PENNY BANK POST
Still Bank Collectors Club of America
President
Charles Meeks
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 2005
Ken Russell 2005
John Bennett 2004
Doug Harman 2004
Fritz Kokesh 2004
Historian
Jeanie Egelhoff
Membership Chairman
Larry Egelhoff
Editor, Newsletter
Mike Henry
Editor, Penny Bank Post
Tony Neilson
Webmaster
Greg Dean
Ethics Committee
Chairman
Matt Medeiros
Committee
Members
Don Heim
Joe Wilkinson
Jim Yeager
FRONT COVER
The Mrs. O’Leary Bank Commemorates the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, reputedly started by O’Leary’s cow kicking over a lantern. The fire destroyed 18,000 buildings devastating the city of Chicago.
From The Editor’s Desk
My sincere thanks are extended to all those that contributed to making this issue possible -
Harold & Rona Blau, Greg Dean, Jeanie & Larry Egelhoff, Tom Hagan, Frank Kidd, Fritz Kokesh, Charles Meeks, Lynn Neilson, Lin & Nancy Pickle, Bob Pierce, Shirley Pierce, Jim Redwine, Dick Soukup, Harry & Lynn Ward, Dr. Z, 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 extend apologies to those of you that have been watching your mail for a copy of the Post. The combination of my bad planning and other conflicts resulted in my falling behind in preparation of the August issue. That explains why it has become the September issue. Note that with the later dates for the 2004 SBCCA Convention, I expect that we’ll see another September issue next year.
What a year for Lynn & I to miss the SBCCA Convention. All reports indicate that it was an unqualified success. The accommodations, the food, the arrangements, the SBCCA Convention Bank, and especially the home visits featuring four mind-blowing collections. Lots of great banks in the color section - use a magnifying glass to see more of the detail. All of your names should appear in my thanks above, but I’ll take this opportunity to reiterate my gratitude to those of you that provided the Post with a plethora of pictures for me to choose from for this issue.
Highlights of this year’s convention included the educational talks given by Larry Bates, Mike Goldstein, and Jim Willett. We’ll carry the text and pictures from Mike Goldstein’s talk in December. In future, I would like all presenters to consider making both their text and pictures available to the Post so that the entire membership can benefit from these well-prepared efforts.
On a sad note, we lost Bill Bertoia this spring, and our sympathies are noted within this issue.
Remember to check in on our web site, from time to time; at www. stillbankclub.com Greg Dean periodically adds new material and photos, and if you don’t find what you’re looking for, consider contributing material (pictures and text) to Greg for addition to the site. Remember its member and chicago to enter the members’ only area.
Please accept my sincere thanks for your submissions, 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.
President’s Message... Charles Meeks
Dear Friends and Collectors,
The 2003 Chicago SBCCA Convention was a great success.
On behalf of the officers and the board of directors I would like to thank Dick Soukup and his Chicago committee for a job well done. The hotel was lovely and the shopping was close to the hotel. I heard that the sales were on at the mall and the merchants were pleased we held the convention in Chicago and would like to extend an invitation for the club to come back next year. The sales from the rooms were hot even though Don Markey was unable to attend. Two old south churches were sold out of the rooms along with some other nice banks. The auction presented some competitive bidding as it too had
some nice banks.
Speaking of nice banks, I think a New Bank
Book could replace the Harry Potter Book for sales. From what I saw it could be titled “The Chicago Four Bank Collections”. What great banks we got to see in the home visits. I can only
say, it was too much to take in on one trip. There were so many centerfold banks.
My want list just grew and I came home and told my wife that if these collections ever came to auction we may have to put on another room. One home had a section with a sign stating MY
Favorite: nice banks, but you could include this one and the one over there on the shelf. It did not stop!
I had written in the last Penny Bank Post
Patterns and the Molding of Cast Iron Banks (cont.)
that we would see banks that we had never seen before. Dick, Mike, Norm & Dick: what great collections and thanks for allowing us the chance to see the results of your hard work.
Sorry, couldn’t find Betty Jo Bowers
I extend thanks to the hosts and hostesses for your hospitality on behalf of those of us that had the opportunity to visit and enjoy your homes.
We all enjoy our own collection but we sure enjoy seeing others' collections. The club has so much to offer. We hope the new members and the members that were able to attend a convention for the first time enjoyed themselves and look forward to next year's convention in Alexandria, Va. Jim Kent, chairman for the SBCCA 2004 convention is working to make it an exciting time. Many members at this year's convention told me that Alexandria is a great area with many places of interest to visit. I am looking forward to seeing the hotel as I have been told that it is nice and we will enjoy it.
2005 will take us back to the Eden Hotel in Lancaster, Pa. for the convention. We are presently working on a convention close to the French Quarter in New Orleans for 2006. There have been members that have said they would like to go back to the Orlando area so I have spoken to Don Duer about that possibility.
It might be good to take another SBCCA Survey to check the feelings of the members. I heard at this convention: that we should have the convention at a low cost hotel, only have one dinner, no convention bank, and the home visits were not that important. However, others said that it does not get any better than this (referring to Chicago): good security around and in the hotel, clean rooms, and chairs and sofas around to sit and visit with other members. My personal feeling is that if we only have one convention a year and it costs a little more to feel safe and relaxed, I'll vote for it- but I only have one vote. Think about it and look for a survey to be forth coming. It is your club and the Board of Directors want to improve the club and offer what the members desire. We would sure like to have more members at the conventions. What would it take for you to come to the club's convention?
The registration/hospitality room looked
Obituary Notices
William “Bill” Bertoia 12/17/19506/6/2003
It is with great sadness that we note the death of Bill Bertoia.
Bill was a unique individual, a bright light in so many of our lives, and a wonderful friend to those that knew him well.
The business Bill founded will endure, and, in the years to come, whenever friends and col-
lectors gather together at Bertoia auctions, toy shows, and conventions, they’ll exchange their favorite stories about moments they’ve shared with Bill. His influence in the world of antique toys was without precedent, and his charming and friendly demeanor will be sorely missed.
On behalf of the SBCCA, we extend our sincerest sympathy to his wife Jeanne, their children, his brother Rick, and other members of his family.
William “Bill” Bertoia
12/17/1950- 6/6/2003
To all who showed their genuine support and friendship for Bill, the Bertoia family and staff at Bertoia Auctions extend sincerest thanks and appreciation.
Bertoia Auctions will continue to bring the best of collections to the best of collectors, and the entire staff will make every effort to host each and every event with the same standards set by Bill. We will strive to promote future sales mirroring Bill's unmatched spirit of toy collecting.
We welcome all inquiries, and look forward to continued toy camaraderie.
More Pocket Banks
Contributed by Tom Hagan
I am enclosing some information, and photographs of three Pocket Banks, which do not appear in the new Pocket Bank Book.
The National City Bank - Akron, Ohio
This dime bank has a coin slot on each side. It measures two inches high, by two and a half inches long, by one inch wide. The bank was made out of aluminum by the Stronghart Co., Chicago. Patented.
The Alliance Building and Savings Co.
This is an oval shaped celluloid bank - I wish I could still get 5% on savings! T.H.
The Cleveland Trust Co.
This is a round celluloid bank.
See pictures on page 16
Going Once – Going Twice – Sold Bertoia Auctions
Bertoia Auctions, The following results are for still banks, which sold for $500 or more:All prices reflect the buyers’ premium.
Autumn Toy Fest Sale held October 4, 2002.
5 McKinley/Teddy Elephant, VG 715 8 Seated Elephant, Turned Trunk, Ex 770
Turkey, Large, Pristine 605
Bassett Hound, Sq. Nut, VG 715 24 Old Abe W/Shield, Good 825 30 Squirrel W/Nut, Ex 523
Two Kids, VG 605 43 Dachshund W/Pup on Doghouse, PR 660 44 Soccer Player, Lead, Ex 935 45 Hen on Nest, Rare, VG 770
Seal on Rock, Ex 605 55 Monkey W/Removable Hat, Scarce, Ex 1,045
Hippo, Ex 5,225
Oriental Camel, Ex 880
Rhino, Ex 605 63 Bear, Barrel Between Legs, Near Mint 660
Frowning Face, Rare, VG 1,100
Convention 2003 Auction Results Submitted
by Richard Soukup, Treasurer
This was the fourth year of the revised auction format. A fee of $5 per lot up to a maximum of 10 lots was charged, however the $5 fee was refunded if the lot was sold. The Board’s objectives in establishing this new format were to increase the quality of banks being offered for sale, and increase the number of banks being sold. I think that these objectives were accomplished at this year’s auction.
This year, 181 lots were offered for sale, and 75 lots (41.4%) were sold. At last year’s convention auction, 300 lots were offered for sale, and 106 lots (35.3%) were sold. While the number of lots declined from last year, the quality of the banks put up for auction was better, the length of the auction was shorter, and bidder interest was improved over prior years. The club raised $620 from the 2003 auction, including $90 in auction fees that were donated back to the club. The club also received $400 from the sale of the “one-of-a-kind” Chicago 2003 convention bank (page 13), $300 from the sale of business cards with a 3-D picture of your favorite bank donated by Larry Egelhoff, and $150 from the sale (to Aaron) of a SBCCA 2003 ceramic bank that was hand made by
Tom Vick.
Aaron Zeamer, SBCCA Pottery Bank, & Tom Vick Following are the auction results for the top 12
banks sold. Descriptions are those used by the consigners.
I Can Name that Building in One Note!
Contributed by Mike Holz
This is written in response to an article titled, “Can Anyone Identify” by John Smith, which was published in the December 2000 Penny Bank Post.
In the December 2000 PBP John Smith ran an article asking for help to identify a small iron building bank that measures three and three sixteenths by four and five sixteenths by four inches high. The writing over the slot read, TEMPLE MUSIC or TEMPLE MUSIO.
I believe this bank is a representation of the TEMPLE OF MUSIC building that was built for the 1901 Pan-American Exposition held in Buffalo, New York.
It was made to house free orchestral and organ concerts during the exposition, but was also used
extensively for speeches and ceremonies.
A Herd of Prancing Horses
Contributed by Graham Jones
In the 15 or so years I’ve been collecting cast iron Canadian banks I have never come across a reproduction. It could be argued of course that all Canadian banks are reproductions, made from their American equivalents, as shown by the slight reduction in size caused by the casting shrinkage. But if we accept these banks as being well made, suitably identified with the Canadian name, and never intended to mislead the buyer, then they are in my opinion original. But I now have an example that is intended to mislead, and it was definitely made in recent years.
Fig. 1 is an American Large Prancing Horse c1910 by Arcade and A C Williams, valued at around $175US. The base is four and a half inches by a fraction over two and eleven-sixteenths, and an overall length of six and seven-eighths (point of tail to left raised leg). The Canadian Large Prancing Horse in Fig. 3 is manufactured by the Beaverton Toy Co. c1920, and valued at around $250US. Its base is four and fifteen thirty-seconds inches by two and eleven-sixteenths, and the overall length of six and thirteen sixteenths. In other words, slightly smaller all around than its American cousin, with the more obvious difference being the words, Made in Canada, embossed on the front of the rectangular base. The quality of the casting is excellent, and the fitting of the two halves is clean and tight. Therefore, while the Canadian bank almost certainly used the American version as a casting mold, the end result is a high quality bank without the joint gap and casting flaws associated with most reproductions.
An interesting version of the bank shown in Fig. 6 was made in the Province of Quebec as a promotional prize in the 1970’s. It is a chrome-plated bank with base dimension of four and three-eighths by two and five-eighths, and an overall length of six and fiveeighths inches. Here, the size is even smaller, and it seems certain to have been made from the Canadian parts. The words, Made in Canada, on the base are badly smeared, to the point of being almost unreadable. The value is around $50US. However it was not intended to be anything other than a promotional gimmick, and while it remains in my collection as an oddity, I don’t consider it a reproduction.
Now for my most recent purchase; the Large Prancing Horse shown in Fig. 8. It is superficially the
same as the Made on Canada version with the name embossed on the base. It was sold as an original, and is clearly intended to deceive. However, having made this statement, I should also note that the bank only cost me $35US so maybe the owner didn’t realize the value of these banks. It originated in the Philadelphia area where it was purchased at auction, and then sold to me over the Internet. When bought, the bank was finished in a garish copper colored paint, obviously new and with an extra thick layer around the joints to disguise the telltale gaps and casting flaws. I immediately stripped the paint. The paint came off right away, a sign of a recent application, to reveal the new casting shown in Fig. 8. The joint between the two halves is poor, especially at the head, and the casting has a fair number of surface imperfections. Also the two location notches on the neck and belly of both the American and Canadian versions is missing in the reproduction. Now comes the interesting part – the dimension of the base is four and three eighths by two and five eighths, and the overall length is seven inches; that is, the base is smaller than the Canadian base (just like the Chrome version) while the horse is bigger than the American version.
Where does all this leave us? Well I guess we do have a lot of confusing measurements, but the bottom line is this; the American Large Prancing Horse made in 1910 was used to make a Canadian version in 1920 with the added name embossed on the base. Sometime around the year 2002 a reproduction was made using the Canadian base. I don’t know how, or why they made the horse so much bigger but it is definitely the same material and casting quality as the base. Apart from the dimensions, the easiest way to identify the reproduction is the lack of locating notches in the neck and belly of the horse.
To my knowledge this is the only reproduction of a cast iron Made in Canada bank.
Continued on page 12
Continued from page 11
A Herd of Prancing Horses
Well, it’s hardly a herd, but there are four different versions of the same bank to make a story. If any members find more of the reproductions I would like to hear about them. In particular I’d like to find out where they’re made and by whom.
Figure 1 American Prancing Horse (large) by Arcade or A C Williams, c1910. Painted overall in gold paint.
Figure 2 View under neck of American bank showing the locating notch.
Figure 3 Made in Canada Prancing Horse (large) by Beaverton Toy Co. c1920. The gold horse with black base is the most common version.
Figure 4 Made in Canada embossed on the Canadian bank.
Figure 5 View under neck showing the locating notch much higher up than the American version.
Figure 6 Promotional version of the Prancing Horse (large) made in Quebec c1970. Chrome-plated finish.
Figure 7 Very badly smeared Made in Canada embossed on the Quebec bank.
Figure 8 Reproduction version of the Prancing Horse (large) c2002. Paint stripped off.
Figure 9 Made in Canada embossed on the base of the reproduction bank.
Figure 10 View under the neck showing the absence of the location notch on the reproduction bank. Also note the gaps between the halves and the poor casting quality.
The Mrs. O’Leary SBCCA Convention Bank
Contributed
by Larry Egelhoff
The foundry has automated since being sold, and a robot arm has replaced the manual dip process. I was lucky enough to be there while they were running, actually they were rerunning the safe backs, and was able to get the foundry pictures. The first batch was damaged in manufacturing.
Photos appear on the right. Figure #’s are in red.
Figure 1 Conveyor carrying invested waxes to the next dip cycle.
Figure. 2 Robot arm moving safes to the next dip tank.
Figure. 3 Coating wet investments with dry silica.
Figure. 4 Assembled and primed banks ready for Mike.
Figure. 5 Drilling fronts on a CN machine for screw hole.
Figure. 6 Mike picking up finished castings for painting.
Figure. 7 Most banks were painted bronze.
Figure. 8 Some banks multi-color banks were produced.
Figure. 9 One white bank was produced to be sold at auction with the proceeds going to the SBCCA.
Figure. 10 Jim Redwine, winning bidder for the white one-of-akind Mrs. O’Leary, poses with the bank’s producers, Larry Egelhoff & Mike Henry.
Advertising Vacuum Cleaner Banks
Contributed by Bob and Shirley Peirce
Herbert C. Booth invented electric vacuum cleaners in 1901. Until then, there were only brooms, and hand powered carpet sweepers to pick up the dust and dirt. There are several vacuum cleaner advertising banks encouraging potential buyers to save their money for the purchase of this new, timesaving invention.
The Premier Vacuum Cleaner Company used two different sizes of book banks to promote saving spare change for their cleaner. The front cover of the smaller size reads: “Premier Sweeps the Country” on a banner over the earth. The larger size shows three upright models of the Premier line on the front cover with each model being identified.
There is a Eureka Book Bank (mine is in poor condition) that shows the vacuum cleaner on the front cover and reads, “Eureka Purchase Plan”.
The back cover reads, “BANK a coin a day”, and the spine reads, “Eureka the housewife's friend.”
There are a number of figural vacuum cleaner banks. Filter Queen commissioned Banthrico to produce a pot metal example of their bucket cleaner, and a number of years later, a plastic example was issued. Banthrico also made the Rexair Vacuum that, “Traps dust and dirt in water.”
The most interesting figural advertising vacuum cleaner bank is the Kirby. It is made of plastic, and is quite fragile. Apparently not many of them survived, as it is the most difficult of all vacuum cleaner banks to find.
By far the most abundant vacuum cleaner banks are those advertising Electrolux vacuum cleaners. But more on that subject another time.
English Lifeboat Collection Bank
Contributed by Harold & Rona Blau
Our interest in the Lifeboat collection bank came about when we quite unexpectedly received one from a trade partner in England. It turned out to be an unlisted variation. The footnotes in Moore state that shortly after the Titanic sank these collection boats were placed in pubs and shops, and that contributions were used to help families of those who went down at sea.
Indeed, the information that we have about the Titanic tragedy indicates that on Sunday, April 14th, the fourth day of the maiden voyage, the sea was exceptionally calm but the weather had turned cold. Normally, a lifeboat drill would follow Sunday services for passengers, but for some reason that day Captain Smith opted NOT to hold a lifeboat drill on the Titanic!
Here’s why:
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) was founded in 1824, which was 88 years before the Titanic sank. The RNLI could play no role in the Titanic rescue effort since they only operated at a limit of 50 miles out from the coasts of England and Ireland.
Today there are 224 lifeboat stations with a fleet of 320 lifeboats. On average, these lifeboats launch 6,300 times every year, and rescue an average of 19 people per day. Since its founding, the RNLI lifeboat rescues have saved more than 135,000 lives.
While we don't doubt that news of the Titanic tragedy motivated the placement of lifeboat collection banks in public places, and stimulated contributions, the link between the Titanic and these collection lifeboats is tenuous at best.
The RNLI maintains a website at www.rnli.org. uk and stresses that it depends entirely upon voluntary contributions and legacies for its income. There are 250 women in lifeboat crews among the more than 4,500 volunteer crewmembers throughout the country.
Continued on page 18
Continued from page 17
English Lifeboat Collection Bank
LIFEBOAT COLLECTION BOXES
The following correspondence may serve to shed some light on the history of these wonderful tinplate banks shaped like lifeboats.
Dear Mr. Blau, Feb. 10, 2003
Thank you for your enquiry. Unfortunately the history of collection boxes was not thought sufficiently important at the time to keep records. This is a great pity because few of these have survived, and we have trouble dating them ourselves.
As far as we know, the RNLI Secretary, Charles Dibden recorded 'Pillar Contribution Boxes' at various locations in London in 1883. Including Waterloo Station, the Sarcen's Head (a pub we presume) the East India Docks, etc.
There have been many designs of hand held tin boxes or counter boxes over the years but these have not been recorded systematically. In 1922 a new cardboard box was introduced shaped like a lifeboat. We are in the process of formalizing our archives and collections and may be in a better position to answer queries in the next few years.
Regards, Carolyn Anand Collections Administrator
Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Additional correspondence with the RNLI revealed that,
“RNLI collection boxes have nothing to do with the Titanic disaster. They were introduced simply as a way of raising money on Lifeboat Days.
Tin collecting boxes may have survived in their locations well into the 1960's when they were replaced by a cardboard version. This, in turn, was followed by a plastic model of the original tin box and the latest development is that we are returning to the use of cardboard as these are easier to store and distribute in flat pack form.”
TINPLATE LIFEBOAT VARIATIONS
Lifeboat A (Moore#1466)
Lifeboat B (new find)
One slot on top deck 3 slots on top deck
Key-Iock trap on deck key klt on backside
Affixed to table top surface to wall surface Length - 15” length 15” Width 3 1/2” width 3 1/2”
The paint and colors are identical in both lifeboats; gold letters upon a royal blue field with a white background. The size and style of the letters, as well as the paint and general shape of the boat, all point to the same period of production, which we believe is about 1910-20. We do not know the manufacturer of these tinplate lifeboat collection boxes. The key is large, older style, and made of iron. The commonly known lifeboat, which is pictured in Moore, was affixed to a table, bar top, or counter surface. This allowed the key-Iock trap to be opened, and its coin contributions to be gathered up.
The newly discovered variation was attached to the wall utilizing four pre-drilled holes in the back plate. The key-Iock trap was thus firmly up against the wall. This required the removal of the entire boat display in order to gain access to the trap. We surmise that this exercise proved quite bothersome because it would need continual redoing. Each time the lifeboat required emptying, the screws had to be undone and then the whole thing had to be re-fastened to the wall again. Most collection boxes in England are simply counter top devices. Rarely is one seen on the wall in public establishments.
It is one thing to find one of these lifeboat collection banks, and quite another to acquire this desirable item in nice original condition, given its age and apparent long usage. Preserving these is a rescue-job in its own right.
Harold & Rona Blau
Still Bank Collectors Club of America
Minutes of the 36th Annual General Meeting
Friday, June 6, 2003
The 36th annual convention of the Still Bank Collectors Club of America was held at the Hyatt Regency- Schaumburg, IL June 4th through June 7, 2003.
President Charles Meeks opened the meeting at 6:45p.m., and introduced new members, and first time convention attendees.
Don Duer offered prayers for all members and mentioned the following members who died in the past year: Raymond Lynn, Gordon Schroff, Bill Bertoia, Robert Keenan, and Donald Simon.
Chuck announced that our web page continues to grow and has generated new members. Greg Dean has done a great job. Any members with suggestions please contact Greg.
Secretaries and Treasurers report as printed in the PBP were approved as submitted.
The new projects are a book on CI painted building banks. Pictures are currently being taken. A later project will be a book on pot metal banks. These projects will take several years.
The 2004 national convention will be held in Alexandria, VA, hosted by James Kent June 24-26, 2004. Hotel fee will be $115.00 per night
(Continuing negotiations with the hotel succeeded in significantly reducing the room rate. Ed). The convention in 2005 will be held in Lancaster, PA. Thanks goes out to Tony Neilson, PBP Editor for a great job. We still need people to send articles for publication to Tony.
In new business, Chuck reported two board members are completing their term this year: Mike Holtz and Steve Vogelbaum. A plaque was presented to Mike Holtz, and the plaque for Steve Vogelbaum will being sent to him.
Norman Bower presented nominees for the Board of Directors for two year terms. He stated this was his 20th year of presenting the nominations. The nominees are Ulrike Riegraf-Blank, and Ken Russell. They were elected unanimously.
Gordon Jorgensen, President of the Mid-Atlantic Penny Bank Club, announced that the 2003 convention will be held in Lancaster on September 26-27,
2003. All members are welcome. For more information contact Dorothy Carpenter.
Past President, Bob Brady, presented a plaque to Jeannie Egelhoff, Historian for 10 years of outstanding service.
Chuck thanked Larry Bates, and Jim Willet for the seminars they presented and Dick and Barbara, Norm and Betty Jo Bowers, Dick and Linda Soukup, Mike and Carol Henry for the visits to their lovely homes.
Mike Henry revealed the convention bank, Mrs.
O’Leary, a Harper type safe bank produced by him and Larry Egelhoff. Some multi-color banks were produced for sale. One bank in white (will) be sold at the auction to benefit the club treasury.
The meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m.
Recorded
by,
Harry A. Ward Secretary
Financial Statement
Prepared by Dick Soukup, SBCCA Treasurer
EMBC Convention - 20th Anniversary
Submitted by Lin and Nancy Pickle
The European Money Bank Collectors Club’s 20th Anniversary Convention was a tremendous success. The Convention was held in Ludwigsburg, Germany, at the Nestor Hotel May 1,2,3, and 4, 2003. Approximately 50 people were in attendance, and Ulrike & Werner Blank had done a great job of planning the program.
The convention actually started on April 30th with a visit to the home of Harald and Uti Merklein in Nurnberg, Germany. We were able to view their wonderful collection of banks, many made by Saalheimer & Strauss in Nurnberg. The Merklein collection is very fascinating, and interesting, with a lot of local history. However, this was only one of the highlights of our visit as we were treated to a keg of great German Beer together with a wonderful German Dinner.
On Thursday, May 1st, we were given a private guided tour through the Ludwigsburg Castle, which is located next door to the hotel. The old Castle is breathtaking, and it’s history very interesting.
On May 2nd, we traveled by bus to visit the old
city of Bad Wimpfen, and a unique Schweine (Pig) Museum. A buffet dinner was served that evening, followed by the business meeting, and then a great slide show on rare banks presented by John Haley.
The highlight of the convention took place on Saturday, May 3rd when we visited Ulrike & Werner Blank's Museum of Banks. This collection was started by Ulrike's father, Gerhard Riegraf, and continues to grow. The presentation of the banks is surpassed only by the quality, and quantity. This collection and display kept members enthralled for many hours, following which, we had an auction of banks in the afternoon, and a fabulous dinner at the hotel in the evening.
On May 4th, the Sunday, we traveled to the home of Lothar and Anna Graff's in Schonecken/Eifel, Germany. Lothar and Anna have a beautiful new home with domestic deer, a fishpond, and a wonderful room full of banks. The banks are beautifully displayed, and are a wonderful collection to see.
Lothar's knowledge of his banks is fantastic, and it is great to speak with him about them.
Everyone in attendance had a great time and we want to thank all who helped make it happen.Next year, the EMBC convention will be hosted by Mrs. Elisabeth Klummer, and will be held near Vienna, Austria on 30 April - 2 May 2004.
For anyone wanting to learn more about the EMBC, please get in touch with us.
Elizabeth Klummer, Monique La Marcc, Ulrike Blank, and Anna Graff
Uti Merklein, Auke De Vries, Harald Merklein, Paris Pierce, and Guy Williams
Lin Pickle
James Cox, John Bennett, Guy Williams, & Lothar Graff
Goodbye to a Longtime Bank Collector & Friend
Submitted by Jim Redwine
Gordon Schroff made his mark in the greater St. Louis area as one of the premier bank and toy collectors. Gordon operated a plastics company with his two sons, Chuck & Brian, but his real love was banks and toys. He and his wife, Esther, combed the countryside and St. Louis for those wonderful collectables - banks and toys. Esther was a great help in alerting Gordon to toy/bank/item/bargain. Ester passed away some five years ago. Every weekend of toy shows, antique shows, estate sales and auctions you would find Esther and Gordon plowing the aisles and seaching for bargains. Gordon was so good at finding banks and toys that the Gateway Penny Bank Club (GPBC) members affectionately called him the “vacumn cleaner”. He rarely missed a bank or toy!
I first met Gordon in 1970 at his plastic shop with hundreds of toys and banks in his office and adjoining rooms for sale. I had plans to get to know him better and purchased some of his “goodies”, but I had a job opportunity in Washington, DC with the Department of the Army and did not see Gordon again until 1981 when I returned to ST. Louis. I got together with him, Jim Darr and Don Simon and we founded the GPBC in 1982 which is now in its 21st year.
Gordon had a “keen eye” for the valuable now and in the future. He was an astute buyer, seller and
trader with his bank toy friends. He was the GPBC President in 1986 and 1987 and we had many enjoyable meetings at the Schroff’s home. Gordon did numerous toy shows in St.Louis, Kane County, IL. And throughout the midwest. He could always be found at the SBCCA Conventions with his room full of surprise banks and toys. Gordon was a quiet man, but stood by his principles/ideas firmly. He was a Christian man and lived by these axioms. He developed kidney problems some three years ago and was taking dialysis. A broken ankle with lung and heart complications become to stressful, and he passed away 9 April 2003. Gordon was born 26 February 1926. He was buried beside his high school sweetheart, Esther, in Bid Spring, MO, a small community some 100 miles north of St. Louis where he and Esther were born.
The poem excerpt in his funeral brochure expresses well Gordon’s feelings:
“Be not burdened with time of sorrow. I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow. My life has been full, I savored much. Good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch.”
Goodbye Gordon, you were a good collector friend to many of us.
Jim Redwine
Doghouse Bank
Submitted by James Willett
We recently acquired a painted Austrian bronze bank, which is really quite attractive (and heavy). We were advised that a man named Bergman made the bronze about 1910, and we're also told he is a wellknown maker of Austrian bronzes.
I'm sure most bank collectors know that there are many Austrian bronzes, which are collected and prized by collectors. They are quite varied, and often rather expensive. While we have acquired several bronzes over time, our knowledge of them is quite superficial. It is hard to tell ones that have sufficient antiquity versus those that are being made at the present time. Bronze is an alloy of tin and copper and dates back to ancient time and was the first commonly used alloy.
The picture of the bank accompanying this article depicts an amusing scene with a cat bugging a dog that is ostensibly held back by the chain. It's the only example of a bronze bank of the painted variety that I've ever seen. There are, of course, a number of doghouse banks made of brass and silver (see Duer numbers 902, 904, 917, 985, and 1003 for examples of brass and silver). There are also a number of lead examples that I've observed in various collections (for example, see Duer numbers 687, 781, and 783).
banks in our collection, one of which is the only tin one I've seen. There are a significant number of ceramic banks with the doghouse theme. I've seen collections where there are several ceramic dogs in doghouse banks in different colors and shapes. The late Tom Stoddard's book identifies several ceramic doghouse banks that differ from those in the collections I've seen. We haven't made any particular effort to identify or collect doghouse banks, but note that we have several different examples in different materials. However, so far as I can determine, there is no production item of a cast iron doghouse bank. Considering the variety of cast iron banks that were made that is curious. After acquiring the bronze bank, with some spirited bidding on Ebay, another one surfaced a few months later. Experience has made me wary of declarations to the effect that a particular bank is the only one of its type seen and known when writing an article for the Penny Bank Post. The caveat is that it may not prove to be true.
I am curious to learn if other collectors have Austrian bronzes made as banks.
(See pictures on page 16)
The other picture shows a selection of doghouse
The building was designed by August Esenwein & James A. Johnson of Buffalo, NY, and cost $85,000 to build. It was constructed throughout the winter of 1900-1901.
It was octagonal in shape, and occupied a space of 150 feet square, with the dome rising 180 feet above the floor. It was, “Colored in light yellows, with gold and red trimmings, and the panels in the dome are in light blue.” The auditorium seated about 2,200 at full capacity, and, at the time it contained one of the largest pipe organs ever built. Organists from all over the country were hired to play for one or two days apiece. There were also frequent performances by the bands touring the Exposition, including John Philip Sousa's 50-piece band. Despite all the wonderful music events held at the TEMPLE OF MUSIC,
the building is most commonly remembered as the site where President William McKinley was shot on September 6th, 1901 at 4:07 PM.
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