Universal Monster Army

Collecting Monsters => Vintage Monster Toys => Topic started by: Mcdee on March 31, 2015, 01:57:51 AM

Title: FRANKENSTEIN SPEAKER HEAD...US $4,650.00
Post by: Mcdee on March 31, 2015, 01:57:51 AM
Wow, I'll never be able to own one of these....Yikes!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/231510764861?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT#ht_592wt_1366 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/231510764861?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT#ht_592wt_1366)
Anyone owning one of these is sitting on Gold !
Mcdee
Title: Re: FRANKENSTEIN SPEAKER HEAD...US $4,650.00
Post by: Monsters For Sale on March 31, 2015, 02:38:31 AM

Having the original box added a LOT to that.

But, yeah!
Title: Re: FRANKENSTEIN SPEAKER HEAD...US $4,650.00
Post by: jollygorilla on March 31, 2015, 09:17:38 AM
anyone buying these must be sitting on gold
Title: Re: FRANKENSTEIN SPEAKER HEAD...US $4,650.00
Post by: Hepcat on March 31, 2015, 09:36:10 AM
Quote from: Monsters For Sale on March 31, 2015, 02:38:31 AMHaving the original box added a LOT to that.

Oh yeah! The box was the key there.

Fortunately though the Frankenstein Head is not on my want list so that's money I'll never "need" to spend.

:)
Title: Re: FRANKENSTEIN SPEAKER HEAD...US $4,650.00
Post by: Mord on March 31, 2015, 10:15:26 AM
 The price isn't going down anytime soon. Unfortunately, it is on my want list (even the repros are expensive now).
Title: Re: FRANKENSTEIN SPEAKER HEAD...US $4,650.00
Post by: Mike Scott on March 31, 2015, 10:29:58 AM
Quote from: Mord on March 31, 2015, 10:15:26 AM
(even the repros are expensive now).

He has one of his HORRORSCOPE repros on that is bid up to $600+.
Title: Re: FRANKENSTEIN SPEAKER HEAD...US $4,650.00
Post by: Mord on March 31, 2015, 10:34:35 AM
Quote from: Mike Scott on March 31, 2015, 10:29:58 AM
He has one of his HORRORSCOPE repros on that is bid up to $600+.
That's insane! I guess there's no denying that there's still interest in the Universal Monsters. Maybe less fans than other franchises, but more passion.
Title: Re: FRANKENSTEIN SPEAKER HEAD...US $4,650.00
Post by: Count Zachula on March 31, 2015, 10:37:34 AM
Question: do any of these Frank speakers still work? Would be great to have one I could play my horror records on. And that factor probably triples the price.
Title: Re: FRANKENSTEIN SPEAKER HEAD...US $4,650.00
Post by: Gory Glenn on March 31, 2015, 11:17:21 AM
$4650.00!! That's Bats**t crazy!  :o You gotta have money to burn to spend that kind of dough on a plastic Frankie head! Oh, that's right, it has a speaker in it.  :laugh:
Title: Re: FRANKENSTEIN SPEAKER HEAD...US $4,650.00
Post by: Anton Phibes on March 31, 2015, 11:47:47 AM
Thats as much as I put down on my house when I bought it. :o :o Thats 9 times what I paid for my first beater car. :angel: I dont care how much money I had......I just couldnt do it. Kudos to those who can. I just couldnt. I wouldnt be able to sleep at night,lol. :angel:
Title: Re: FRANKENSTEIN SPEAKER HEAD...US $4,650.00
Post by: Mike Scott on March 31, 2015, 12:35:59 PM
Quote from: Count Zachula on March 31, 2015, 10:37:34 AM
Question: do any of these Frank speakers still work?

I assume most of them do. No reason why they shouldn't, unless somebody ripped the cord out.
Title: Re: FRANKENSTEIN SPEAKER HEAD...US $4,650.00
Post by: Monster Bob on March 31, 2015, 02:00:30 PM
Considering a head speaker went for $250-$500 20-25 years ago, A) It was a good investment and B) considering the rarity and when compared to other vintage collectibles (like million dollar comic books) still a bargain. People complained back when a head speaker was $250-$500, and a bucket head was $50-$150.
Title: Re: FRANKENSTEIN SPEAKER HEAD...US $4,650.00
Post by: marsattacks666 on March 31, 2015, 02:04:08 PM
Quote from: Mord on March 31, 2015, 10:15:26 AM
The price isn't going down anytime soon. Unfortunately, it is on my want list (even the repros are expensive now).

Repros, too? Yikes!!!
Title: Re: FRANKENSTEIN SPEAKER HEAD...US $4,650.00
Post by: horrorhunter on March 31, 2015, 02:16:06 PM
Quote from: Hepcat on March 31, 2015, 09:36:10 AM
Fortunately though the Frankenstein Head is not on my want list so that's money I'll never "need" to spend.
Same here. Some of these ultra expensive items I never had or even knew about when I was a kid. I would like to have an original speaker head, Mad, Mad, Scientist Lab, and certain other abundantly priced monster items, but I couldn't (and wouldn't) spend anywhere near what some of those things fetch.

The most baffling thing is perceived value on REPROS of some of those items. Screw that noise.  ::)
Title: Re: FRANKENSTEIN SPEAKER HEAD...US $4,650.00
Post by: Monster Bob on April 01, 2015, 02:07:27 PM
Quote from: horrorhunter on March 31, 2015, 02:16:06 PM

The most baffling thing is perceived value on REPROS of some of those items. Screw that noise.  ::)


Yeah...I don't get that at all.
Title: Re: FRANKENSTEIN SPEAKER HEAD...US $4,650.00
Post by: Count Zachula on April 01, 2015, 02:14:41 PM
I saw a decently priced repro at Monsterpalooza. I think it was $100. Would love to see someone do customs of the other monsters too! Creature would look bad ass.
Title: Re: FRANKENSTEIN SPEAKER HEAD...US $4,650.00
Post by: lovemesomemonsters on April 01, 2015, 08:57:49 PM
I figured that frank with box was going to go at auction between $4 and $5k and was right..I've spoken with the seller at length about the Frank head and the collection as a whole. It was enjoyable talking with him.

As far as a long-term investment? Not sure about that. These toys hold a special place for Boomers, not Gen X, Y or certainly Millennials. And those (us) Boomers are aging, moving to retirement years. For many, that will mean a much more limited income. I personally think we're at the apex of the value of these Monster toys as Boomers discretionary income as a whole is probably going to go down, not up.

So when I buy, it's for value - but acknowledging to myself its not an investment but rather for my joy today.  I also collect Schwinn Stingrays and Krates...I've rid myself of most of these seeing that market decline after the recession and noting the Boomer enthusiasts starting to wane. And I think part of that is older age enthusiasts with less $$ to spend on this stuff.

Very similar situation imho.

Title: Re: FRANKENSTEIN SPEAKER HEAD...US $4,650.00
Post by: Hepcat on April 01, 2015, 10:05:18 PM
Quote from: lovemesomemonsters on April 01, 2015, 08:57:49 PMAs far as a long-term investment? Not sure about that. These toys hold a special place for Boomers, not Gen X, Y or certainly Millennials. And those (us) Boomers are aging, moving to retirement years. For many, that will mean a much more limited income. I personally think we're at the apex of the value of these Monster toys as Boomers discretionary income as a whole is probably going to go down, not up.

So when I buy, it's for value - but acknowledging to myself its not an investment but rather for my joy today.... noting the Boomer enthusiasts starting to wane. And I think part of that is older age enthusiasts with less $$ to spend on this stuff.

I fully agree. It's boomer enthusiasm that has carried the prices of the toys and other collectibles of their youth to previously inconceivable levels. But that will change as boomers age, and die. The old mantra "Buy what you like, but pay only what it's worth to you" is more than ever true these days.

:)

Title: Re: FRANKENSTEIN SPEAKER HEAD...US $4,650.00
Post by: Mord on April 01, 2015, 11:14:15 PM
 I agree. I would never buy anything as a long term investment. This is my hobby and I will always separate it from something as boring as my finances.
Title: Re: FRANKENSTEIN SPEAKER HEAD...US $4,650.00
Post by: Mcdee on April 01, 2015, 11:37:54 PM
Same seller Samjo just sold a repo Monster Colors paint set for $365.00

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AURORA-MONSTER-COLORS-PAINT-SET-IN-BOX-WITH-THE-PAINTS-EARLY-60S-/231512389222?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEDWX%3AIT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=E5Dh1tR31gceoPWTgJnZ57L%252BrcU%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc (http://www.ebay.com/itm/AURORA-MONSTER-COLORS-PAINT-SET-IN-BOX-WITH-THE-PAINTS-EARLY-60S-/231512389222?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEDWX%3AIT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=E5Dh1tR31gceoPWTgJnZ57L%252BrcU%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc)
Mcdee
Title: Re: FRANKENSTEIN SPEAKER HEAD...US $4,650.00
Post by: horrorhunter on April 02, 2015, 11:44:23 AM
Quote from: Hepcat on April 01, 2015, 10:05:18 PM
I fully agree. It's boomer enthusiasm that has carried the prices of the toys and other collectibles of their youth to previously inconceivable levels. But that will change as boomers age, and die. The old mantra "Buy what you like, but pay only what it's worth to you" is more than ever true these days.

:)
Yep, you guys nailed it, Hep and lovemesomemonsters.

As strange as it may seem to some of us the best toy investments will be newer stuff than what we value most highly. '80s toys may be the best at this point, and '70s toys are going to bring bigger returns on investment than our beloved '50s and '60s toys. It doesn't really affect me since I'm not an investor. I just collect what I like and most of that is from the '60s and early '70s. I also love anything new that harkens back to those times, like nice action figures of characters from monster movies of that period (or classics from further back), or some of the cool retro items like that UniMon lunchbox.
Title: Re: FRANKENSTEIN SPEAKER HEAD...US $4,650.00
Post by: Most Horrible on April 02, 2015, 02:51:00 PM
Mercy Maud...just make your own custom Frankie head and plop it on your transister radio or iPod or stereo speakers.

-mh
Title: Re: FRANKENSTEIN SPEAKER HEAD...US $4,650.00
Post by: Monster Bob on April 02, 2015, 06:50:19 PM

I said the same thing when I could have bought a decent Action Comics #1 for $2000 years ago.

I don't see interest in 60s Monster toys dying anytime soon. Antique toys- 20s Buddy L's, mechanical banks, french dolls, etc. are still highly collected, and original owners (or people who would remember having the stuff as kids) died out fifty years ago. How about 30s Monster posters? That generation is already gone.

The Universal Monsters are pretty set in American Pop Culture (as are toys), and will continue to be collected, as evidenced by younger monster collectors today.

Moral of the story? I think when there is only a handful of a certain item around, there will always be a discerned collector interested in owning it.