One of the coolest things I ever remember getting out of a toy vending machine were mini, rubber, translucent colored charms of M.U.S.C.L.E./Kinnikuman figures. The top photo above shows a few that I got in the late-'80s out of a machine in a bowling alley. They originally had little loops for hanging on the tops of their heads, but I tore them off as a kid. My favorite is the coral-colored mini Iwao. I have a memory of seeing a clear blue one in the machine too, but it was at the top and I only got to spend a few quarters so sadly I never managed to get it.
Fast forward more than a decade later, and while browsing eBay I find more of the same type of charms, except glow in the dark and with more characters (as shown in the second and third photos). I was lucky enough to win the auction, and these little guys have held a place in my collection ever since. I count 10 different sculpts, but I wonder if there were additional characters turned into mini charm form.
Has anyone else ever come across these?
