Pez has fascinated and fed Americans for generations. "What could be more perfect than a toy that gives you candy?" says museum curator Gary Doss.

And at the Burlingame Museum of Pez Memorabilia, people like Gary take their Pez seriously. Pez enthusiasts from all over journey here to view some of the rarest Pez dispensers in the world.

Gary shows us a unique, 1960 Pez dispenser worth $800. The dispenser has an arithmetic slide ruler on and it actually works.

Gary also shows us one called the Psychedelic Eye, also called the Love Pez. "It is very odd," he says. "It did not sell well because it sold originally with flower-flavored candy."

While rare and valuable collectibles are on display, and inexpensive Pez products are for sale, Gary dispenses Pez facts for free. "The inventor, Mr. Edward Hass of Austria, wanted people to stop smoking. And this was one of the tools he created to help people stop smoking. When they came over here, nobody cared about that, so they were re-marketed for children."

Besides the well-known candy dispensing statuettes, the Pez museum also has on exhibit almost every Pez product ever made: Pez coach whistle, Pez clickers, Pez gun, Pez trucks.

From serious collectors, to casual candy lovers, the Pez museum offers all of us a chance to taste the sweet memories of childhood.

The Burlingame Museum of Pez Memorabilia is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00am - 6:00pm. It's located on California Ave. in Burlingame. For more information, call (415) 347-2301. You can also visit their Web site at http://www.spectrumnet.com/pez.