April 2004 Penny Bank Post

PENNY BANK POST SBCCA

April 2004

STILL BANK COLLECTORS CLUB OF AMERICA STILL BANK COLLECTORS CLUB OF AMERICA STILL BANK COLLECTORS CLUB OF AMERICA

The Mannekin Pis ~ What’s a Collector to Do? ~ Oscar - No, not the Gold Guy ~ The Gateway Penny Bank Club ~ From the Trenches - Memories of War

PENNY BANK POST

APRIL 2004

Still Bank Collectors Club of America From The Editor’s Desk

President Charles Meeks

My sincere thanks are extended to all those that contributed to making this issue possible.

Vice-President Harold Blau Secretary Harry Ward Treasurer Dick Soukup Past President & Member of the Board of Directors Bob Brady 2004 Board of Directors Ulrike Riegraf-Blank Ken Russell John Bennett Doug Harman Fritz Kokesh

2005 2005 2004 2004 2004

Historian Jeanie Egelhoff Membership Chairman Larry Egelhoff Editor, Penny Bank Post Tony Neilson Webmaster Greg Dean Ethics Committee Chairman Matt Medeiros Committee Members Don Heim Joe Wilkinson Jim Yeager

FRONT COVER A Building Bank Featuring the likeness of the Mannekin Pis as it’s finial.

His rear view is shown in order to discourage any negative letters to the editor.

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Harold & Rona Blau, Jeanie & Larry Egelhoff, the late Ted Fowler, Ray Haradin, Elliotte & Liz Harold, Al & Sonia James, Jak Katuzny, Frank Kidd, Me, Matt Medeiros, Charles Meeks, Lance Oldham, Nancy & Lin Pickle, Piggy, Charlie Reynolds, Harry & Lynn Ward, Guy Williams, Thomas Zeeman, and also our thanks go out to Lee & Karen Roesner at Paradigm Graphic Design in Northbrook, Il, and Dave Giddens & the team at Heritage Quality Printing in Brookfield, WI for turning out a first class magazine.

For any of you wondering when an article you’ve sent in will be published, you’ll see it down the road, and for those of you wondering what has to happen for an article written by you to appear in The Post . . . well, first you pick a subject and/or a bank that interests you, then you think about what you’d like to read on the subject, and next, jot down your thoughts and knowledge about the story.

Put a few photographs together, make a copy of your comments, and lastly, put them in an envelope or an email and send them along to me at the address below. Now that wasn’t all that difficult, was it?

You can also save yourself the cost of postage by dropping off your article at my room in Alexandria at the convention. Sure hope you plan on attending as it’s going to a great weekend.

This month we have something for everyone, at least that’s the intention, so enjoy the tour. By the time you’ve finished reading, you’ll know who has their own made-to-measure Elvis and Mickey Mouse costumes hidden away in the closet, read about a novel way to celebrate the Fourth of July, be left wondering about the cast iron bank with feet of clay, and other great stuff.

So, have you visited our web site at www.stillbankclub.com since we last communicated? Greg Dean may have added the new material and photos you sent him. Oh, you say you didn’t send him anything? Why not? You have some interesting information to share with other members; we all do, so please consider contributing material (pictures and text) to Greg for addition to the site.

Remember to use, member and, chicago to enter the members’ only area.

Please accept my sincere thanks for your submissions to the Penny Bank Post, your feedback, and I hope that you’ll keep those cards and letters coming.

Send your contributions to: Tony Neilson 18 – 15th. STREET, Roxboro, QC, H8Y 1N5, Canada E-mail to lynntony@videotron.ca

The Penny Bank Post is published by the SBCCA three times per year for distribution to the members. All rights reserved.

APRIL 2004

PENNY BANK POST

President’s Message...

Charles Meeks This will be my last letter as president of the SBCCA. I want to thank all the members for the great support you have given me. I feel the club has a great group of members and it has truly been an honor and a privilege to serve as your President the past two years. I would like to thank all the members, officers and directors for their help. You have made my job as president an honor, which I will not forget.

It has been a fun two years, but I do have one regret - I missed seeing many of our members at our convention. Our convention is the time we can enjoy our hobby to its fullest; buying, selling, trading, or just learning more about banks than has been or will ever be printed in any book. Members willingly share their knowledge with one another, open their doors for us to see their collections, bring banks for display, and help to educate our members. The seminars have been great! And such a wide range of collecting just banks has been open to us from cast iron, tin, lead, wood, brass, silver, glass and pottery to name a few. The annual convention is truly worth attending, and the friendships you make result in a lot of members attending the conventions year after year for the enjoyment of seeing old friends.

This year's convention being held at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center in Alexandria, Virginia is one that you should all be planning to attend. You should have received the convention package in the mail by now, and I know many have already made their hotel reservations. There will be so many things to do and see around Alexandria that some of the members are coming in early. The hotel is first class with room rates and a location that cannot be beat. The convention will be first class all the way, and you will not be sorry if you attend, only sorry if you don't.

The convention committee has done a superior job of keeping the cost low for the convention in Alexandria at a first class hotel. Every member will appreciate the display of banks that will be in showcases for us to enjoy, and I’m sure that this display in the registration-hospitality room will make it a meeting place throughout the convention.

I did not even mention the annual auction on Friday or the room hopping from the time you arrive until you pack up and leave the hotel. Plus there is a buffet dinner on Friday night, and also a buffet dinner on Saturday night.

Yes, we will have a great convention this year!

What you make of the location for this year in Alexandria is up to each and every one of you; there is so much to see and do while you are there.

The Still Bank Collectors Club has a lot to offer its members. We have a great group of people with a common passion, key members who do a lot of work to make things happen, and members who say, yes, when asked to help. I urge each and every one of you to make an effort to participate in the functioning of our Club. I urge each and every one of you to volunteer for committee work, even without being called upon. I urge each and every one of you to think about what you as an individual can do to make this organization even greater. And lastly, I urge each and every one of you to look around at your collections, and write or suggest articles for the Penny Bank Post.

Our publication is one of the highlights of the SBCCA and we all look forward to each issue. But, it demands your input and Tony Neilson, our editor, should not have to rely on a handful of regular contributors. He needs to hear from you.

I want to welcome new members to our club.

We are happy to have you with us. If any member has something they would like to know more about, please let us know. This is your club, and we should all enjoy it together. The strength of this organization depends upon the inner workings of our members.

So take the time to work: it is the price of success.

Again, as President of the SBCCA I want to thank all members, officers and directors for their support these past two years. I hope to see all of you at this year's convention. I know it will be Terrific! Come to share fellowship and friendship with collectors with a common interest, banks.

The two workshops on Friday and the presentation on Saturday will make the convention well worth the trip, and offset the convention price. And 3

PENNY BANK POST

APRIL 2004

The Manneken Pis

Submitted by Harold & Rona Blau New York has the Statue of Liberty, Paris has the Eiffel Tower, Copenhagen has the Little Mermaid Statue, and Brussels has the Manneken Pis. This statue of a little boy in a compromising position has been a major tourist attraction for several centuries. Most people are amazed at how small he really is yet everyone wants to see him. The people of Brussels have a standing joke that if he were as big as the Statue of Liberty, he would flood the city!

The statue of the Manneken Pis is believed to have been a decoration above a fresh water fountain during the Middle Ages. In the 15th Century, a fountain called Manneken Pis existed in the Stoofstraat. The earliest official record can be traced back to 1619 when the city commissioned the sculptor Dequesnoy to make a new bronze statue of the little boy to replace the old withered and worn figure. During the course of centuries this charming statue was often hidden to protect it from invading armies and from bomb damage. It has also been stolen several times by plundering soldiers,. and even by the citizens of Geraardsbergen, a city in Flanders that claims to possess the oldest statue of a peeing boy in Belgium. One important event relating to this statue occurred when Marshall de Villeroy attacked Brussels in 1695. The statue was hidden. After the hostilities the statue was found back in its public place with a Latin inscription at its base, which reads God has put me on a rock Know that I am stronger than my enemies In 1747 French soldiers stole the statue and left it near a bawdy house. King Louis XV punished the robbers and costumed the statue.

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Many more costumes were to follow, each donated to honor the statue. Today, the Manneken Pis has more than 600 costumes, which even include Elvis regalia as well as a Mickey Mouse outfit. These costumes are housed in the City Museum at the Grand Palace in the central market square of the city. Various groups offer new costumes to the statue periodically. To thank them for the gift, the Manneken offers the people beer, which comes directly from a barrel attached to the interior workings of the statue. One can often see individuals holding their beer mugs aloft to catch the frothy flow directly from the statue!

There are many legends about the Manneken. According to one, a little boy watered against the door of a witch who once lived where the fountain now stands. In her anger, she turned him into the statue we now see.

Another story has it that the father of Prince Manuqin lost his son. After searching frantically for two days, he spotted the little boy peeing. As a token of gratitude the father had the fountain built and commemorated the event by placing the Manneken Pis statue in its present position. And what a statue it is! Not only has it become the symbol of Brussels, but is evidence of their national sense of irreverent humor. Imagine if you will, a cute little boy with curly hair, perhaps three or four years old, with one hand on his hip, oblivious to the world around him, doing his business into the public fountain.

The Building Banks We were fortunate enough to obtain two building banks each surmounted by a Manneken Pis figure. One building is made of bronze and the other is nickled cast iron, including the finial. The height of the bronze

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The Manneken Pis example is nine inches while the height of the cast iron building is nine and three-quarter inches owing to a larger top figure, and they both measure four and three-quarter inches in width and four inches in depth.

Interestingly, each bank has a tiled roof, and an open arched window in the attic. The dormer inserts are missing. Aren't they always ~ Both buildings have a coin slot on the back side of the roof, as well as a rosette medallion design on the front door. The upper story windows have six open panes while the lower floor windows have only three open panes. All windows have shutters on both sides with a diamond impression in low relief. This style is totally different from the brass Caisse buildings from France, although the base is similar to the French large Famille buildings. There are no manufacturers marks to be found, but owing to the similarity of these two buildings we are convinced that they are production items. Whether they were produced in Belgium, or were manufactured in France for sale in Belgium cannot be known at this time.

The cast iron building with the larger Manneken Pis has the initials F.H. and the date 1904 cast above

the front door. We believe that the basic design of the building is much older, and that the initials and date were added later in a modified casting in order to personalize the bank.

European cast iron banks, other than those from England, are considered rare. Moreover, these buildings with the Manneken Pis figure, in spite of their age, are not found in our American bank literature! One of the great attractions of bank collecting is simply this; that even today one may find a century old cast iron building bank, which is rare and yet historically interesting!

As a postscript, and in keeping with the humor of Brussels, we should caution collectors who may be lucky enough to find one of these, to keep it away from their other banks; for if the Manneken Pis does what he is famous for, it may cause rust. See page 14 for pictures.

Another Hallmark Bank

Submitted by Harry and Lynn Ward Another Hallmark bank in the form of a Hershey's Cocoa tin recently appeared on E-bay and we were the successful bidders.

Possibly it was a giveaway from Hershey Foods.

The bank is four and one half inches high, three and one quarter inches long, and two and one quarter inches deep. The coin trap is marked Hallmark, Hallmark Cards Inc., Kansas City, Mo. 64141, made in USA, #425EBC532.

The total count of Hallmark Banks in our collection is now twenty-eight. Picture page 15.

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PENNY BANK POST

APRIL 2004

Remembering Ted Fowler Submitted by Tony Neilson

When I first had the pleasure of meeting Ted Fowler, I liked him immediately. His cheerful disposition, and ever-present laughter combined to make him a delightful person to be with. Lynn and I always looked forward to spending time with Ted at the conventions.

Those of you who knew Ted Fowler will remember him well. His white hair and moustache together with his somewhat formal attire brought to mind the image of a southern gentleman from Mark Twain's time.

A visitor to Ted's room usually found the following on display • A picture of his wonderful collection of Yellow Cab Banks.

• Several scarce banks that were not available for sale, and • An example of a bank that Ted had painted up just to see if he could do it.

Items Ted offered for sale usually included • A nice assortment of harder to find specimens.

• A cast-iron floor train or two.

Ted was a unique character and the last time we saw him at a convention, he took great pleasure in showing us the picture of the headstone that he had made for himself. It featured a bear, "Teddy", crossing the road in the foreground with an oncoming Model 'T' in the background. I recall Ted saying that before the monument maker had the headstone engraved, he’d sent Ted a proof showing what it would look like.

Just as well as Ted noted that the name, “Teddy” had been misspelled as, “Deddy.” Ted thought it was hilarious but was also relieved that he’d received a proof, and been able to correct the error.

In February 1998, my business took me to southern NY State. My meeting finished early, and I contacted Ted to ask if I could stop in to see him on my way home. Ted graciously rearranged his schedule for the afternoon, and I found my way to his house. I realized how ill he was when he recounted the difficulties he had been enduring with his health during recent months. Nevertheless, his spirit and sense of humor remained indomitable, and he was very pragmatic in speaking of his trials and tribulations. He took me on a 6

tour of his collection, which was displayed throughout the house, and included many scarce banks in various degrees of condition.

We talked for a while on various subjects before I had to take my leave, and I had hoped to get down his way a month or two later but that didn’t pan out. I called but there was no answer. In time, I learned of his death in the SBCCA newsletter, and have truly missed him during the intervening years.

I’ll leave you with the following statement Ted made that day, which reflected the spirit of our friend.

"You know, I honestly can't complain, I've been retired for seventeen years and sixteen of them were wonderful."

May we all be so fortunate.

Some Afterthoughts Ted Fowler passed away in 1998, and I’ve been troubled by a couple of recurring thoughts since then, which I would like to share with you now.

From my perspective, I want to set the record straight about Ted’s artistry, and secondly, I have a few thoughts regarding a couple of precautions I believe we should all take into consideration regarding our collection forming part of our estate one day.

Ted’s Repainted Banks In conversation with a collector in 1998, he told me that he’d learned Ted had repainted banks. He seemed scandalized by the news but our conversation was interrupted before I had the opportunity to dispel his notion.

But, I was left wondering just where this story had begun, and it’s logical (although not necessarily accurate) to suspect that it could have started with the individual assigned to dispose of Ted’s collection. I know that one of the well-known collector/dealers had approached the family but found that arrangements had already been made with another individual whose name was not familiar to me.

As far as I’m concerned, Ted never had the slightest intention of deceiving anyone concerning his re-painted specimens. Ted elected to repaint a few polychrome banks where the remaining paint was poor, and he didn’t dress them up with any scrapes

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Remembering Ted Fowler and scratches.

At the conventions, Ted used his repainted banks for show and tell. In fact, Lynn and I referred to one of his banks in talking about paint condition during a presentation we gave at the Mid-Atlantic convention in 1994.

Lastly, when I visited Ted, I noted that the few banks Ted had repainted were sitting on a side-table separate from the bank displays.

Realizing a Fair Value for a Collection I do hope that his family received fair value for a bank collection, which included some very scarce banks, but in any event, my intent is not to suggest anyone of having done anything unethical, nonetheless, the episode started me thinking that each of us should be looking at our own particular circumstances.

• Will your collection be included with the worldly goods passed on to your heirs?

• Will he/she/they be made aware of the estimated value of your collection?

• Are you making any allowance for the possibil-

ity that the heir(s) might decide, or might find it necessary to dispose of some or all of the collection?

• Are you documenting any instructions concerning whom they should approach to handle such a disposal?

A few precautions taken in respect of the aforementioned points could ensure that the value of your collection is kept in the family, so to speak. These thoughts are directed primarily at collectors with average collections that may not have given much consideration to these issues, as collectors with very valuable collections are usually well up on what they need to be doing to protect the value of their investment.

The Norco Pig - Additional Info Submitted by Matt Medeiros

The Penny Bank Post arrived today, and I would like to add my name to the list of readers who are grateful for your hard work. I look forward to every issue and, as today, read them cover-to-cover instantly.

Your article on the Norco pig bank prompted me to get in touch, to share a bit of additional background information about the bank. When I first started collecting, I saw this bank frequently; tentatively concluded that it was of 60s vintage; couldn't find any readily available information about it; and therefore decided to go off on a magical mystery research tour. Here's a summary of what I found (other, even more boring, details are omitted).

A company by the name of Norco Nipple Co. was founded in 1942 in Spring Mount, Pa. It moved to Pottstown, Pa. in 1948. In 1963, the Norco Nipple Co. became a division of a newly-founded Norco Foundry and Specialty Co.(the name cast into the bank). Norco Foundry produced such things as manhole covers and floor drains, and it later ventured into manufacturing cast iron tourist-trap items like Pennsylvania Dutch-style trivets. It went out of business in 1989.

So, I ultimately concluded that Norco must have produced this bank sometime from the mid-60s onward -- I couldn't get any more precise than that. Nor was I able to pin down why it was made (e.g. whether as a promotional item) nor the quantity.

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PENNY BANK POST

APRIL 2004

“Your Bank Collection and the Market” Contributed by Ray Haradin

Editor’s Note - This article is reprinted from the December issue of The Mechanical Banker, as we consider it to be of importance to SBCCA members as well. It also addresses points raised in my article about Ted Fowler.

I was recently asked to speak at our annual toy soldier show in Chicago. I chose to speak about the subject that I know best, the antique and collectible market. Based on the response of the group, I felt our club members might benefit from the lecture.

An aspect of the market that many collectors partially or completely ignore is to develop a plan, which will be used when their collection is sold.

Despite robust statements like “I will never sell” or “I don’t collect for the money”, virtually every collection makes its to the auction block one day. Statements like the aforementioned depict the passion and commitment great collectors endure in order to build a great bank collection, however, these statements are usually made when the collector is actively buying in their 40’s and 50’s. Much of the thrill in collecting is “the chase”. Once you have obtained many of the banks on your want list and your purchases dwindle to a few every year, the thrill begins to diminish.

Combine this with your increasing age and the realization that your collection will be sold and that it is an investment; a plan should be in place which will give you or your family a starting point to sell the collection. Most great collections are built over decades. It amazes me to see collections, which were painstakingly created, sold at a moments notice.

There are five steps all collectors should perform which will be of significant benefit to themselves or their families when it is time for the collection to be passed on to the next generation of bank collectors.

1) Make a List It is surprising how many collectors don’t know what they own. Every collection should have a listing, with at least one copy kept off premises, which accurately represents what is in your collection. This copy should have a date and is best if accompanied with a video or photographs. Many collectors enjoy cataloging their collections; however, if you are one 8

of the many who does not, a simple count of banks can be of great use. It is also a good idea to take pictures of your shelves periodically. When I return from a trip and have a roll of film with several unexposed frames, I finish the roll taking pictures of my shelves.

These photos are fun to return to in the future.

Collections change over time.

2) Appraise Your Collection You may pay for a professional appraisal. However, as a collector you know much about the value of your collection. You know how much you have paid for your banks, you know when you bought them and you know the condition. Once you have a listing, it is relatively simple to assign values and determine what you consider to be fair market value. These values should accompany your listing and again will be of tremendous benefit to your family if they must sell. If you do not wish to share this information with them, it is a good idea to leave a copy of the appraised value with your important documents.

Negotiations are much less stressful if your family has an idea of what they are dealing with.

3) Insure Your Collection The dichotomy of insurance is, if you fully insure your collection the premiums you pay generally offset the appreciation of your collection. I still recommend insurance and in many instances your collection will be covered under the contents portion of your homeowners insurance. Generally, insurance companies offer replacement value of your home’s contents up to half of the value of your home’s value.

Thus, if your home is insured for $200,000 you will have $100,000 in content value. Use the appraised value and determine if you are adequately insured. A professional appraisal is best if the banks have been in the family for a long period, over 20 years. If the collection has been built within recent history, receipts are extremely valuable. Insurance companies like receipts; however they are often not given in the heat of the exchange. Although rates vary, the insurance industry generally assumes that collectibles appreciate at 5 percent a year. They will compare this value based on your receipts with the appraised

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Searching for Still Bank Collectors value. If there is a large discrepancy between the adjusted purchase price and the appraised value, a professional appraisal should be obtained. It is also a good idea to save any information you have on unique items such as auction results and “for sale” lists.

4) Properly Store Your Collection The elements can quickly diminish the value of your bank collection. Make sure that your collection is safely housed or stored. Collections should be stored in the living areas of a home. You may take storage facilities to the extreme, but generally if you have central air conditioning the temperature and humidity will remain relatively constant. Make sure that the person in charge of your estate realizes this and does not pack everything up and move it to the damp basement or hot attic for storage while the estate is being settled.

5) Create the Plan You are the person best suited to make the decision on whether or not it is time to sale and if the price is right. Most collectors have some sort of plan.

However, this should be put in writing so that your family or estate has some direction and information.

With the use of the inventory and appraisal, your beneficiaries will be in a much better position to negotiate a fair deal. Many times collectors make preliminary deals with dealers or auction houses with instructions on what to do in case of their deaths. Make sure that your family is aware of these plans. Leave the name of a very trusted collector friend who should be contacted first. It is very nice to have someone who understands the hobby to talk to before you contact potential buyers. Include a listing of dealers and auction houses that you trust and would like to be considered when it is time to sell.

If you perform these simple steps and review them every other year, the banks that have brought so much pleasure and enjoyment to you will in their own way bring that enjoyment to your family.

H. J. Heinz Glass Bank Submitted by Charlie Reynolds

The H. J. Heinz Bank (CG-117) in the Glass Bank Book is a very well made bank of Brass utilizing a H.J. Heinz glass jar, which is somewhat pear shaped with vertical fluted sides. It is marked on the bottom H. J. Heinz.

There is a red rubber seal between the top of the glass and the brass. The bottom of both the upper and lower plates is painted a light grayish white color very similar to the color used on the bottoms of early mechanical banks. This bank was bought on Ebay bidding against H.J. Heinz collectors.

Following the auction they could not furnish me with any information about the bank except the fact that they wanted it!

I know of no other examples of this bank, perhaps it was a presentation piece.

See color pictures on page 15.

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APRIL 2004

The Post - Classified Advertising For Sale. Penny Banks & Related

Cast iron building banks, safes, figural, tin and pottery banks. Visit our web site at www.marklynantiques.com for photos and information. We also have additional banks for sale not on our web Mark Suozzi marklyn@valinet.com New - Original Still Banks in Limited Editions. SBCCA Convention Banks, and others see my web site at www. reynoldstoys.com Thanks, Charlie Reynolds reynoldstoys@erols.com Banthrico Building Book 2004 Edition.

The most comprehensive, up-to-date book available.

Purchase with or without CD or CD without the book. $22.95 w/ CD, $18.95 no CD, or $9.95 CD only.

Postage ($4.00 priority) and applicable tax for WA state residents.

Lance G. Oldham 1533 N.E. Tagholm Rd. Poulsbo,WA 98370-8014 klg97@tscnet.com

Coin Banks by Banthrico • Hardcover in full color by Schiffer Publishing Co. • 15 chapters, 256 pages • 900 different banks • 1135 pictures • price & rarity guide, index • 500 transportation and architectural banks • Special Price $40 + $5 SH Personalized & autographed by Jim Redwine 6940 Lake Valley Dr. Florissant, MO 63033 Tel # 314-741-6940

Wanted Penny Banks & Related Wanted Building Banks, early English copper series, coronation M1319 or “our empire” M1321, banks by Harper.

Buy, sell or trade.

Visit my web to view others. www.deantiques.com Greg Dean marlin10@comcast.net Wanted: Hubley Mascot, painted buildings (including Palace), Mechanical banks, wooden bank boxes, bank pictures and advertising.

Individual items or whole collections will be considered. “Condition is more important than the price” Bob Brady bobbra@comcast.net Wanted: Banks with Working Clocks in them. The clock does not necessarily need to still work. Please contact me if you have any for sale. Thanks, Dan Collins Dan Collins nu2u@adelphia.net

Wanted: Rehberger building banks in

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excellent condition. Also interested in building shaped banks made by Art Metal Works. Please e-mail with description and price. Thanks!

Gordon Steimle Steim98@aol.com

ones with advertising on them. Also I am looking for a Snub Nose Shell, Epiphany Pence Barrel, Save & See 1939 W.F. globe.

Ted Targosz Teds_toys@hotmail.com

Seeking the rare building banks, especially multi-colored buildings, State Banks and unusual variations. Also have banks for sale or trade.

Please e-mail or call Tom Kellogg Ironbanks@aol.com

Wanted- Any Glass Bank not in the Glass Bank Book. Also, Any banks made of - All Leather Charlie Reynolds reynoldstoys@erols. com

Wanted. Still banks with baseball themes, (players, balls, etc.) pre WWII. Condition matters but no reasonable offer will be ignored.

Barry I. Deutsch barryid@pobox.com

Wanted - Chein Banks. Particular

Wanted "Bill Opossum Prosperity Bank" (a bisque bank).

Please contact Nancy McGrath im4truman@charter.net Or call 314-644-5488 SBCCA Banks For Sale 1978 Pig, 1979 Suitcase, 1980 Green Frog, Flags Bank, with info, Club Rocking Horse serial #73, & also a Smile and Save Richard Brizendine, 940-668-6614 or alm@ntin.net

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From the Trenches - Memories of War Submitted by Guy Williams

As in many other areas of our hobby such as silver, pottery, and cast iron, banks or moneyboxes were just a tiny portion of the thousands of items produced as trench art by the soldiers, civilians, and different companies through out history. With exceptions in silver and pottery, I believe that these items have more significance with regard to the memories and/or feelings of the individuals who made or purchased these items in those bad times.

I have found very little written on the subject of trench art as a whole. It seems that most of the items are European in origin, and from World War I, with exceptions. I have narrowed my view of these items to those that are dated and have an inscription. I’ve also included the odd example that isn’t dated but ones that I’m sure are trench art. These are pieces having a more personal feel to them as opposed to being just another piece of militaria.

One book that is fairly new but not easy to get in the Midwest is Trench Art Materialities and Memories of War by Nicholas J. Saunders, published by “Berg” in 2003. The ISBN # is 1-85973-608-4 for the paperback.

This book is where most of the following information comes from, and it provides a new perspective of how to think about these items.

Trench art is a misleading term applied to the array of objects made by soldiers, prisoners of war, and civilians from the waste of industrialized war and a host of miscellaneous materials. By definition, trench art originated during the industrialized wars, however, examples of trench date back as far as 400 B.C. and extend up to the current day conflicts in Iraq, and other areas of the world. The greatest quantity and concentration of trench art was made during and after the Great War, WW I and the intervening years up to WW II, 1914 – 1939, and mostly, but not exclusively, in the area of the Western front in France and Belgium. While not all of the items were made in the trenches, many examples exist that were made by the front line soldiers. Trench art was also made behind the lines, in prisoner-of-war camps, hospitals, civilian internment sites, on the seas, and by commercial companies.

The engineers, mechanics and metal smiths made

some of the more stunning examples in safer environments behind the lines or while recovering in hospitals.

Also, prisoners of war did not always endure the same pressures that the front line personnel were subject to while making these items. With different environments came the availability of different materials for the men to use in making the pieces. However, examples of elaborate metal ware items exist that were most definitely made in the trenches, as documented by the soldiers themselves in letters. Many trench art items were made as keepsakes by the soldiers and as items to send home, but many were also made on commission for other servicemen, for buddies, to use for barter or sale to make extra money, to get favors, and for food.

Trench art made during and after WW I can be classified into three areas, within these there are also subcategories, to consider. These area’s are: Soldiers 1914 – 1930 made by soldiers in the front line, behind the lines, in prisoner of war camps, or recuperating in hospitals. This area is bounded by the dates 1914 – 1930 and its makers identified as service personnel.

This area can be subdivided into four sections Active Service 1914 – 1918, Prisoner of War 1914 – 1919, the Wounded 1914 – 1919 and Post-war Service personnel 1918 – 1930. Different types of items were made in these sections, and the book mentioned above goes into this in depth.

Civilians 1914 – 1939 this area covers some twenty-five years and the economic conditions of the time made a thriving industry for civilian trench art. This category, by far, is the largest in terms of the quantity of the items produced but the experiences of the civilians being different from the service personnel resulted in less of a variety of items produced. Civilian trench art also tends to be more ornamental rather than functional, and less personalized than that of the items made by the soldiers, with exceptions. These items can be subdivided into three areas; Civilians 1914 – 1918 these items were generally made for sale or barter with soldiers. If not dated or with an inscription that the war was over they are hard to distinguish from the next category. Civilians 1919 – 1939 - mostly made for widows, and battlefield pilgrims, and for tourists as souvenirs.

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Continued from page 17

From the Trenches

The last category here is Civilian Intern’s 1914 – 1919 these items are very difficult to tell apart from prisoner of war art as both sometimes made identical items.

Commercial Production 1918 – 1939 -mostly made in Britain these items were made during the final stages of the war but mostly after the Armistice of Nov 11, 1918. Normally these items were souvenirs of the soldiers personalized and mounted on a black base; also there are those items of ready-made or to be made trench art with no personalization. These items were widely advertised in trade publications by the companies that produced them and often referred to as, “Mounted War Trophies”.

I believe the most sought after pieces of trench art are the miniatures; planes, tanks, submarines, and caps made from the ends of expended shells, prisoner of war items and some of the more unusual moneyboxes.

Following are some examples of the trench art banks that I have been lucky enough to find. Please share any unusual bank that you have with the club and please send me a picture, as I would appreciate seeing any and all examples.

Trench art banks pictured on page 16 are as follows - TA1) - Relief carved coconut with design of a woman in long dress and a dog standing on its back legs behind her. This bank is included here because it is an example of prisoner of war art, on the ribbon around the front end is “Un triste recuerdo de un preso military ano de 1889” which translates to “A lonely remembrance of a prisoner of war of the year 1889”.

TA2) - Sugarcane Stick, this is decorated with three transfers of topless hula dancers on one side with “Rem P.H.” burned into the piece. I am sure this person meant Remember Pearl Harbor. On the other side is “C. B. 39” possibly a unit he was stationed at, and under the coin slot is “J.D. Zerger 1942 – 43” an unusual item and material. TA3) - Painted Coconut from a different era, this item may sometimes be referred to as a sweetheart piece, it is mounted onto a wood base that has a screw.

On the front the eyes, nose and mouth are highlighted in yellow, green, and red. Towards the top is says, “To Edith”, on the back is “From Harry – USN”. There are also two palm trees painted, one on each side, and the names of places where Harry toured, “The Philippines, Marshall Islands, Galicoan, Carolines 1945”.

Next are some examples of the most common type of trench art decorated shells. These I think are a little 18

more unusual starting with a couple from World War I DC1) - Jar with what I think is an unfinished design on the front of a horse standing above a name tag. I think that some type of brazing technique may have been used to do this. There is also some scrollwork around the coin slot, and the horse design with two vines with flowers, also, the initials of “Y V”. The top has a regiment badge or button as it’s handle, which is tough to read.

The base is actually fashioned from another shell made to fit tightly to form the bottom of the bank. DC 2) Towel Rack for lack of a better term, on the front is a bat that is a separate piece from the shell. The two end pieces have the following information “1918 – 185th Aero Sqd. - U.S.A” and “1918 – Sgt. John Horne – U.S.A.” as can be seen in the photo’s. DC3 & DC4) Castle pillars showing brick work to the shell. These two are not dated. I believe the wider of the two is maybe WW II era, and it has the name “J.W. Bennett” in block letters on the top of the piece. There is a trap that unscrews on the bottom of this one, and the thinner pillar unscrews in half. DC5) - Small shell from WW II featuring a badge with a fist inside a circle of arrows and a crown on top.

On the wrist are the letters “R A C”. The top unscrews on this shell. DC6) - 105 MM cannon shell is kind of plain except for the wording etched into it “Italian Campaign 43 – 44”. DC7) - Etched 37 MM Shell, which I think may be an example of civilian trench art.

It is a heavily etched shell with the following, “Worlds War – Argonne Wooos – France Nov 11, 1918”.

M1) - A model of a submarine on top of a tall cylinder. There is no writing on this piece, which may have been part of the ship itself. I believe it is made of stainless steel. M2) - a heavy gauge Tin Sign that hung above an example of commercially produced trench art, one which I haven’t seen yet. Hopefully I will be able to bring them back together. The sign says the following “This is a Naval Mine of the type used in the second world war in defense of our coasts and as an offensive weapon in enemy waters. It is made availabletoTHESHIPWRECKEDMARINERS’SOCIETYbythe Admiralty for use as a collecting box. It is placed here by the kind permission of The Exmouth Urban District Council.”

The last photo’s are of some examples of commercially produced trench art I think several members in the club may have one or a couple of pieces. C1) Decorated Shell bank maybe one referred to above

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Continued from page 18

From the Trenches

as a “war trophy” an actual shell with four flowers and stars in relief around the body of the shell mounted on a black bakelite base it is undated. C2) - Bazooka Shell, I think this may be J. Chein Company but I’m not positive, and it is not marked. The shell is steel with a wooden pry out trap in the bottom that I believe is original. It is marked, “57 MM Dime Bank” in black ink close to the base. C3) - Cone Top Bazooka Shells made by the J. Chein Company with labels, “ Save for War Bonds and Stamps.” The one on right has a solid bottom to be cut off, the left one has a twist trap. C4) - 20 MM shell banks with paper labels. Manufactured by the Stoner Mfg Corp in Aurora, IL during WW II. I

believe these banks were produced throughout the war, and maybe shortly after. Three of the shells have lot numbers and are dated 1943; one shell has the date 1945 on the bottom. Pictures on pages 15 & 16.

What’s a Collector to Do???

Submitted by Thomas Zeeman

My name is Tom Zeeman, I’m a bank collector, and I’ve been a member of the SBCCA for several years.

I live in a studio apartment in Greenwich, Connecticut, and if you were to visit my place, you’d find banks everywhere you could think to look, including underneath my bed.

You can begin to appreciate the problem I have when I tell you that my collection consisted of seven hundred and fifty banks two years ago. It’s just not possible for me to display them all at the same time. In fact, about one hundred and fifty banks are the most that I can put out on display at any given time.

So, July 4th, 2002 I decided that one way to see my

entire collection at the same time was to display them in my very long driveway. All told, it took me about four

hours to put them all out, and of course I’d picked just about the hottest day of the year with a temperature of around ninety degrees!

Yeah, I did have a few people stopping to take a look at my banks; usually people figured I was having a

tag/garage sale.

I rotate the banks on display inside my apartment every three months so I get to see them all over a period of time. The difficult part is remembering which ones to put out on display next but I’m getting good at it.

I’m thinking of taking my banks outside again once my collection reaches 1,000 but maybe on a Thanksgiving weekend - when the temperature is 19

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The Gateway Penny Bank Club Submitted by Elliotte & Liz Harold

Many, many of our members look forward to our annual convention as a time when they can see wonderful collections, buy banks, and, most importantly, visit and socialize with people who have the same interests or, as some of our non-bank collecting friends think, the same obsessions. Some of our members are able to reprise the pleasures of the convention at other times of the year.

Most of us are familiar with the Mid-Atlantic Penny Bank Club that holds a convention each year in the fall. Those of us who are not members are always welcome to attend and enjoy the festivities. A number of years ago our late friend Marvin Weinstein started the tradition of yearly informal gatherings of the northern California collectors.

There is another group that feels once a year is not enough. This is the Gateway Penny Bank Club, most members of which live in reasonable proximity to St. Louis. Although the club does not hold a convention, it does meet four times a year. The location rotates among the members’ homes.

This past August we were fortunate enough to be able to accept an invitation from the hosts of that

where Southwest Airlines offers non-stop service to St. Louis.

The meeting was scheduled for Sunday afternoon, the 17th. We flew to St. Louis on Saturday, arriving about 9:30 a.m. Our first stop was about an hour and a half west at the quaint little town of Hermann on the Missouri River where we met up with Pam and Bill Shepardson at their lovely home high on a bluff overlooking the river. There is nothing modern in Bill and Pam’s home except for Emmaline, Effie Mae, and Beauregard, their three “watch” cats.

We had a brief tour of the house that Pam has furnished with early country antiques and Bill has cluttered with banks and toys. They then guided us down the scenic route to Lake Ozark nestled on the shore of the Lake of the Ozarks.

We found Fred and Anita’s home tucked away in the woods. The cocktail flag was flying which was fortunate since the temperature was hovering a little above 100 degrees. While the ladies toured the home Fred, Bill, and I guarded the beer fridge, an amenity no home should be without.

John and Karen Bennett of Springfield had planned to join us for dinner but he had just had an operation to repair an ankle broken in a hiking accident and they could not make the trip. For dinner, Fred presented us each an individual hibachi with coals already glowing while Anita spread the table with a wonderful array of shrimp, beef, vegetables, and fruits that we used to prepare our own kabobs.

The meal was delicious.

The Sunday meeting was held in Fred and Anita’s

Fred and Anita Schien

month’s meeting, Fred and Anita Schien. Everything seemed to come together to make it a memorable weekend. We had free frequent flyer tickets that were going to expire and we were visiting in Birmingham Waiting to begin.

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Continued from page 20

The Gateway Penny Bank Club spacious new bank room. They’ve set up a really wonderful area in which to enjoy and display their growing collection. Folks started to arrive before noon for the afternoon festivities and not all of them were local members. The first friends we saw were Bob and Shirley Peirce, all the way from Wisconsin. Soon joining us were Tony and Loretta Carmi, Jim Redwine, Judy and Dan Rich, Curt Werner, Robin Weibe with her mother Joan Radcliffe, and a two generation SBBCA family, Shirley and George McGrath and their daughter Nancy who, as president, conducted the meeting. Other first time attendees were Terry and Carol Welch who decided to join the club after seeing how congenial the group was. While some of the members set out banks they had brought to sell, others viewed the collection and discussed banks with old and new friends.

Lunch was the first official order of business.

Fred produced apple chip flavored smoked ribs and

Terry Welch, Nancy McGrath, Robin Wiebe

turkey breast while Anita provided all the trimmings including her famous pickled beets. The beer fridge continued to perform admirably.

The formal meeting followed and included rave reports on the Chicago convention and previews of upcoming auctions. The highlight for us was the “Show and Tell” portion. Each member had brought one or more banks to pass around. Everyone was interested to hear info on either the banks themselves

or the unusual circumstances of their discovery. After some brief business items were discussed there was time for more bank talk and socializing. The afternoon passed too quickly and it was soon time to head back to the motel.

On Monday we convoyed back to Hermann with the Shepardsons. After a plateful of fried chicken gizzards at a little country café we toured the Stone Hill Winery and then headed back to St. Louis so we’d be near the airport for our early morning flight.

Naturally we stopped at a few malls along the way but came away empty handed.

It was a great weekend. The non-member guests were treated royally. If you’re going to be in the St.

Back: Terry Welch, Bob Pierce, Elliotte Harold, Dean Rich, Tony Carmi, Fred Schien, Pam Shepardson, George McGrath Third: Jim Redwine, Loretta Carmi, Bill Shepardson, Shirley McGrath Second: Carol Welch, Liz Harold, Robin Wiebe, Judy Rich, Nancy McGrath, Curt Werner Front: Joan Radcliffe, Anita Schien Group photographer Shirley Peirce

Louis area we heartily recommend that you check to see if the Gateway Club is meeting. You will be warmly welcomed and may even find us there since we’ve sent in our dues and asked to join. Also see picture page 15.

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Queen Victoria Money Boxes Submitted by Nancy & Lin Pickle

Queen Victoria (1819-1901) was the greatest ruler in English History and the “Victorian Era” was named after her. She was the Queen for 63 years from 1837 to 1901 and during this time Great Britain reached the height of its power.

She raised the throne to a position of respect as a wise and capable monarch. Much of her greatness was due to the ministers of the time as she could only warn, advise or encourage the Prime Minister. She was the most popular Queen in England before or after her reign. She married her first cousin, Albert, in 1840. Prince Albert was born in 1819 near Coburg, Germany and was educated on the continent. He became famous on his own but as far as I know, did not have any banks made to represent him. They had nine children and the oldest son became King Edward VII. It was interesting to find that Queen Victoria was an avid collector of dolls. She owned many before she became the Queen and made many of the silken gowns. The dolls were named after the ladies and actress whose costumes she copied. Other Queens of the era also collected dolls.

This history is only a brief summary of the highlights of Queen Victoria. Her entire history is very interesting. During, or shortly after, her reign many mementos were made, some of which have found their way into our collections of Banks, Money Boxes, Tirelire, Spardosen etc. We believe we own four of these banks, which are the main subject of this article.

The first bank we bought in the USA in 1995 and we had no idea that it was Queen Victoria. It is 7.1” (18.2cm) tall and has a Rockingham (treacle) glaze with lightened highlights. She is holding a bag in her right hand and has an old style hat with

22

a hoop style skirt. Her hair is done up in a bun on the back of the head. The slot is in the back of the hoop skirt. It has a glazed concave bottom with no markings. John Haley in England told me she was of Queen Victoria and others have confirmed this. It was made in England (late1800’s) but where is unknown. This bank is shown in Figure 1.

The second bank came to us via a fellow collector and it too was found in the USA in 1998. This one is 5.7” (14.5cm) tall and also has a Rockingham (treacle) glaze all one color. She also has a hoop skirt on with fancy buttons and design. She seems to have her right hand in a pocket on the front of the skirt, which also happens to be the slot for coins. The bottom of this one is flat and unglazed with no markings. This bank was made in England and seems to be the oldest of the lot. Again British collectors believe this to be the Queen. This one is shown in Figure 2.

Our third Queen Victoria is shown in Figure 3. This one came to us in a unique and welcome way. A fellow bank collector saw it in an Antique Shop in England. When he arrived back from his trip he called us. We immediately contacted the shop in England and eventually bought the bank.

This is the same bank shown in Moore’s Penny Bank Book, # 1680. It is a head bank mounted on a base, 5.5” (14.0cm) tall and has a typical English twotone glaze. The Queen has her Crown on, long hair (below neckline) and a fancy necklace. The bottom is recessed and not glazed without any markings.

Obviously it is from the same era as the previous banks.

The fourth bank is our latest addition and actually the reason for this article. (Also shown in B&W above.) We believe this is a Queen Victoria bank

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Continued from page 22

Queen Victoria Money Boxes also. It definitely was made about the same time in England as the others and has the Rockingham (treacle) glaze and is 4.1” (10.5cm) tall. The bottom is partially glazed and flat with no markings. The slot on this one is on the back at the top of the hoop skirt.

Shown in Figure 4.

The fifth bank shown is not ours is in Photo 5. It is a copy of the photo in the Moore book - # 49. It is a bust made of brass, and is 8.2” (21.0cm) tall. Again the Queen has the same crown, necklace and hair length as in photo (4). The lower front of this one

says “VICTORIA – GOD SAVE THE QUEEN”. This is a beautiful bank.

We have used the words Rockingham (treacle) in this article. Both words are from England and are used to describe the glaze on pottery in both the USA and England. We have researched the word treacle and find that it means “molasses”. Perhaps this covers the color and the consistency of the glaze before baking in the ovens. See pictures on page 15.

Please contact the writers if you know of other banks depicting Queen Victoria.

Uncle Sam’s Register Banks & Cash Registers Collectors Guide A Book Review by Charlie Reynolds

I recently bought a book that other bank collectors may not be aware exists. The title of this privately printed book is Uncle Sam’s Register Banks & Cash Registers Collectors Guide, This book starts with the first pre-Uncle Sam banks, and covers five different series of banks made between 1906 and 1958 when the Durable Toy and Novelty Company was acquired by the Western Stamping Company. The banks included consist of Uncle Sam Cash Registers, banks made for export to Canada to use Canadian money, and those made to sell in Spanish speaking countries. A line was also made using guilders for export to Dutchspeaking countries.

The book is 8-1/2" x 11", ninety-eight pages in length, and printed on good quality clay based paper with a GBC binding. The pictures are good quality and large. Rarity ratings are provided but no prices are given. The book ends with a promotional bank history.

Although I’ve never been a fan of Uncle Sam Banks perhaps you’re like me and think you need every book on banks ever printed; this is a good one!

Uncle Sam's Register Banks & Cash Registers Collectors Guide.

Durable Toy and Novelty Company Published Nov. 2003 by Guy Zani, Jr.

$29.90 post paid Guy Zani, Jr. 53000 Casa Nueva Drive New Port Richey, FL 34655 727-372-8539 Email- Guy57000@hotmail.com

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Banks and Books For Sale

Pagoda Bank–was $15.00 NOW $5.00 1994 SBCCA Convention

Pottery Jug Bank– was $30.00 NOW $10.00 2000 SBCCA Convention

2003 Convention Banks Set of 8 Coffee Mugs 2001 SBCCA Convention Now $10.00 for set

“Mrs. O’Leary”

Designed and Painted by Mike Henry Made in USA by Larry Egelhoff Cast Iron, 4 1/2” tall Limited production-Limited supply available Blue Paint- $200.00 Bronze Paint- $150.00

BOOKS Guide for Recognizing Damage to Still Banks James M. Harper & The Chicago Hardware Foundry Kenton Hardware Company A.C. Rehberger Banks Iron Safe Banks Pocket Bank Book Make checks payable to SBCCA.

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$ 4.00 $ 5.00 $ 5.00 $10.00 $25.00 $35.00

Mail order to: Jeanie Egelhoff 4175 Millersville Rd. Indianapolis, IN 46205

Nighty - Night Bear Bank - $20.00 2002 SBCCA Convention Made in Germany by Ulrike Riegraf-Blank Ceramic, painted, 3 1/2” tall Limited production Limited supply available Commemorates 100th Birthday of Teddy Bear

APRIL 2004

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Book/CD Review - Banthrico™ Published by Lance G. Oldham

The title has been abbreviated but the contents continue to address coin banks and souvenir buildings, monuments, and landmarks manufactured by the Banthrico Co. and successor companies.

lished work can offer to the consumer.

Every copy is unique, and updated with the very latest information because Lance prints your copy of the book/ cd only upon receipt of your order.

Changes to this latest addition include: • A change in title for simplification.

• An updated preface.

• In the introduction, updated the count for the number of Banthrico banks offered on Ebay for 2003 in the graph & changed the graph to a supply versus price index format.

• Continued the improvement and replacement of a number of the photos.

• Changed some bank locations, added dimensional data, etc.

• Updated the information on traps to show additional varieties.

• Provides supplemental information to the introduction and cross-reference sections.

• The CD-ROM sections open in Adobe Acrobat format (reader is free), and the text is fully searchable.

Now into its seventh year, this publication continues to incorporate leading edge benefits that only a self-pub-

Available with or without CD or CD without the book.

Pricing is $18.95 (no CD), $22.95 (w/CD), or $9.95 for just the CD (no book), plus priority postage of $4.00. WA residents are required to pay applicable taxes.

You can order from Lance Oldham at klg@tscnet.com.

(See ad for additional details)

Coca-Cola Bank

Contributed by Jak Katuzny Late last summer my wife and I received an auction flyer listing a Coca-Cola bottle bank. I looked in Moore’s Penny Bank Book for such a bank but none were listed.

We attended the auction, and there in a box lot containing old photo albums, a jar of marbles, and numerous other small items, was a Coca-Cola bank - the one listed in Moore’s book as # 1605. The bank went up for bid after the auctioneer said it was worth at least $500, maybe as much as $1,000. After a few short bids, I owned the bank for close to the low estimate.

I thought that the members, both old and new, might like to know that there are still some great banks out there.

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First National Bank of Mifflintown Souvenir Building Bank

Meeting. Then, the coin banks went on display at the bank offices for customers.

Mifflintown, PA

According to the bank’s officials, no particular event spurred the production of the coin bank. The bank received a proposal and after consideration, decided it was a good idea, since similar promotional items like this had been popular with the bank’s clientele in the past. However, issuing of the coin bank corresponds with the date of the bank’s renovation and expansion.

By Lance G. Oldham © 2003 Poulsbo, WA The First National Bank of Mifflintown was founded in 1864 and was established as a private bank. The bank became a national bank in 1889. The bank is located at 2 North Main Street, on the northwest corner of Main and Bridge Streets in Mifflintown, PA. The bank has expanded through the years and now maintains nine other branch offices.

The bank underwent its most recent expansion in 1996. During this expansion, the building underwent extensive renovations. The section on the right side, which is not included in the miniature coin bank, was added at that time. Previously, this section was a men’s clothing store before being absorbed by the bank. The bank now uses the addition as an expansion of their loan and trust departments.

The coin bank depicts the main office in Mifflintown, PA. The coin banks were initially made available in 1996 to the Directors, Advisory Board Members, and employees. Next, stockholders were given the opportunity to purchase the coin banks at the Annual

The coin banks were manufactured by Valley Casting Co., Golden Valley, MN, the successor of the Banthrico Co. The coin bank is cast in white metal and has a pewter-toned finish with black antique highlighting. The trap is a plastic plug, typical of those used on all of the more recent Banthrico, Toystalgia, and Valley Casting coin banks. There is a slot in the roof of the bank for inserting money and another slot is built into the plastic trap. The inscription “Banthrico ©1974" is stamped on the metal base plate. In addition “Made in USA” is cast into the bottom of the bank. The coin bank measures 51/8" x 5" x 31/4" tall. A quantity of 1,996 of the coin banks were issued, which would equate to a “C” rarity rating using the system that I developed in my Banthrico building bank catalog. Few of these banks have yet to reach the hands of collectors. Only five of the coin banks have turned up in eBay™ auctions during the past few years with price ranging widely from as low as $76 to a high of $142.

Certificate of Authenticity, included with each coin bank.

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Continued from page 26

First National Bank of Mifflintown Souvenir Building Bank

First National Bank of Mifflintown etching, showing the bank in its original size. A similar photo is shown below at the left. The bank, following its expansion in 1996 is shown below at the right.

The First National Bank of Mifflintown Coin Bank. Issued in 1996.

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Oscar the Goat

Arranged by Charlie, Frank and Me Back down the road a piece in 2003, I came across an odd sales ad for a bank on Ebay - then again, a lot of them are odd. The subject bank was Oscar the Goat, a cast iron goat with clay hooves. It was the clay hooves that caught my attention, and a portion of the ad follows“Antique and very rare large and very heavy Oscar the goat cast iron still bank with unusual and rare clay hooves, originally made for eastern hardware store sales incentive for employees, story was as I am told, Oscar was given to employees and each quarter after meeting sales quotas were given 1 cast iron hoof to replace a clay one. After 1 year they would end up with a completed bank, this information is in the still bank books, bank is valued in the books at $350.00.”

Goat was the Company mascot.”

No mention about clay hooves though, and one might be inclined to wonder why anyone would manufacture a cast iron bank heavy enough to weigh down folding money, and fit it with clay hooves. I would venture to speculate that the clay could have been added to the hooves of the example advertised for sale in order to disguise the fact that the bank had been standing in a moist area with the result that the hooves rusted. Or, maybe I’m just cynical?

On the other hand, maybe behind door #2 one of you have Oscar with legitimate clay feet. That being the case, we will reserve a page in a future issue for your article, “Oscar With Feet of Clay, The Rest of the Story,” with pictures.

For your own reference, Oscar is nine and one-quarter inches long, seven and three quarter inches tall by three and one half inches wide. Oscar, ref. #573, is listed in Moore’s The Penny Bank Book as a Modern bank, however Frank states that when he bought his 40 years ago, it was not a modern bank.

He acquired a model of the Holland Furnace with Oscar, and estimates it was made in the 20’s or 30’s.

More pictures on page 14.

And no Penny Bank Post can truly be complete without a Piggy Bank.

From a brochure published by my bank encourag-

Charlie provided me with the following information, and forwarded pictures from Frank.

“Oscar was made in six pieces - the horns, two body with head halves, front and rear pairs of legs, and a tail. The leather collar with bell was the last piece of the puzzle. And, just in case you think that the leather collar isn’t original, note the picture showing a little Oscar embossed into the leather.

As the story goes, Oscar was made by the Holland Furnace Company located in Holland, Michigan. The bank was given to employees as an incentive one piece at a time, presumably for sales of furnaces. Oscar the 28

ing the purchase of 5 year Term Deposits. Ed.