Epitaph

Some items, like German diecuts and tin toys, repeatedly cycle through the market, perhaps indicating that if it's in a book or often listed on ebay that its not really a rare item at all --- or maybe those items just get attention simply because they've been loudly identified? While this noise continues with a known set of collectibles, occasionally some items are a genuine surprise. The item shown in this post, and not even in that good of condition, stunned quite a few people, even old-school enthusiasts. Why are we still lacking in information about some items, even the not so rare?

Here's a digital rendering of how this diecut might have appeared as whole, noting that the bottom right corner (paw and tombstone area) is obvious artistic license based on the Gibson style. Digital version (above) and photo (below) as shared on facebook Vintage Halloween. 

Digital re-creation based on image below.

Image as seen on facebook Vintage Halloween.

Who was GM Co?

A well-known admirer of vintage Halloween currently credits a series of candy containers, pull-toys and rockers (constructed of paper-laminated cardboard) to General Merchandise Company of the 1940s-1950s. Determination appears based on the bottom abbreviation of G.M. CO., but what is the historical record of this company and of its product output? 

As of this writing, I find no iteration of a plausible General Merchandise Company referred to as G.M. Co. (for example  - The Treasury that was at one time named General Merchandise Company has no evident markings of G.M. Co. on its catalogs). As well, other than a few known series of holiday containers (for Easter, Valentines Day, Halloween see below marked G.M. Co), I find no other products via an internet search. Note that research is made difficult because general merchandise is a common term of business categorization such as dry goods; many businesses could describe themselves as a general merchandise company.

Above are five of the six slot-and-tab candy containers that are known to exist in this series. This series is marked G.M. CO. HRS-A thru F (Not shown above is a skeleton with a JOL in a pull cart (A). These are said to be from the 1940s.

The above item is from a small series of large-sized pull toys. This one is marked RH-6D-GM.  A skeleton with a JOL in a wheelbarrow is 6A, a cat with a JOL in a convertible is 6C, which should leave space for an as yet unidentified character 6B or perhaps more? In the same style as these pull-toys there is a large pumpkin-toy rocker marked as RH-7. These are said to be from the 1950s.

Do you have any firm information about G.M. CO. that would solve this interesting mystery?

Candy Cottage

Yet another awesome mid-century merchandise package for what must have been the popular "haunted house carry-case" genre..., this time from Brach's Fine Candies circa 1955. You can see the handi-pak described in the 1955 Halloween Candies brochure:

No. 5101 - Trick or Treat Handi-Pak
Haunted house design on satchel-shaped pak contains minimum of 70 assorted cello packets of Candy Corn, Halloween Jelly Beans, Orange and Black Imperials, and Assorted Creme Cones. Empty satchel serves as a container for Trick or Treat loot.
Net weight per pack 22 1/2 ounces.
16 Handi-Paks to case. 

For more haunted house candy-boxes see Witch's Chest and Candy Loot.   

Candy Loot

Wonderful graphics from yet another mid-century candy box container (see also Witch's Chest) of haunted houses with peek-a-boo windows. Especially fond of all the attic windows! This item is labeled on the bottom as: Manufactured and Packed by Breaker's Confections Inc., Chicago, Illinois. 

Witch's Chest

Mid-century (date unknown) vintage Halloween merchandise box with dual purpose as trick-or-treat carry case. According to ingredient information could contain either bubble gum or suckers in the original package. Produced by Thomas-Wiener Co. of Memphis, Tennessee. Below are two views - one side offering plastic-covered peek-a-boo glimpses of contents.

Halloween in Germany:1955

The title of this entry is something of a deliberate misnomer. It follows on the heels of two previous entries Diecut Bubble? and Seven Spooks in Narrenfibel 1968 / 1970 concerning the presence of vintage products that appeared on either side of the Atlantic. Each previous entry was intended to dispel a centric notion that... "because we celebrate Halloween here in North America, there couldn't possibly be any of that imagery (as vintage decor) found or sold elsewhere in the world." Surprise!

While it's been apparent that European and Asian festival items have snuck into past price guides, it was about two years ago that I began to also question availability dates (not necessarily production dates). This was due to discovering vintage "Halloween" decorations in German-language catalogs printed as recently as the 1970's. (See Seven Spooks in Narrenfibel 1968 / 1970). This catalog displays themes for Germany's Karneval (www.german-way.com/history-and-culture/holidays-and-celebrations/fasching-and-karneval/) with pages containing what North American collectors had considered Hallowe'en product runs circa 1920's-1930's. That's curious math --- an additional timeframe of 25 to 40 years that these appeared somewhere on the market?

1968 / 1970 catalog (Germany)

So here is yet another catalog recently discovered from 1955...! Notice page 16, with the pirate theme. There you will find a devil (marketed as a Neptunian creature with a trident), a skeleton (as a pirate's dead-man bones), a black cat (as a sea creature?), and a lantern (as a pirate-ship light fixture down at the Underwater Bar).... once again, all previously considered to be rare because of limited North American availability. What does this information (in addition to the recent preponderance of German diecuts in the second-hand market --- see Diecut Bubble?) do to change the collectible landscape?

Translation update 11-22-2015. Relying on online translation tools with some logical (?) adjustments, here is a rough approximation for items of note on page 16:

725 Lanterne aus schwarzem karton mit augest (aufgeklappt?). Grotesken figuren, 40 cm groß stück 4.50

725 Lantern of black cardboard, expandable (?), grotesque figures, 15 3/4" tall..... piece 4.50

735 Kater - 40 cm, Pappe geprägt, schwarz bemalt, mit grünen leuchtenden augen (auch paarweise, links und recht schauend lieferbar)  stück 1.50 

735 Tomcat - 15 3/4", embossed cardboard , black painted, with greens shining eyes (available in pairs, left and right-facing)..... piece 1.50

738 Fledermaus-teufel, 40 cm, bemalte, flach geprägt figure stück 1.50

738 Bat-devil, 15 3/4", painted, flat embossed figure..... piece 1:50

750 Totenskelett, 120 cm groß, aus starker pappe geprägt und natürlich bemalt...  stück 7.50

750 Dead skeleton , 120 cm tall, from strong cardboard and painted naturally.... piece 7.50

Pull the String!

A cool black cat from Gibson (circa 1930s) that follows the character design of many of their table decoration sets. In this instance the large diecut is an articulated hanging paper decoration --- a string would attach to slots (not visible) in the rear of the limbs and create motion when the "tail-end" string was repeatedly pulled downward and released. This particular example fortunately escaped any damage from excessive teasing... though i do wonder if the visibly missing tail was simply the string or a representational tail missing from the diecut? 

The Hallowe'en Dream Waltz

Wonderful illustration! Cover of The Home Friend Magazine, October 1930. Click image below to enlarge.

Variations on Trix or Treats

A quick visual survey of known sets of Rosen's Hallowe'en Trix or Treats lollipop-holder cards (with variations of style shown here dating from the 1930's to the 1950's).

The first seven-card set (at right, below) were produced in beautiful full color during the 1930's. A similar set (shown left, below) followed with faithfully redrawn art with somewhat cleaner lines and a more mono-chromatic color scheme heavily reliant on traditional orange and black. The left set dates during the 1940's --- (there is handwriting on the back of one with a name and the year of 1946).

1940s (left) - 1930s (right)

The art and size of Rosen's cards were overhauled some time during the 1940's. And while curiously the owl is a continued presence, there are instead four different accompanying cards featuring more fantastic Hallowe'en creatures such as ghosts, dancing skeletons, and witches (one witch as a slight variation of previous imagery). While minimal in comparison to previous art, the colors and imagery retain a magically creepy quality. (I'm "a sucker" for blue in Halloween color schemes). 

1940s

One final set is said to date in the 1950's. The owl again returns, as do images from the original sets. Fairly rough imitations of the originals with colors schemes of wan oranges and browns, I might venture to say this latter set may be for completion-collectors only.  

1950s

Gold Filigree Halloween

Two more by Rust Craft. See also Ain't Grub Grand.  

Also check out this other blog's entry on the Rust Craft Rustler in "Mid Century Card Shop"

Updated 11-25-2015 - Addition from set? Marked on back Rust Craft 5H222.

Witches Black as Pitch

Amazing vintage witch imagery on un-marked tally score cards. Have you identified others from this set and/or the manufacturer?

Black Cats Counting the Hours Until the February EHAG Emporium

Sweet B Folk Art will be sending Black Cats to cross your path at the next Emporium.