In October 1958, the Wilkins Coffee company offered vinyl puppets of Wilkins and Wontkins, characters created by Jim Henson for Wilkins commercials. The puppets were sold through the mail for $1.00 and a coffee can label.
These were the first Muppet toys produced, eight years before Ideal Toys made the first Kermit the Frog and Rowlf the Dog toys in 1966.
A Wilkins puppet was appraised on Pawn Stars in 2016 for $150.
A Wilkins Coffee tin with an offer for Wilkins and Wontkins promotional puppets
Premiums[]
A set of thin plastic hand puppets were also made as a premium for Kraml Dairy.
