This article is from the PEZ candy and PEZ dispensers FAQ, by sharpe@dg-rtp.dg.com (Chris Sharpe) with numerous contributions by others.
Most post-1987 dispensers have "feet" on the bottom of the stem.
There is a small plastic lip around the bottom of the stem that has
two "feet" in the front. These were added to aid the dispensers in
standing up. Dispensers without feet are generally older than the
versions with feet. A word of caution: Some recent releases (most
notably the reissued Regulars) do not have feet, so do not use this to
judge the age of a dispenser. Switching stems on a dispenser is quite
easy to do.
 
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