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Mark B. Ledenbach's vintage Halloween collectibles blog.

Antique Vintage Halloween Plastic Cake Cupcake Decorations In Original Package

I found this listing interesting in that this packaged assortment of hard plastic toppers was offered by the Lone Toy Tree Company of Carmel, California. The firm wasn’t even incorporated until June of 1967, so they must have been simply a wholesale repackager of goods. These toppers were initially offered in the 1950s, long before the Lone Toy Tree Company was even in a glint in the milkman’s eye, to borrow a favorite phrase from Black Adder. The upshot is to be cautious with attributing products with a specific firm based on packaging alone.

VTG Early ROSBRO Pirate's Auto Plastic Halloween Candy Container 5.25"L x 4.5"H

Another market segment that has remained strong for decades is the hard plastic segment. Hard plastic, most from the 1950s, didn’t appeal to me when I began collecting in 1988 as I felt it was too new. Anything I acquired I sold off. I have a much greater appreciation for 1950s hard plastic now. Sadly, the prices are high and never seem to decrease. My favorite producer was Kokomold. Their design aesthetic was so different from other producers at the time, setting them apart then and now. Today, their output commands the highest prices. This unusual piece from the prolific Rosbro has already garnered bids up to $192.50 with over one day left.

VINTAGE ROSBRO HALLOWEEN CAT KITTY ON WHEELS SPRING BOBBLE HEAD GREAT CONDITION

The hard plastic market segment is one that has, inexplicably, remained steady for ~15 years. Prices seem not to move much all the while items in collectible condition steadily find new owners. I find this inexplicable because manufacturers made many tens of thousands of these hard plastic creations for at least ten consecutive seasons. There is plenty of supply and a seemingly endless demand. This isn’t so true for Kokomold products. Fewer were produced and for an abbreviated time so their prices have increased. It isn’t too often that you’ll see a Kokomold item in collectible condition surface.

Vintage Halloween Rosbro Witch on A motorcycle Plastic Candy Container

The constancy of the valuation of this item over 30+ years amazes me. When I first began collecting in 1988 this hard plastic design routinely sold for $150. It jumped to $300 around 1993 and has largely stayed there across these many years. (I am referencing the most common color variation of green and orange seen in this listing.) Rosbro made these in great quantities for many years. They are not rare yet the pricing has been largely static, certainly since 1993. I find this curious. I never was much interested in the hard plastic market segment, although I do wish I would have picked up all of the Kokomold designs when they were cheap.

vintage Halloween plastic PUMPKIN JOL WITCH CAT CANDY HOLDER container

It seems that hard plastic has been on a bit of a tear of late, but even so, this result is surprising. (Values for blow molds from the 1960s have moved sharply upward during the last ~2 years - a related market segment.) There are a handful of hard plastic items that are nearly ubiquitous - and this is one of them. Seeing this fetch $50 is startling. Typical pricing is $20-30.
I’ve never collected hard plastic, as the market segment generally doesn’t appeal to me. However, I have grown fond of most of the Kokomold line from Elkhart, Indiana.

VINTAGE ROSEN HARD PLASTIC HALLOWEEN CIRCUS SET 4 ORIGINAL BOX CANDY CONTAINER

I typically don’t pay much attention to the hard plastic segment as I’ve never collected it, but I learned something from this listing. Who would have guessed that Rosen sold these four pieces together as a “Halloween Circus?” The existence of the box, tattered and beaten up as it is, adds significantly to the knowledge of how these companies sold these once low-priced items. I’m sure Rosen never guessed what kind of prices they’d bring decades later on the secondary market!

10/21 Update: This lot fetched $565.

Kokomold Rosbro Halloween Plastic Orange Upright Witch on a Rocket

I've never been a fan of hard plastic but will admit that many of the Kokomold designs were off-beat enough and were made in relatively small quantities that I regret passing on acquiring them when prices were so cheap. When I began collecting back in 1988, this design could have been purchased for around $15-20. The eBay screen misleadingly indicates that this sold for $600, but a BIN offer of $465 was accepted by the seller. 

Vintage Plastic Halloween Witch on a Rocket

This sold as a BIN for $150. I've long derided hard plastic, believing the prices didn't reflect the overall ubiquity of the surviving and available items. (One exception is most anything manufactured by Kokomold Plastics. Their coach is one piece of hard plastic I wouldn't mind owning.) I've seen these sell time and again for between $75 and $125, so the ending price, especially when adding in the breathtakingly high shipping cost, seems unsustainable. 

Very Rare Plastic Witch And Pumpkin Carriage candy container Rosen ? Rosbro

The buyer got a real bargain here, even with the fully disclosed, very minor repair. I have never warmed to hard plastic but have to admit that the Kokomold products have an inescapable charm. Although I don't own any Kokomold items, for the first time ever, I'm open to that possibility. The seller knew just enough to know it was rare, but doesn't seem to be up on current prices.