The Cereal Toy Ring Types produced by R&L in 1967 had four types and four colours for a total of 16 different rings. These same moulds were used again in 1970 for the Australian Rules Football Rings series with the addition of a fifth colour, yellow.
The Vari-Vu (USA) lenticular inserts were all 17mm square (approx 11/16″) and the ring section at the rear measures 15mm (approx 9/16″) diameter allowing for the split ring that allows for different finger sizes and where the rings have been well-used there is variation in the ring section diameter.
For my own purposes I have numbered the types as follows:
Type 1 is the plain square shape with a bevelled edge. At the widest point the ring face is approx. 24mm (15/16″) square and 6mm (7/32″) deep. There is a small step in the border of approx 1mm to provide at the top leading edge of the bevelled surround.
Type 2 has grooved side faces that extend into the ring section. The face of the ring is square to support the insert and measures approx 20mm (3/4″) on each side. My collection all show signs of curvature on the left side and to a lesser extent on the right. I think this is due to the thickness of the curved ring backing. The width of the face at the outermost points is approx. 24mm (15/16″) and slightly less in height.
Type 3 provides a curved outside edge finish with small centre ties akin to a bow on each side. Overall measurements are similar to the Type 2 at the widest points.
Type 4 presents an art-deco style with multiple steps to each side and small keystone shapes to the centre of the top and bottom edges. This is the widest of the ring faces measuring approx. 26mm or just over 1″ at the widest points and 22mm (7/8″) from the top to bottom of the keystone centres.
That covers all four styles and colours that created the 16 variants for these rings.
The later R&L Football rings (1972 Kelloggs Cornflakes) utilised the same moulds in slightly different colours including yellow and light green.
Other makers of plastic novelties have also issued plastic rings in a variety of shapes and sizes using the Vari-vu lenticular inserts. Including the earlier 1960 issues in Weeties cereal packets. They were issued in only 1 design of ring and 1 pendant, both of which have the word Weeties embossed on them. They were made by Austral Plastics for R&L.
As always Craig Halls’ book , Breakfast Barons, Cereal Critters and the Rosenhain & Lipmann Legacy, is my reference bible for cereal toys.
For other cereal toy series and information refer back to the main section page, Australian Cereal Toy Premiums.