Things That Go Bump in the Night By Ken Foust

In the early Twentieth Century, Hallowe’en didn’t mean begging the neighbors for bubble gum and Necco Wafers. It meant parties! And those parties required more than just a punch bowl and popcorn balls. Spooky decorations, bobbing for apples, fortune telling, and a variety of games were part of the mix. And then there were noisemakers specifically made to celebrate the holiday. Most of them were made in America using lithographed tin, and when needed, wooden handles or mouthpieces.

The manufacture of Hallowe’en noisemakers in the United States began in 1907 with a “frying pan” type clanger designed by Julius Chein of Harrison, NJ. It was made in two styles, both of which are shown here. Two things separate these early noisemakers from similar ones Chein and other toy-makers would create later.

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