#Scream #Ice #Cream #Collectibles #WorthPoint
Most of us recall the iconic jingle of the ice cream truck as it rolled through our neighborhoods as children. Or perhaps you remember visiting your local ice cream parlor with your parents for a tasty treat. For many of us, ice cream likely triggers nostalgia since it is one of the most popular desserts in America. That is why some people pay top dollar for ice cream collectibles today.
If you are a collector, you understand the itch to buy these relics from the past. If you are a reseller, you probably wonder which vintage ice cream collectibles are profitable to resell and which ones you are better off leaving behind. Whichever category you fall in, ice cream collectibles are fun to buy, sell, and display.
SCOOPS
The ice cream scoop, first patented in 1897 by businessman Alfred Cralle, is still useful today. Most modern examples form the ice cream into spheres for easy placement into a cone or bowl. Some of those scoops also include extractors to help remove the ice cream. Other popular shapes are spade scoops, which work well to remove ice cream from around the sides of round containers.
A recent search on eBay for “vintage ice cream scoop” returned more than 4,800 active listings. Those multiple offerings mean the market is pretty saturated, which isn’t good if you plan to resell an ice cream scoop for profit. Recently sold listings had a wide range in price, starting at $10 and topping at nearly $500.
Ice cream scoops from the early 1900s typically commanded higher prices. Others that sold at higher prices included unique scoop shapes, like those designed for making banana splits or ice cream sandwiches. However, rare ones do resurface from time to time. WorthPoint’s Vice President of Editorial Content and Public Relations, Eric Bradley, researched a rare antique ice cream scoop with a saw blade donated to the Salvation Army. It sold on eBay in August 2023 for an astounding $2,999.99.
If you plan to resell ice cream scoops for profit, focus on buying early or unique examples to make a substantial return. Who knows, you might find a rare gem at a secondhand store. If you are a collector, finding a showstopping piece to add to your collection is worth the hunt.
CARTONS
In the early 1900s, ice cream wrapped in wax-coated cardboard cartons entered stores and households. These disposable containers often included eye-catching graphics that stood out on store shelves. The colorful packaging appealed to consumers, and fortunately, some preserved the cartons to survive today. Other surviving cartons include new old stock (NOS), which were never filled with ice cream.
A recent search on eBay for “vintage ice cream carton” returned more than three hundred active listings. Recently sold listings provided an assortment of brands, varying in price from $8 to $40 apiece. Well-known brands, like Borden’s and Meadow Gold, fetched more money. However, if you find a rare vintage ice cream carton, it could command much more.
With a typically low profit margin for vintage ice cream cartons, you are better off collecting them for their vibrant packaging than reselling value. You could display them on a shelf to showcase their striking graphics and remind you of times past.
MAKERS
In 1843, homemaker Nancy Maria Johnson patented the first ice cream maker, a device for making small quantities of ice cream for personal consumption. Most vintage versions feature a metal pail and a crank-operated paddle that spins inside. The pail is often surrounded by wood panels or has a galvanized exterior.
A recent search on eBay for “vintage ice cream maker” returned more than 1,000 active listings. Recently sold listings provided a variety of brands, ranging in price from $30 to $600. White Mountain makers, especially in the popular teal color, tended to sell in the higher price range.
If you plan to resell ice cream makers for profit, focus on buying ones made by White Mountain. They tend to sell in the $100 to $400 range. You could make a premium if you find one at a good price or add it to your current collection.
TOY TRUCKS
Several toymakers began manufacturing die-cast ice cream toy trucks following the popularity of the Good Humor truck, which delivered Good Humor bars—created by company founder Harry Burt in 1920—to neighborhood kids. Mostly made of tin, metal, or plastic, early ice cream toy trucks also often included wind-up or friction motors.
A recent search on eBay for “vintage ice cream truck toy” returned nearly 1,000 active listings. Recently sold listings ranged in price from $10 to $300. Scale models of the Good Humor truck, made by both Aurora and Louis Marx & Co. (under the Linemar brand), commanded more. Other popular ice cream toy truck makers included Lesney, Azrak-Hamway International (AHI), and Buddy L Toy Company.
If you plan to resell ice cream toy trucks for profit, focus on buying ones made by the manufacturers previously mentioned. They tend to fetch more money, so you could expect a high profit if you bought low. If you plan to collect them, their small stature won’t take up much storage space, so there is always room for one more to build your collection.
Overall, most ice cream collectibles are worth collecting or reselling for profit. The nostalgia ice cream evokes for most adults are the primary reason these collectibles will likely remain in demand. If you find a higher-valued one, it could be worth the effort of selling it to make top dollar.
Karen Weiss is a freelance writer and enjoys decorating her home with vintage finds from her many collections. She also has an Etsy shop called SimplePatinaFinds.
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