away’ for the game map and stamp album. Each week, a number corresponding to one of the silhouettes would be broadcast.  You would then identify the aircraft from your stamps.

During the Second World War aircraft recognition was learned by service personnel and civilians alike.  The mystery of this particular artifact is that the map has Antarctica in the center and no North America.  Was Chart No. 2 for the south hemisphere? Was there one for the North?  Every picture tells a story or at least prompts more questions!