Chein produced some of the best classic tin litho tambourines, all avidly collected today. This has long been one of my favorite designs. I remember shopping a long-defunct collectibles show called PMA in 1990 or 1991. I saw this tambourine for sale for $35 and bought it, wondering if I was crazy to pay such a high price for something I rally didn’t need. Sure glad I made the purchase!
08/15 Update: Especially so, since this tam fetched $503.97!
The manufacturer of the large line of noisemakers with this design was too long unknown. Finally, I can say the manufacturer was Spearhead Industries, Inc. of Eden Prairie, MN. They incorporated in 1968 and have long been out of business.
08/12 Update: This tambourine in such nice condition fetched $296.03.
This tin litho tambourine has a pleasing design, especially for one from the early 1960s. The condition appears to be better-than-average. The seller, who I know to be an avid and knowledgeable collector, has included many good photos and succinct, informational verbiage. Since he is open to offers, I feel a fair price is $140.
This tin litho tambourine produced by Chein during the 1930s is in exceptional condition. I see no dimpling to the front, which is quite unusual. This should bring top dollar!
This is an elusive tambourine with at least two variants. The version in the collection has a decorated rim that gives the piece a desirable finished look. This listed version that changed hands for $225 has an undecorated rim. It’s unknown whether the differing versions were made at the same time or even by the same manufacturer. I’d love to know, though!
Is this an aberrant result or are values for tin litho tambourines solidifying?
OK, this is a mash-up. This tin tambourine design was only produced with a decorated rim and plain taut paper front. The bit of crepe paper showing a broomed witch was added by some industrious person post-purchase no doubt wanting to make what is a plain front more visually interesting.
02/10 Update: This sold for $61.88, higher than I would have thought for an object that’s purely decorative.
It’s great to see some surprising results in the tin litho segment. US Metal Toy recycled this graphic from several smaller form factor noisemakers they had produced. They s t r e t c h e d the graphic to “fit” the larger form factor called for with a tambourine, resulting in an item that isn’t too interesting. The stretching resulted in a 6” tambourine without a fixed appearance. (To see what I mean, check out page 216.) I think this was a short-lived product, produced in the early 1960s, accounting for its rarity today.
This is a smart way to list similar items. Chein used their party scene imagery on a plethora of tin litho items: tambourines, horns, ratchets, clangers - you can pretty much name it. Some forms are more common - like this pair. This imagery on a concave clanger is less common. Whether that makes it more desirable is a valid question!
The seller states that this tin litho tambourine “needs” a new home. One way to hasten the finding of a new abode is to offer it at a reasonable price. It is being offered at $500 with an invitation to make an offer, a sure tip-off that a seller knows the asking price is ridiculous. I’d say a reasonable offer given the softness of the market segment is in the $250-275 range.
This is the most common Halloween tin tambourine out there. Made during the 1960s when cuteness reigned supreme, these don’t bring much especially when not in near-mint+ condition. Hence, this was a strong result for the seller.
Here’s the steal of the week! The seller listed this with a BIN of $75, about one-quarter what this tambourine would have brought given its superb condition. Some lucky buyer scooped this up within 4 minutes of the listing going live.
When I saw what this seller set as the minimum bid price for this OK lot of relatively common tin litho noisemakers I laughed aloud. For that price I wonder if they are planning to toss in the pictured hand soap? If the seller would be open to offers, a reasonable offer would be no more than $375.
This tin litho tambourine wasn’t made by T. Cohn. It has been plainly marked on its face by the maker - Chein. It looks to be in fine condition, but the asking price of $300 is too high. A reasonable BIN offer would be ~ $175.
This item was one I’d not seen before. The way it is constructed is exactly the same as how I feel its companion piece was constructed. That item sports a devil face - much more interesting and memorable than this rather pallid-faced crone. I felt it should have brought more, but perhaps the imagery worked against it. Turn to page 198 to see the devil tam companion.
