Someone got a true bargain scooping up this tambourine for $69.99. Reading the description, I wonder if it was composed by AI as it is disjointed and repetitive. I’ve never understood why sellers include such phrases as “…is a unique addition to your holiday decorations.” Why waste the space? I’m a strong proponent of a “Just the facts, Ma’am” approach to listing. If a seller is wanting to pad their descriptions like they are reliving their high school English class essay assignments, spend it on meticulously describing condition. Nothing else matters.
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Mark B. Ledenbach's vintage Halloween collectibles blog.
Vintage Halloween LITHOGRAPH WITCH DEVIL HAT TAMBOURINE color 6" metal German ?
I suspect this is the earliest iteration of this unkempt witch design. I believe it is German. These early 1930s tambourines with the outer whitish circle are difficult to find. (I’ve seen two iterations - one with a yellow background and the other with an orange background.) Both iterations have dancing devils on the hat. There are some smaller noisemakers where the art is a bit more sophisticated and the devils have been replaced with a bat. I would expect this to fetch ~$300, but selling right now is a real crapshoot. Many dealers not familiar with the vintage Halloween market flood eBay with listings in October when the casual collector has already spent their annual decorating budget. Sometimes bargains abound.
10/09 Update: No softness to this ending price of $843!
Vintage Halloween J. Chein Tambourine
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!
Vintage Halloween Tin Metal Tambourine Noisemaker Witches Bats Skulls Pumpkins
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.
Vintage Halloween SCARCE Tin Tambourine Noisemaker 1960s Witch Ghost Owl
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.
SCARCE Vintage Halloween Tin Toy Tambourine Noisemaker J. Chein, USA 20s
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!
Vintage Halloween 1930's Tambourine - Kirschhof - NICE condition - RARE
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!
2 Vintage Halloween Tin Litho Tambourine Noisemakers with Horn, Kirchhof 1950s!
Is this an aberrant result or are values for tin litho tambourines solidifying?
Vintage Halloween tin TAMBOURINE NOISEMAKER bat cat moon metal fabric paper skin
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.
HALLOWEEN TAMBOURINE, VINTAGE HALLOWEEN NOISEMAKER
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.
Two Vintage Halloween Metal Noisemakers Tambourine J. Chein & Co Bats Black Cats
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!
Rare 1920's Chein Tin Lithographed Halloween Tambourine Black Cats Witch JOL
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.
VINTAGE US METAL TOY TIN HALLOWEEN TAMBOURINE Winking Jack-O-Lantern & dancers
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.
Vintage J Chein Halloween Tambourine
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.
RARE COLLECTION OF EXTREMELY RARE AND NICE HALLOWEEN NOISE MAKERS, MANY SIGNED
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.
