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Mark B. Ledenbach's vintage Halloween collectibles blog.

Early Vintage Witch & Bat T. Conn Inc. Wooden Ball / Tin Halloween Noisemaker

T. Cohn produced two designs of what I call putty knife clangers during the 1930s. Neither comes up for sale or auction often. (In fact, I can’t recall the last time I saw this one come available.) It looks to be in excellent condition. The tin litho market segment has been cold for many years, but there have been signs of thawing. The more unusual designs and pretty much any item in near-mint or better condition have been bringing solid dollars.

01/24 Update: This sold for $110.50, solid dollars, indeed.

COHN NOISEMAKER~RATTLE HEAD~HORN HANDLE~WORKS!~1920'S

Given how cool and early this design by T. Cohn is, I've long been surprised that the marketplace doesn't more highly value this hard-to-find noisemaker. This looks to be in superb, all-original condition. Sustainable guide value is $145. 

10/04 Update: Someone bought a great item from a great seller for a reasonable price, $135.83. 

Vintage Halloween Tambourine - U.S. Toy Co. - Jack-O'-Lantern with Witch

Too bad there is so much rust on this rare tambourine, one of the better designs out there. This Art Deco inspired noisemaker was manufactured by T. Cohn of Brooklyn, New York, sometime during the 1930s. It has an RSIN of 2, so you know it doesn't surface often. Guide value in near-perfect condition is $375, but I doubt this well-loved piece will approach that figure. 

ESTATE #349 - VINTAGE HALLOWEEN CAT FACE BALL NOISEMNAKER TIN WOOD PAPER USA

This is a desirable and hard-to-find noisemaker. It was made by T. Cohn in the later 1920s. As I write in the third edition: "This unusual noisemaker has attached wood balls painted like eyes, as well as the original cardboard ears, giving it a truly finished look. This is one of the earliest T. Cohn items in the collection." Sustainable guide value is $165 with a RSI number of 2. 

03/06 Update: Bidding resulted in a very strong result of $252.49, well above sustainable guide value. Most of the activity above guide value seems to have been driven by two determined bidders. 

VINTAGE HALLOWEEN NOISE MAKER CLACKER

T.Cohn made two styles of these "putty knife" clangers in the 1930s. Typically, they are pretty beaten up, but this example seems to be in near-mint condition. Although the sustainable guide value is $60, this seller has assigned a laughably high postage cost to an item that weighs nearly nothing. Sending it regular first class shouldn't cost more than $2.50, not the eye-popping $7.15 that will be charged. 

03/01 Update: Even with the high postage, this fetched a solid $55.99.