Vintage T-Shirt Forum & Community Authentication Appraisals

Pretty sure this handmade t-shirt was made with magic markers or some sort of marking pen. Does that tend to increase or decrease the value of a tee, or does it all depend on other factors such as age, subject, artwork, condition, etc.?

This 1970s t-shirt (I looked up the label, Fruit of the Loom Golden, which is 70s, correct?) depicts a cuckoo bird popping out of ENGINE 278, which was a firehouse in Sunset Park in Brooklyn, NY. (It was founded in 1913, disbanded in 1975, and re-established also in 1975, which also happens to be when the film ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST was released. I'm going to go out on a limb here that the t-shirt was made in 1975. The firehouse was eventually closed by NYC in 2003).

It reads "ONE FLEW OVER...ENGINE 278," a cute yellow bird wearing a 278 FDNY helmet popping out of the red firehouse saying "Coo-Coo."

So you've got your cross-interest of the book/film "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," a cuckoo clock, FDNY ephemeral history, Brooklyn, Engine Co 278, a one-of-a-kind vintage tee....and some pretty great cartooning.

I'm at a total loss as to value. I can see it being very desirable to someone affiliated with the firehouse (or whoever now owns the building), who had family in that company, the FDNY museum, not to mention the film and the age of the shirt.

Thanks for any guidance on this charming toughie!

weird definitely the top writing looks like that but do you think the whole thing is? marker wouldn't really survive washes.

It has no additonal value becuase of the film tie in as its completely unrelated. Maybe some value to the firehouse as you say or maybe there are collectors of this type of thing. But I dont think much value here sorry

The orange may have been fill in color using a permanent marker (the yellow also). It doesn't look from the print that the red is a marker. If the shirt said Brooklyn or NYC anywhere on it, it would definitely get more interest.

FiftyFiftyMan wrote:The orange may have been fill in color using a permanent marker (the yellow also). It doesn't look from the print that the red is a marker. If the shirt said Brooklyn or NYC anywhere on it, it would definitely get more interest.

Good point. Let's say, hypothetically, it DID say Bklyn or NYC on it - I would certainly market it as such, and most of the people who visit my vintage shop are from Brooklyn - where would you price it then?