Worcester, Massachusetts Owney tag

1888-1897

Owney received this tag from a druggist in Worcester, Massachusetts. Phenyo Caffein Company produced a series of metal tangle puzzles dubbed the “Chilian [sic] Puzzle” and distributed as an advertising gimmick for their headache medicine. The token Owney received was only a small part of the original puzzle, which included another token of the same size, a ring, and chain with long links. The challenge in this puzzle was to untangle and free the ring on the device and then put it back on. The Phenyo Caffein Company was owned by Julius Garst and based in Worcester, Massachusetts. Garst, originally from Ohio, worked as a physician in Worcester through the 1890s.