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!
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 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.
Don’t overlook this little gem produced by Chein during the 1920s. The choice of colors is odd given that they don’t connote anything to indicate it is a Halloween scene, but if you look closely the conclusion is unavoidable.
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.
This seller is offering this pan noisemaker for $550. Although it is an early form, the price is about $350 too high. Chein used this same lithography on a more commonly seen tambourine. These large form factor pan noisemakers were produced during the very early 1920s, even though the patent date is 1906. It is quite nice but priced too high.
These early Chein tin litho clanger noisemakers are desirable, but haven't been bringing strong dollars for many years. This auction listing pulled in strong dollars indeed! Although the lithography is commonly seen, what makes this desirable is the form. It is a large-panned clanger with a double-layered handle that prominently displays the patent date. This form is the earliest and wasn't made for more than a season or two before the form shrunk and the handle became single-layered. It is good to see these early tin noisemakers regaining some of their deserved luster.
Chein produced this hard-to-find noisemaker during the 1920s, patterned directly after their party scene tambourine. There are subtle differences between the two aside from coloration. Because blue and yellow are not colors traditionally associated with Halloween, collectors sometime overlook this little gem. This particular one is in rough condition, so hold off for a better one. The seller may have found it in a box with a 1950s date, but this was produced ~25 years earlier.
This tin tam, made by Chein in the early 1930s, appears to be in remarkable condition. I question, though, whether the condition warrants a ~120% premium to SGV. As with virtually all such endings, the price was driven by two bidders.
These tin litho tambourines are common enough that they should be purchased for inclusion into a serious collection only if they are in stellar condition. (The percentage of such tin litho items is quite small, heightening your chance of price appreciation if your collecting interests change and you decide to deaccession it.) This particular example of a classic Chein scene appears to be in eminently collectible condition. The BIN price is a tad high, but submit an offer for $250. That should be accepted.
08/17 Update: A reader let me know she followed my advice and is now the proud owner of this super tambourine!
This tambourine is in pretty rough shape, so I am surprised someone was willing to pay $225 for it. Sustainable guide value for one in near-mint condition is $250, and this one is in fair to good condition only. Especially when buying tin items, condition matters. These were made in great quantities during the 1920s, and even though that was a long time ago, many are still around that would display better than this one. If you are going to pay top dollar, insist on top quality.
