PENNY BANK POST
Still Bank Collectors Club of America
President Harold Blau
Vice-President
Mike Holz
Secretary Harry Ward
Treasurer Dick Soukup
Past President & Member of the Board of Directors
Charles Meeks - 2006
Board of Directors
Elliotte Harold 2006
Dolli Ketron 2006
Fred Schien 2006
Ulrike Riegraf-Blank 2005
Ken Russell 2005
Historian
Robert A. Vicic - email at clubhistorian@sbcglobal.net
Membership Chairman Larry Egelhoff
Editor, Penny Bank Post Tony Neilson
Webmaster
Greg Dean
Ethics Committee
Chairman Jim Yeager
Committee Members
Don Heim
Joe Wilkinson
Michael Goldstein
FRONT COVER
2005 Convention banks crafted by Ulrike Riegraf-Blank, Don Duer, Jeanie Egelhoff, Charlie and Judy Reynolds.
From The Editor’s Desk
My sincere thanks are extended to all those that contributed to making this issue possible -
Harold & Rona Blau, George Dean, Greg Dean, Chris Dennett, Jeanie & Larry Egelhoff, Elliotte and Liz Harold, Frank Kidd, Murphy, Bob and Shirley Peirce, Nancy Pickle, Merle Prins, Jim Redwine, John Smith, Bob and Dee Vicic, The Travelers, Guy Williams 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.
I hasten to begin by thanking each of you for your patience in awaiting this delayed issue of the Penny Bank Post. While working on projects in November my computer became erratic and finally froze up completely. It ended up being necessary to replace my computer and, instead of what I hoped would be a straightforward transition, it proved to be the beginning of a series of software and hardware challenges that stretched into January - just as stressful as the Corporate World. I’m about 98% recovered now but have more gray hair than I began with.
All in all, I hope you find this issue was worth waiting for as it contains some great articles thanks to our generous contributors. Though late, I’ve used Guy’s article on the sharing season as it’s never to early to start planning your card. Also, there is a picture on the cover of the 2004 Convention Banks, which I ended up forgetting to include last September and only realized as I was reading through the finished product – too late for changes then. The article on the rare bank I noted in Convention Reflections should be in the April issue so you’ll have to remain in suspense for awhile longer.
Please keep in mind that our, “Do You Know Me” pictures/articles beg your involvement. If you have any familiarity with any bank or alleged bank featured, your response will form part of the SBCCA’s official record by way of inclusion in the Post so your input is invited and appreciated whether it be answers or more questions and don’t assume someone else has provided information – the likelihood is that nobody else has. We have happy news in this issue regarding the most recent Bank.
Visit our web site at www.stillbankclub.com Fill out the field asking for member with the word, member and the password with the name, chicago in lowercase text.
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 because my inbox is getting low.
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.
President’s Message...
Harold Blau
There have been a few major changes since the last issue of the Penny Bank Post. The first is that the Board of Trustees approved an “instant pay” button attached to our Membership Application on our website. This allows prospective members to pay instantaneously by using their MasterCard or Visa Credit Card through the club’s new PayPal account. In the first week the instant pay buttons appeared on our website, two new members joined us this way; one from North Carolina and one from Canada. An announcement that we have this new method of paying the initial dues will be made in the next issue of the European Money Box Collectors Club (EMBC). In the past, collectors who lived overseas had to go to their banks to obtain an International Money Order that took time and an additional expense to their dues. Now we can accept non-U.S. worldwide memberships at $45 annually. This includes the sending of the Penny Bank Post airmail to their home address. We anticipate that several new European members will join us in this way.
Bob Vicic has agreed to become the club Historian replacing Jeanie Egelhoff who resigned the position after many years of dedicated service. We all wish Bob the very best of luck in his new post, and look forward to his creativity and innovative policies. While the many items the club owns and sells have not yet been transferred, as of this writing, we are certain that this will be accomplished in due course.
Bob is very interested in realistically updating the Moore book that many call our “Bank Bible.” He makes the excellent point that Andy and Susan Moore initially called for the updating of material as it came to be known, and this indeed has occurred with the passage of time. For example, patent papers or old bank advertisements have come to light, sometimes pre-dating the earliest known examples at the time of the first publication. In some rare cases, the names of manufacturers many assumed to be the creators of certain banks or designs, are now in question.
Economic conditions, the proliferation of auctions and especially the pervasive presence of Ebay with its ongoing presentation of banks 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, has greatly influenced the market. With banks coming out of every attic, basement and barn and with grandkids inheriting their grandparent’s collections, but often knowing little about the items, the advent of Ebay has unwittingly accomplished many things. One, is that some items once thought to be relatively scarce are now viewed as common, because so many of these show up continuously on Ebay’s pages. Additionally, the many “closet collectors” out there who often pay insufficient attention to condition is highlighted in the final hours before a bank closes. Most notable are the prices that are being realized, which are almost always less than the historic realizations of former years. This is the most challenging area, because rarely is the condition of any two banks being compared identical. Nevertheless, the impression many of us have is that there has been a marked downtrend in the overall pricing of good collectible banks. So this is another area that we might address in updating the Moore Book.
We are in fairly good shape regarding future SBCCA Conventions: The 2005 Annual Convention will be held in Lancaster Pennsylvania at the Eden Hotel during the week of June 7th-11th. In 2006, Elliotte and Liz Harold will host the convention in New Orleans and we are all are looking forward to antiquing in the French Quarter as well as eating Cajun food! In 2007, Ken Russell, with the help of the St. Louis club members, will host the convention in Kansas City Missouri. Additionally, the Board of Trustees has just approved Orlando Florida as the site of the SBCCA 2008 convention to be hosted by Martin Gutierrez. So it is now possible to make long-range plans! These are the areas that will keep us viable as an organization: membership, the Penny Bank Post, (with kudos to our editor Tony Neilson) and our annual conventions. We welcome all new members, and hope that they will participate in the process of becoming mature collectors through the advantages offered by our club.
(continued on next page)
President’s Message... (continued)
Our Webmaster Greg Dean puts in 6 to 10 hours every week keeping our site up to date, and for this he has our thanks and appreciation. Those who have never visited our club website should go to: www.stillbankclub.com. The passwords to enter the member’s only area are the words:- member & chicago (Note that both are written in lower case).
A wonderful experience awaits you because you can see lots of banks and find many links of interest. With experienced and dedicated workers like these, our club can grow and meet the challenges of the future.
I want to take this opportunity to wish all of our members a most Happy Holiday Season, and good fortune in the New Year!
The picture at right shows our President, Harold Blau with two of his investment advisors on toys.
SBCCA Convention - 2005
Submitted
We may not know what you’re doing at the moment but, if you’ll permit us to make a suggestion, we’d like you to check on your plans for June 7th to June 11th and see if it’s possible for you to join us for the 38th annual SBCCA Convention to be held in Lancaster, PA.
Our conventions provide the opportunity for everybody attending to enjoy great experiences ranging from buying and selling banks, bidding like crazy at the club auction, kibitzing with old friends, making new friends, learning from organized presentations and even scouring local antique markets for that illusive great find lurking around the next corner.
And speaking of antique markets – who could ask for more than the chance to check out Adamstown – the Antique Capital of the United States and only a mere fifteen minutes north of our hotel. Doesn’t matter if you’re looking for banks or string dispensers – everything can be found here. There’s even a robot museum, Dan Morphy’s Showcase Mall and The Silk City Diner – pie to die for. I asked the waitress what kind of pie they had and she replied, “What kind do you want?” My kind of place.
Hotel; ah yes, the Eden Inn and Convention Center. This is a fine place – we’ve been before, as have the other bank collectors clubs and we’ll go back again. Why? Because The Inn is top drawer – nice rooms and fine eats with reasonable prices. Close to everything
by ?????????
your heart desires and . . . it will be in spring time – to be in the company of fellow collectors – truly a paradise on earth.
So start making your plans today set aside your best duds or, if you prefer, wear your old clothes to the convention and outfit yourself with a brand-new wardrobe at any of the many discount outlets in Lancaster and Reading.
More details of this year’s convention events will be forthcoming but you need no better recommendation than to take note of the fact that the majority of people coming to the convention each year are repeat conventioneers cause we know we’re in for a fun experience.
If you are a collector that hasn’t been able to attend before, or you’re new to the hobby, as long as you come to the convention with the intention of making friends with fellow collectors, you won’t be going home disappointed. The SBCCA members are a friendly group and willing to share their experiences and help new members to learn. We hold a New Member Orientation early in the convention each year to help you feel more at home, provide guidance, sound counsel and provide general information to help make your buying, selling and auction experiences positive ones.
We look forward to seeing you.
“May the Force be With You”
Contributed by Jim Redwine
When George Lucas created STAR WARS in 1977 he had little idea of the impact that would take place over the following 26 years and beyond. The impact upon filmmaking and upon collectibles has been out of sight beyond the speed of sound as in the STAR WARS Space Vehicles. George Lucas was and continues to be a pioneer in both of these areas. Hundreds of millions of dollars have filled business coffers from these films and collectables. Much has been seen and developed in STAR WARS and there is more to come. “STAR WARS, Episode II” is just around the bend.
A quick look at the chronology of STAR WARS reveals the following-
• STAR WARS: Episode I – The Phantom Menace – 1999.
• STAR WARS: Episode IV – A New Hope – 1977.
• STAR WARS: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back – 1980.
• STAR WARS: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi –1983
• STAR WARS: Episodes II and III
• STAR WARS: Episode II to be released in the near future.
• A special edition with additional footage of STAR WARS – The Trilogy, Episodes IV, V, and VI was released in 1997.
As you can see by the dates the last three episodes were developed/presented first, then George Lucas backed up the story line and presented Episode I twenty-two years later. Episodes II and III will follow and connect with Episode IV.
We will discover the parents and the childhoods of many of the major characters, both good and bad guys, in the upcoming episodes, to say the least.
There are numerous books on STAR WARS collectables but little is said about the STAR WARS Banks and even fewer are pictured in the books so I decided to photograph my collection and share it with the members.
The picture captions in this article give –
• The bank name
• Height
• Trap Number (from Coin Banks by Banthrico)
• Year first manufactured.
• Rating – A (easiest to find) to E (most difficult to find), and
• Price (MIB, No box but Ex drop price 10-15%.
I have elected to put the pictures in chronological and alphabetical order starting with Episode IV (1977) and ending with Episode I (1999). Additional information is also provided such as bank material, slot location, trademark – LFL (Lucas Film Ltd.), manufacturer, country and character information.
If there are any STAR WARS Collectors or anyone in the SBCCA interested in these banks please call (1-314-741-6940) or write me (snail mail) as I have some duplicates. Banks I’m searching for include the Gamorrean Guard pictured on the box in this article and a Princess Leia ceramic bank, circa 1983. I’m also looking for a tin box featuring Darth Vader like the tin box picturing Yoda (Germany). I know an SBCCA collector that may have the Darth Vader tin bank in their collection and hopefully we can get a picture of it for a future article.
For the benefit of those not up to speed on STAR WARS, the Good Guys are Luke Skywalker, Hans Solo (not shown), Princess Leia (not shown), C-3PO, R2-D2, Chewbacca, Yoda, Princess Kneesaa, Wicket the Ewok, Jar Jar Binks, Qui-Gon-Jinn and Obi-WanKenobi (not shown).
The Bad Guys are Darth Vader, Emperor’s Royal Guard, Jabba the Hut and Darth Maul. There are many other STAR WARS characters both good and bad, but they are not the subjects of any banks (to my knowledge).
“May the Force be With You” was the battle cry of the Jedi Knights and Space Pilots and all those who supported them. To you, the bank collector, I say, May the Force be With You as you search for the banks you need for your collection.
Happy Bank Trails ~ Jim Redwine (continued on next page)
“May
the Force be With You” (continued)
1) C-3PO
• 7 and one half inches
• T12
• 1977
• E
• $150
Bottom in raised letters:
STAR WARS – TM –
C1977 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
– USA
Slot in back
Original red rubber stopper (ORRS)
Heavy ceramic
Roman Ceramics
“Almost Human”Robot
Cookie Jar like this exists that is 11 inches high.
2) DARTH VADER HEAD
• 6 and one half inches
• T12
• 1977
• D
• $100
Raised letters on bottom:
STAR WARS - TM· ”1977 –
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation U.S.A.
Slot in Top
Heavy Ceramic
“Mr. Evil”
“There is also a similar bank from Australia
3) R2-D2
• 8 inches
• T12
• 1977
• D
• $100
Raised letters on bottom:
STAR WARS-TM-C1977-
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation-U.S.A. ORRS
Heavy ceramic
“Mr. Fixit” Robot
4) Luke Skywalker Jedi Pilot and Knight
• 9 inches
• T35
• C1978
• D
• $35
Omni Cosmotic Corp
LFL-Chicago-Star Wars
Hard plastic Slot in back
Conversion Trap Variation SOME *
Different STAR WARS character shampoo bottles were issued
5) Yoda on Tin Box
• 7 and one-quarter inches
• T40
• 1980
• E
• $150
Star Wars – The Empire Strikes Back
Raised letters on bottom:
“Lucas Film Ltd (LFL) – 1980-Metal Box Ltd. Made in West Germany
Two safe dials open door to bank
Slot in top
“Mr. Concentration”- Mind over Matter
6) TRADE FEDERATION BATTLE STATION in Battle With Enemy
• 7 and one-quarter inches
• T40
• 1980
• E
• $150
Back Side of Yoda on Tin Box
7) Darth Vader
• 6 inches
• T33
• 1981
• E
• $150
Anodized silver plated white metal
© Leonard Silver Mfg-Boston, Mass.
“TOWLE Silver Co-Made in Japan
Sigma Giftware Corp.
8) Box Return of the Jedi
• 10 inches
• 1983
• C
• $30
Lucas Film Ltd. (LFL)
Adam Joseph Industries Inc.
NOTE - Gamorrean Guard Pictured on box but not in this article
Soft Vinyl
(continued on next page)
“May
the Force be With You” (continued)
9) Chewbacca (Chewy)
• 9 and five-eighths inches
• T12
• 1983
• D
• $75
Slot in Backpack
Sigma Japan
Hand decorated Ceramic bodyguard of Luke Skywalker and Hans Solo
LFL – Return of the Jedi
10) Darth Vader
• 9 and a quarter inches
• T12
• 1983
• C
• $40
Return of the Jedi
LFL Hong Kong Slot in Back Soft Vinyl (SV)
11) Emperor’s Royal Guard
• 8 and three-eighths inches
• T19
• 1983
• C
• $40
Return of the Jedi LFL China
Slot in Back
SV
12) Jabba the Hutt
• 6 and one half inches
• T12
• 1983
• D
• $75 Pipe in Mouth Slot in Mouth Ceramic
Designed by Sigma Hand decorated Japan
LFL
Return of the Jedi
Mr. Glutton - Talking reptile
13) Princess Kneesaa
• 6 and a quarter inches
• T19
• 1983
• C
• $40
Return of the Jedi LFL China
Slot in Back
SV
Ewoks – Small furry people who live in the large trees
14) R2-D2
• 6 inches
• T14
• 1983
• C
• $40 Return of the Jedi LFL China Slot in Back SV Twist Vinyl top to remove coins
15) Wicket the Ewok
• 6 and one half inches
• T19
• 1983
• C
• $40
Return of the Jedi LFL China Slot in back
SV
16) Yoda
• 7 and one half inches
• T12
• 1983
• D
• $75
The Jedi Master LFL Sigma the Tastesetter (designer) Slot in Back Ceramic
(continued on page 24)
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 site
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
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
Banthrico Building Book 2005 Edition. The most comprehensive, up-to-date book available. $18.95 plus 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 S&H
Personalized & autographed by Jim Redwine 6940 Lake Valley Dr. Florissant, MO 63033 Tel # 314-741-6940
Wanted
Penny Banks & Related
Wanted: Rehberger building banks in 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
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. 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 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
Wanted- Any Glass Bank not in the Glass Bank Book. Also, any banks made of - All Leather Charlie Reynolds reynoldstoys@ erols.com
Wanted
Pevely “Moo Moo” Bank & "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
Trivia Questions
Submitted by Nancy Pickle
1) Who sent the first Holiday Card?
2) What was the first SBCCA Logo?
3) Where was the year 2000 (turn of the century) convention held?
4) How many women have been President of the SBCCA?
5) How many women have been President of the Mechanical Bank Club?
6) Who was the first editor of the Penny Bank Post?
7) Which SBCCA Convention location was
a) The farthest North?
b) The farthest South?
c) The farthest West?
d) The farthest East?
8) What was the first commemorative bank issued?
a) In what year?
b) At what location?
c) By whom?
(Answers can be found on page 23 – no peeking)
Mascot Banks Revisited
Submitted by Elliotte and Liz Harold
In the August 2002 issue of the PBP we published an article on two plaster of Paris or chalkware mascot banks, an Auburn “Tiger” and a University of Southern Mississippi “Southerner”. Each bank bore a sticker with the wording “Designed by Quinco - New Orleans – Made in Japan.”
Based on the wording “Designed by”, we assumed that these banks were proprietary products of Quinco. Although we could find no information in old New Orleans directories and telephone books about Quinco we assumed it to be a novelty company. Having been trained in the sciences, Liz in mathematics and I in chemistry, we should have known to be more careful in making assumptions based on only a little data. While the nature of the items support our feeling that Quinco was a novelty company, our assumption that it was the sole supplier of these types of banks was disproved at the recent Alexandria convention. Also, our theory that these were college bookstore items was shown to be true but incomplete.
Everyone at the convention spent a lot of time viewing all the wonderful banks in the Traveling Display. Jim Redwine made a nice contribution to the display by showing many of his Banthrico
banks that most of us have had the pleasure of seeing only in his excellent book. But there, among the bronze colored busts and buildings, were some mascot banks, obviously from the same manufacturer as the ones we had written of earlier.
Viewing the banks from the front gave us no reason to change any of the comments in our earlier article. The banks were all from southern colleges – the University of Alabama, Florida State University, Wake Forest University, Missouri University and St. Louis University. (We unregenerate Confederates consider Missouri part of the South, you all.)
However, the University of Alabama bank and that from the University of Missouri both had a
(continued on next page)
Mascot Banks Revisited (continued)
sticker on the rear sides of their bases indicating that the banks had been giveaways from depository banks. The sticker on the Alabama bank was from the Bank of Prattville while the one on the Missouri bank was from the State Bank in Wellston. Neither Prattville nor Wellston are near the cities in which the universities commemorated by the banks are located. This led us to think that our assertion in the earlier article that the mascot banks were sold through college bookstores was incorrect. Then we looked at the bank from Wake Forest and found a sticker on the back of the base that read, “College Bookstore – Winston-Salem.” Ah, vindication! We were not wrong in assuming these banks were distributed through bookstores. Our mistake was in assuming that bookstores were the only source for the banks.
As for the distributor, we found a label on the bottom of the Florida State bank identical to the ones on the banks in our earlier article: “Designed by Quinco – New Orleans – Made in Japan.” We were feeling better and better about the assumptions and conclusions about the two banks in our collection until we looked at the bottom of the St. Louis Billiken bank and found a sticker with the wording, “Buco Inc – So. S.F. –Made in Japan.” We’ve been unable to uncover any information on this company but in searching the net we found that a “Buco” bank was offered on e-Bay in June. It represented Northwestern University. So we had found a California (assuming that S.F. means San Francisco) company that had distributed banks in Illinois and Missouri
Shortly before the end of the convention Marty Guitterez told us he had a similar bank from the University of North Carolina that was for sale. We bought the bank even though these types of banks do not fit our collection because we thought this one furnished a further clue. As you can see in the picture, the bank is in the form of a ram. We
focused on the ram, not even noticing the “Tar Heels” label on the base.
In the earlier article we dated the Southern Mississippi bank by discovering the dates that the college was renamed and its mascot changed. We thought we could date the UNC bank by finding out when the ram mascot was replaced by the Tar Heels. Then we noticed the “Tar Heels” label. Another theory had been blown to bits. But why was the bank in the form of a ram? We knew that many teams have nicknames different from their mascots such as the “Volunteers” of the University of Tennessee having a blue tick hound for a mascot. But we had never connected a ram with UNC. A search of the university’s website revealed that although the teams are the Tar Heels the mascot is a ram. His name is “Rameses”. According to the website, Rameses the First arrived on campus from Texas in 1924 just in time to inspire the football team to upset “powerful” VMI (how times have changed). It was a nice piece of trivia but of absolutely no help in expanding our knowledge of mascot banks. So, we now have more information, but has that information answered all our questions or only raised more? Our original article surmised that the mascot banks were “push” items, i.e. sold by a salesman who “pushed” the concept on customers, took orders, and then had his company design the bank to be manufactured in Japan. Given the information that there was at least one other distributor than we had previously thought, it might be that the manufacturer promoted its ability to produce these types of items to the novelty trade rather than to the end retailer or bank. We’ll probably never know, but we won’t quit looking for information. After all, Al Marwick’s favorite saying applies to information as well as to toys and banks. “The fun is in the search.”
The Sharing Season
Submitted by Guy Williams
For many years now a small group of members have been sharing favorite banks, new finds, or new additions to their collections during the holidays by making a special photo Christmas card to send to each other. I got hooked in 1993 by past penny bank post editor and club president Don Duer, who had sent a photo card for a few of years that were great. I talked with him about doing one myself a couple of years before making my first one, after thinking and saying that I did not have anything special, rare, or great to share with other members.
Bob Pierce said to pick something that I liked or was a favorite and take a good photo, ever since the first card this project has been a lot of fun. The first year I think I made twenty-five cards and this past year I made sixty and sent fifty-nine, I keep one of my own as a reminder so that I don’t duplicate the same banks too much. I usually try and send a few to members that I meet at the convention from that year that I have not previously sent a card, in hopes of enticing a new card to be added to my photo album, and another collecting friend to add to the card list, last year I received four new cards from members that I had not received a card from before.
The cards in general are inexpensive and can be made at any photo-processing center like K mart, Walmart, Walgreen’s, etc. possibly a different company in your area. It usually does not take much time either unless you have a tough time picking out the bank(s) you want to show, don’t worry there is always next year. Some collectors show a group of banks others picture just one a “best find” for them in sort of a years competition within their collection. Others will make a theme card of a certain material or subject matter, and others incorporate their bank into a Christmas scene with ribbons, tinsel, and backgrounds that are in the holiday spirit.
With the many reference books we have to choose from these days and the thousands of banks pictured within, it is still amazing to see banks that are not pictured anywhere else except for the cards. Don Duer and Bob Peirce have shown centerfolds in past penny post showing some of the cards. If you are new to the club or have your old post packed away, I have included a handful of the cards I have received over the years that are different from those in previous issues.
What I usually do in making the cards is to make a temporary shelf with a few books and a small board
covered with plain white poster paper as background. Other members have used many different colors of background that works for their banks, and even a tabletop or mantle over their fireplace.
Pick out a few favorites to take up the picture frame, usually I will take a few different pictures of different banks and then chose what I like the best. I use a 35mm camera with a flash attachment and use 200 speed film as my room is darker than I like, then it is off to the local Wal-Mart for developing and to see how good or bad I did make my choice with greetings and have them then make the cards in a day. If my memory serves me right seventy-five cards cost about $35.00 for me and includes mailing envelopes, less if you don’t want that many made. You can save a little by sending them out for processing but if you are running short on time it is nicer to have done in the store.
Sometimes the photos are cropped different than the original photo when making the cards, it is nice to talk to the person who makes the cards to see if everything will fit o.k. instead of having something cut out that you wanted to show which I had happen one year two banks with room to spare on the edge in the regular photo were cut in half on the card so they had to be fixed with no time to spare. You can take your banks to a professional photographer but that can get expensive my first card cost me around $160 then the cost per copy I had made, I think Ken Russell said his first card cost him several times that in his home town.
I believe these cards are a great way of sharing not only what we have found the previous year but also our thoughts of best wishes for each other in the coming year. It is nice to pull the albums out from time to time and look at the cards that I have received over the years, and see how our cards have changed with our collections and to look at some great banks. I look forward to making and receiving the cards now as much as getting the post and going to our annual convention, it would be great to receive a hundred photo cards to go along with the many other cards that I get from all of my collecting friends one year.
If you make a special photo card and we do not currently exchange cards please let me know I would love to receive your cards and will in turn send one of my cards. I hope that you have a healthy and great holiday season this year.
Happy Holidays, Guy
Williams
Do You Know Me?
Yes - I’m Sooty!
Submitted by Chris Dennett
I received my September issue of the Penny Bank Post and got interested in the "Do You Know Me" article by Merle I. Prins.
The bank featured in the article is an English Sooty Bank. When I was a kid in England I watched Harry Corbett and his hand puppet, Sooty, on Children's Hour on BBC television. This would have been in the 5O’s so this little bank has a fair bit of age on it. In those days there was only one channel on television and I watched as much of it as I could get. Harry Corbett was one of those soft spoken kids’ television personalities who must have lasted well into the early 60’s. Sooty, the friendly bear, was known by every kid in the land. In his time he was a very heavily commercialized little bear, one of the first to hit the big time as a result of television exposure.
I notice this bank is marked "Courtesy Of" which is the nice British way of explaining that the manufacturer has paid for the right to use the Sooty image on what is obviously intended as a money raiser for a blind cause. Why it ended up in Maine, well, who knows but interesting banks turn up in all kinds of surprising places. Hope that this helps.
Murphy’s Mystery Picture
Submitted by Murphy (You know, that Murphy!)
Sorry to tell you that no one got the correct answer to Murphy’s Mystery Picture in the last issue so here’s the solution and we certainly hope that this doesn’t become a regular feature.
Yes, it’s the Hagan family and Minaz Ladha of EMINAZ eBay fame.
Two
Advertisements on Reproduction Banks
Submitted by John Smith
I was doing some research the other day on a project and found these two advertisements. One is selling a reproduction of the Independence Hall by the Delaware Valley Stamp Company for $30.00 each. It was in a magazine in August 1973 for production of a 1976 Bi-Centennial Bank.
Collectors beware! I suspect that some old Independence Hall Banks may have replaced parts from these newer banks.
The other ad, for the New Hampton General Store, is selling a sitting Piggy Bank, one foot long and weigh-
ing six pounds for $19.95 each. This ad was published in a magazine in June 1978. I always felt this was a new design bank, but it is being advertised as, "Cast in Authentic 100 year Old Antique Molds". I still think it is a new bank with false advertising. If these banks were cast from 100 year old molds that would mean the original banks were produced in 1878 - I don't think so. I guess you can chalk it up to typical American advertising.
Just a thought.
“I’s a Real Aussie Bloke”
Submitted by George Dean
As a group, the most commonly found banks I have collected are the mechanical “Jolly N-----s”. This is the name that is clearly stamped in bold letters, either recessed or raised, on the back of most specimens. (The term ‘Jolly N’ will be used in the balance of this article. Ed.) First patented by the Shepherd Hardware Company of Buffalo, New York, on 14th March 1882, I estimate there are approaching 50 different and distinct variations on this theme.
Al Davidson, writing in his excellent reference book, Penny Lane (1987), tells us that ‘Jolly N’ banks are to be found in, “brass, white metal, bakelite, celluloid and plastic”, and with this I fully concur. However, here in Australia we have another distinctive Aussie type, which is made of pottery and usually found salt glazed. On the odd occasion it is unglazed.
In my 30 odd years of collecting banks, I have endeavored to purchase any of these that have come my way, but unfortunately many collectors of Australian pottery are equally keen on these gentlemen. The most common (if you can call any of them that) would be the bareheaded variety, which range in height from a ‘Young N’ at five and a quarter inches to a full-size ‘Jolly N’ at seven and a half inches. The examples attired in hats can measure up to nine and a quarter inches in height. I have yet to see a Dinah.
the back below the ‘Jolly N’ wording. It is thought that these “workman pieces”, as they are termed in Australia, were often made for a youngster’s birthday or special event. Or they could simply have been exercises in modeling. As “end of day (or week) productions” they were placed in the kilns just before the fires were left to slacken overnight or over the weekend
The colour of brick used can range from an almost white to an almost black and specimens come with or without the ‘Jolly N’ brand impressed on the back. The design of the bases varies from being flared out in an oval shape that can sometimes be pointed at the sides, or even scalloped to rectangular. Others have nothing at all.
Although various potteries are recorded to have had a few leave their establishments, I am unaware of any documentary evidence that suggests they were ever a production line. Such establishments would be Dinmore and Reliance Potteries in Queensland, Bendigo in Victoria and Lithgow and the State Brick Works, Lidcombe, in New South Wales. Indeed, any pottery in production early last century would be a likely source. Generally there is no potters’ mark evident, but occasionally, initials or perhaps a name will be found scratched on the bottom.
Most appear to be unique, however, I am aware of two identical examples that come complete with jockey caps, and another pair of a hatted variety with the name of a boy on one and presumably that of his sister on the other impressed in
One well-known Australian author on Australian pottery, Mona Brand, when speaking of examples emanating from the Lithgow Pottery, states that they were molded from the popular American moneyboxes around 1910. This I would extend another 30 years or more to cover the other potteries and brickworks.
Continued on next page
“I’s a Real Aussie Bloke” (Continued)
As to workmanship, some are quality pieces with very fine attention to detail while others are decidedly crude. But local collectors, especially, accept them for what they are and regard them highly.
No, I have not seen one with a coin trap, so unless the old bread knife was capably used to recover the booty, the alternative was to smash the bank, which in itself could be one good reason for its extreme rarity. Couple this with a wide range of collectors interested in them and we have a very desirable Aussie Bloke from Down Under. Would you not agree?
George Dean
Note: If further information is required on early Australian potteries, Geoff Ford’s book, Australian Pottery: The First 100 Years (1995), is an excellent reference.
Referring to the photographs contained in the
collage on page 15:
1. Jolly N Base signed, RY.
2. RY Front view.
3. RY Rear view.
4. JN Banks with hats.
5. JN Banks with hats - signed bases.
6. JN Pair painted.
7. Rear view of painted pair.
8. JN’s without hats – Front view.
9. JN’s without hats – Rear view.
10. JN’s without hats – Bases.
11. Another JN Trio
12. Rear view of the Trio.
. . . and the picture in the corner is of that “Aussie Bloke”, George holding a Jolly N “Copper” wearing a hat.
Answers to Trivia Questions – see page 11
Submitted by Nancy Pickle
1) Lou Filler from Cincinnati, OH. (Deceased)
2) The Cat with Ball Bank!
3) Sturbridge, MA.
4) There has never been woman President of the SBCCA.
5) There was one woman President of the Mechanical Bank Collectors of America – Helen Casper. (Deceased)
6) The late Elaine Werbel.
7) The SBCCA Convention location farthest
a) North – Portland, OR.
b) South – Orlando, FL.
c) West – Portland, OR.
d) East – Sturbridge, MA.
8) The first commemorative bank issued was The Buckeye.
a) In 1972.
b) Ohio.
c) A collaboration of Lou Filler and Ralph Dye.
SBCCA Website – Member’s Section
We just want to remind you that the club website is comprised of two sections:-
The first area is accessible by the public and has seen a substantial volume of visits since inception because it contains a lot of interesting information for interested collectors and potential SBCCA members.
The second section is viewable by members only, which by the way, is you and me. You can click on the members section and are prompted to enter two fields:-
• Under Member, type in the word, member
• Under Password, type in the word, chicago (all in lower case letters)
There is a lot to see in the way of pictures of banks, home visits, slide shows, advertising banks for sale and banks wanted, old advertising, patent information, articles and club stuff for sale so, “Come On Down”!
“May the Force be With You” (contintued from page 8)
17) C-3PO
• 7 and one half inches
• T19
• 1994
• B
• $30
Collectors Series No 005000
TM & C LFL
Thinkway Toys, N.Y.
Made in China
Vinyl Slot in Back
Star Wars Savings Bank
18) C-3PO
• 7 and one half inches
• T19
• 1994
• C
• $30
Collectors Series No 003416
TM & C LFL
Thinkway Toys, Ontario, Canada
Made in China Made for French Market
Vinyl
Slot in back
Star Wars Savings Bank/Banque
Note different colors of C-3PO
19) Darth Vader Bust
• 7 and one half inches
• T19
• 1994
• B
• $30
TM & C LFL
Vinyl Slot in back
Thinkway Toys, New York Made in China
20) C-3PO & R2-D2
• 10 and three-quarter inches
• T19
• 1995
• D
• $75
TM & C LFL
C1977 Warner-Timberlane Publishing Corp
Thinkway Toys, N.Y. Made in China
Requires Batteries
Electronic Talking Bank.
Push button down on platform or drop coin in slot to activate bank action.
Music, Lights and Movement
Sound Track from original voice
21) Darth Vader
• 11 and one half inches
• T19
• 1996
• D
• $75
Tm & C LFL
C1980 Warner Tamerlane Publishing Corp
Thinkway Toys, N.Y. Made in China
Electronic Talking Bank
Requires Batteries
Electronic Talking Bank. Push button down on platform or drop coin in slot tp activate bank action
Music, Lights and Movement
Sound Track from original voice
22) Darth Maul on Space vehicle
• 6 and one half inches
• T19
• 1999
• B
• $25
Star Wars Episode I
LFL China
SV
Slot in top of vehicle
Mr. Evil No 2 Sith Lord
23) Jar Jar Binks
• 9 and one half inches
• T19
• 1999
• B
• $25
Star Wars Episode I
LFL China
Applause Inc., Woodland Hills , CA.
Slot in back
SV
Unthinking, Uncoordinated Helper
24) Qui-Gon-Gin
• 15 and three-quarter inches
• T19
• 1999
• D (continued on next page)
“May the Force be With You” (continued)
“May the Force be With You” (continued)
• $75
Jedi Master Star Wars Episode I
TM & C LFL C1980 Warner Tamerlane Publishing Corp
Thinkway Toys, N.Y. Made in China
Interactive talking bank
Combat actions, original voice with light and sound effects.
There are two other banks in this interactive series (not pictured):
Obi-Wan Kenobi (Jedi Knight) and Darth Maul (Sith Lord). The Two Jedi’s actually form Darth Maul when connected.
Push button platform or insert coin in slot which activates bank action. Motion sensor will keep person moving/fighting as long as you wave your hands.
Requires batteries.
Editor’s Note - For the sake of completeness, several Mechanical Banks have been pictured and/or referenced in this article.
Notice – New Bank Club Formed Submitted by Jim Redwine
I’m happy to announce the start-up of a new Coin Bank Collectors Club named the Midwest, South, Southwest, Bank, Building and Car Club (MSSBBCC) open to collectors of still and mechanical banks, souvenir buildings and promotional cars (Promos). (Many souvenir buildings and promos are banks.)
Points of Contact:
Jim Redwine Tel: (314) 744-6940
Jim Gass Tel: (731) 664-2741 email jamesdjdg@aol.com
Phil Hardacre, Tel: (262) 242-7749
First Annual Convention
Holiday Inn- St. Louis Airport North 4545 N. Lindbergh Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63044
Tel: (314) 731-2100
October 14, 15, & 16 (Fri. Sat. Sun.), 2005 Registration at noon Friday in the Board Room. For those staying Friday and Saturday nights; checkout time is 3:00 PM Sunday.
Cost: Room per night - $59 per night
Hotel rates will be the same for the two days before and two days after the meeting dates.
Room reservations must be made with the hotel by April 14, 2005.
The rooms reserved are first floor rooms around the holidome.
The Saturday Night Buffet is $25 per person.
Activities: Friday
¸ Convention registration.
¸ Buying, selling, and trading banks, buildings and promos in rooms.
Activities: Saturday & Sunday
¸ Buying, selling, and trading banks, buildings and promos in rooms.
¸ Display of attendees’ favorite banks, buildings, and promos in the board room.
¸ The buffet dinner Saturday night ($25 per person) offers an opportunity for attendees to introduce themselves and comment on their bank collections.
¸ Auction, Sunday morning 8:00 AM until 11:00 AM. No cost.
Activities: Monday
For those of you staying though Monday, home visits to see bank collections are scheduled.
¸ Jim Redwine 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
¸ Viewing of other local collections being arranged.
URGENT: In order to reserve the rooms at this very favorable rate, along with other concessions made by the hotel, we must pay immediately for twenty buffet dinner reservations, at $25 per person. Persons planning to attend please make reservations for the dinner by forwarding $25 per person now. Make checks payable to Jim Redwine and forward them to my address listed in your directory.
Look forward to seeing you there.
Jim Redwine
A Modern Bank
Submitted by Bob and Dee Vicic
Never gave modern banks much thought. Oh, there are a few of them that grace our shelves, including a plastic bowling pin bank (“pin money”), an Uncle Sam’s 3-coin Registering Bank from the 1950’s, and a couple other modern marvels. These were all gifts from friends or family members who knew we enjoyed “money boxes.”
Enter our son, Todd. He sensed our need for a mechanical bank (our first) while he was a young child, and presented us with a plastic Coca-Cola mechanical bank one Christmas. Todd surely appreciates our love of collecting banks, but he would never be a bank collector. Now in his twenties, he wanted to add to our collection again. Not knowing where to go to purchase a bank did not stop him. Instead, he relied upon good, old-fashioned human ingenuity—he made one!
It will help if you understand that our son is skilled in CAD/CAM (computer aided design/computer aided manufacturing). He “borrowed” a large Cupola Bank to obtain its dimensions and increased them proportionately. Machining time was available on a friend’s CNC machining center. CNC stands for Computer Numerically Controlled - the programming instructions
Continued from back page
The Hairy Buffalo
Ober merely designated the bank as "Buffalo" with the stock number 1017. The earliest use of the name, Hairy Buffalo, that I find is in Long-Pitman’s Dictionary of Still Banks (1980, Page 2, # 26). Both the Williams and the Ober buffalo banks are dip-
written in CAD (above) are implemented here. The front and the sides of the bank were manufactured on this machine. The back, base, cupola and the two roofs were completed on a manual milling machine.
After machining was complete, considerable time was spent “benching.” This is a tedious process whereby all remaining raised areas on each piece were filed smooth in order to remove machine marks caused by the tooling. The entire bank was then polished with 220 grit (coarse) stone. Use of the stone was necessary in order to prepare the surface for painting. All surfaces had to have a uniformly smooth finish for paint. Our bank was properly primed before application of finish coats, and then was painted in six colors: Green, taupe, ivory, blue, black and brown. The result is a bank that was created by machining instead of through use of molds. It is 8.75 inches high, 6.50 inches wide, 5.25 inches deep and is a rather heavy item, despite the fact it is made of aluminum.
We’re thrilled with the result! And what bank-collecting parents wouldn’t be?
See color pictures on page 14.
painted gold, while the Ober beast has a spot of black at the eye. The Hairy Buffalo is at least as rare as other Ober banks rated "E". It doesn’t come up for auction very often.
See color pictures on page 16.
The Hairy Buffalo
Submitted
by Harold and Rona Blau
The Moores did not have an example of the Hairy Buffalo bank when they wrote their classic book and even today, very few collectors have one. The Hairy Buffalo should be rated at least an E in scarcity.
Here are the facts as we understand them at this time... This bank was produced by the Ober Manufacturing Company of Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Bob Saylor discovered advertising flyers featuring these cast iron penny banks while doing research in the area.
In the Penny Bank Post, issue No 1, published in 1987 Saylor wrote; "Banks obviously were an extremely small part of the business; perhaps a novelty item."
While concentrating on the production of sad irons, axes and trivets, Ober allowed a small production of still banks. Thus far, we can positively identify just 13 different banks that this company produced. They are listed here with the Moore # and Rating.
continued on page 28
BANK
Seated Elephant w Turned Trunk
Bear Stealing Pig
M # R
445 D
693 D
Clown with Crooked Hat 210 E
Sharecropper – 2 toes visible 174 C
Billy Can
Polish Rooster
Lion, Tail Right
Basset Hound
Elephant w Tucked Trunk
Hippo
In 1916 Ober discontinued its foundry business and probably sold the bank patterns to A.C. Williams who continued to produce SOME of the OBER banks. We surmise that the lion Bank and Elephant with Tucked Trunk were seen as commercially viable banks, i.e. they would appeal to children, which would explain why these items are more commonly found today, hence the A rating. However, other banks were not in production very long and some, perhaps, not at all beyond the original Ober production. There are many reasons why particular banks may achieve a level of rarity such that perhaps only a dozen or so exist in known collections. Yes, factories did burn down and production was never resumed. Perhaps particular banks did not sell very well owing to their subject matter, cost or appearance, resulting in a business decision to cease production. In the case of the Hairy Buffalo, as it has come to be known, it is difficult to imagine a child selecting this one over a cute little doggie or elephant. The photo will attest to its decided lack of appeal. Yet, the casting is extremely detailed, smooth on the inside and realistic.
E
E
A
E
A
E
Squirrel with Nut 660 D
Everett True (The Capitalist)
The Hairy Buffalo
5 E
No # E
This brings us face to face with the proposition that A.C. Williams most likely had a Buffalo Bank in their line of production (see Moore # 560)) when they acquired the Ober patterns. Why should they produce the Ober Buffalo when this subject was already represented in their toy line?
The hump of the common Williams Buffalo is more pronounced and the casting is smooth over the second half of its body, while the Ober Buffalo is an attempt to capture the true shagginess of the American Bison. This undoubtedly contributed to its name. It is interesting to note that originally
Continued on previous page