A Good Read*
By
Morton A. Hirschberg
Every collector should be as well informed as he or she can be. Very few of us are instinctive experts, that is, able to know what is good most of the time without having previously handled or seen an item. Even before one goes into the marketplace, one should try to gain knowledge of what one wants to collect. The best way of doing this is by researching the field of interest. Fortunately, there are books on virtually every type of antique and collectible. This article will review many of the books that have been written about toy banks, both stills and mechanicals. In my own case, my overall personal toy library is vast. Somewhat disconcerting though, is that I now own almost as many books on toy banks as banks themselves.
I am going to suggest, of the many books I have read, those which would be most beneficial for the average collector, and then those geared for the more advanced toy bank collector. In doing this, I have grouped, in my own mind at least, the following categories: Pioneering, Stills, Mechanicals, Specialty and Others. By pioneering, I mean some of the early books, which were really more catalogs of the author’s collection than a complete and comprehensive treatment. In defense of the pioneers, however, the amount of source material that has come out over the past sixty years, and due in large measure to their early pioneering efforts, is enormous.
Pioneering – “Old Mechanical Banks”, Ina Hayward Bellows, Lightner Publishing Corporation, Chicago, 1940. Bellows gives us a great line, which is apropos for all collectors, but he was specifically addressing bank collectors when he wrote it. “The mechanical bank collectors of today have become connoisseurs and it is the connoisseur who raises the esthetic standards of the nation”. From this book, we learn that the Chinese made a mechanical pottery bank during the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD). Early American banks were made from gourds, shells, clay, or wood. The first tin banks were manufactured around 1816 and the first cast iron banks around 1869. Early wooden banks depicted churches, houses, barrels and guns while early pottery banks were usually animals and sold for 10 cents. Bellows explains the process for manufacturing cast iron banks starting with wax models and molds and ending with the final item. He lists a number of manufacturers including Stevens, Kingsbury, Hubley, Enterprise, Kenton, Sheperd, Kilgore, Arcade, Gray (sic), Hoge, and A.C. Williams. Most important, Bellows grades banks from A (common) to F (extremely rare) and associates a price range for each grade. He also provides patent information and the action of over 300 banks known at the time (including variations). Illustrations are in black and white.
Pioneering – “Mechanical Toy Banks”, Louis H. Hertz, Mark Haber, Wethersfeld, CT, 1947. Hertz tells us that his purpose in writing this book was to set the record straight; that earlier material was largely unreliable. He tells us, for instance, that the bulk of mechanical banks were made between 1928 and the start of WWII and not earlier as had been presumed. He also states that production methods allowed for multiple casting of a bank rather than each being individually hand crafted. Chapters include information on catalogs and advertising, the patent office, bank names and caricature, the Stevens Foundry, Jerome Secor, foreign banks, and departures from the norm. Charming and fascinating. A must for the advanced collector.
Pioneering – “A Handbook of Old Mechanical Penny Banks”, John D. Meyer, Tyrone, PA, 1948. Updated by Jerry Freeman, Watkins Glen, PA, 1960 with a section on still banks. The author states his purpose for writing the book to be to classify and number the 242 banks included and illustrated (in the 1948 version). Meyer describes the physical characteristics of the banks, explains their operation and provides patent numbers and dates of production. The banks covered are primarily American. Variations are not covered. Meyer provides original prices which range from $.75 to $18.00 per dozen! The principal foundries, including Stevens, Hubley, Reading, Enterprise Manufacturing, Sheperd, Kenton and Grey Iron are listed. Meyer provides a bibliography, lists old catalogs from 1860 to 1940 and talks about so called banks, which up to publication, had never surfaced. He also names bank collectors known to him as of January 1, 1948.
Illustrations are in black and white.
Pioneering – “Mechanical Banks”, F. H. Griffith, 1972. This book provides a complete listing of all ‘authentic’ old mechanical banks, mostly made of cast iron, with a black and white picture of each. In all, 297 named banks are listed which today, we know do not comprise all the more than 500 mechanical banks which were manufactured. A number of banks had not been pictured before this book was published. Banks are rated on a scale from 2 to 20 with 2 being the lowest grade and 20 the highest. In determining the ratings, Griffith assigned 15 points for rarity and valuation and 5 points for desirability and action. He also discusses variations and fake banks.
Pioneering – “Other Old Mechanical Banks”, Bernard Ellinghaus, Baltimore, MD, 1977. This is more a pamphlet than a book. It illustrates many old, primarily tin banks not pictured before this date. Information is rather sketchy.
Stills – “Old Iron Still Banks”, Hubert B. Whiting, Forward’s Color Productions Inc, Manchester, VT, 1968. Primarily a picture book with very little in the way of descriptions. All the banks are named and dimensions given but the manufacturer is seldom provided although the book contains banks by A.C. Williams, Grey Iron, Wing Mfg. Co., J.M. Harper, Kenton, Arcade, Bliss, and Stevens. All of the 450 banks pictured in color were in the author’s collection. Banks are graded from A to E with the latter being the most desirable.
Stills – “Dictionary of Still Banks”, Earnest & Ida Long and Jane Pitman, Long’s Americana, Mokelumne Hill, CA, 1980. Upon publication this was the most comprehensive book written about still banks. There are nearly 1500 black and white photographs covering every subject and material used for manufacture. Where possible the authors include name, major dimension, material, and colors. A very fine grading system from 1a to 20c and Rare is used with 1a being the most common or of low desirability.
Stills – “The Penny Book – Collecting Still Banks”, Andy and Susan Moore, Schiffer Publishing Ltd, Atglen, PA, 1984. Moore’s book has to be the bible on still banks and is the one I strongly recommend for all bank and toy collectors. There are nearly 1700 banks, which were once in the Moores collection. All pictures are in color. When known information includes name, scarcity rating, measurements, name of manufacturer, and dates of manufacture. A very comprehensive history of the major manufacturers along with copies of 80 patents and 250 pages of reproduced toy and jobber catalog pages provides the reader reams of information. In addition there are chapters on cleaning, restoring, preserving, and buying banks. Photos are arranged by category with variations shown and reproduced banks indicated. Finally, an appendix to the photos provides yet more information.
Mechanicals – “The Bank Book – The Encyclopedia of Mechanical Bank Collecting”, Bill Norman, Accent Studios, San Diego, CA, 1984. One of the three best books written about mechanical banks. This all color book features 456 well described banks. There are chapters on cast iron, tin, wood, musical, and vending banks as well as trade cards and bank related advertising. Norman provides a rarity scale from 1 to 5 with 1 being the rarest and a value scale from 1 to 50 with 1 being least in value. Banks are cross-referenced to Griffith, Meyer and Ellinghaus classifications.
Mechanicals – “Penny Lane – A History of Antique Mechanical Toy Banks”, Al Davidson, Long’s Americana, Mokelumne Hill, CA, 1987. One of the three best books written about mechanical banks. This extremely well written, all color book shows 576 banks. Where possible Davidson includes name, material, manufacturer, operation, variation, fragile points, notes, patent papers, and indicates if a bank has been reproduced. He provides the most complete listing of manufacturers of all bank books with a history of many of them. He rates banks on a desirability scale from 1 to 20 with 1 being low and 20 high. Davidson cross-references to Griffith, Meyers, and Norman classifications.
Mechanicals – “Official Price Guide to Mechanical Banks”, Dan Morphy, House of Collectibles, New York, 2007. One of the three best books written about mechanical banks. Morphy presents a fresh look at over 900 banks with values given for 50, 80, 90, and 98 percent paint. Bank trade cards as well as bank patterns are shown. Patent numbers when known, earliest date produced, manufacturer and designer when known as well as country of origin are given. An inexpensive and comprehensive source for beginning as well as advanced collectors.
Specialty – “The Architecture of Cast Iron Penny Banks”, Bettie Sommer & Don Duer, American Limited Editions, 1983. Two hundred twenty-eight banks pictured in black and white and arranged alphabetically under 1 of 5 groups: historical, name of structure, office, religious and residential. Banks are rated from A (very common) to E (rare) and cross-referenced to other bank books by Crammer, Long, and Whiting. Should be popular among those now collecting building and monument items. Surprisingly good.
Specialty – “Registering Banks”, Robert L. McCumber, Glastonbury, CT, 1990. Three hundred registering and /or recording banks are pictured in black and white photos of varying quality. These banks are usually made of cast iron, tin, or thin steel and are commonly in the shape of cash registers, safes, buckets, pots, clocks, or trucks. They keep a running total of the amount of money deposited. More popular in the US, some are made and found in England and Germany. The author rates the banks from A (common) to F (very rare) and M for modern. He includes where possible: name, manufacturer, dates of production, material used, coloration, maximum dimension, coins used to operate it, how it opens, variations and a price estimate. McCumber also includes a section for cleaning these banks.
Specialty – “Chein Banks – Mechanicals and Stills”, Robert L. McCumber, Glastonbury, CT, 1991. McCumber provides a nice history of Chein, which, is the books major strength. Chein produced banks from 1903 to 1977. All were brightly colored tin and a few were mechanical. In fact, as McCumber tells us, Chein was the largest producer of tin banks worldwide from 1970 to 1975. Seventy-six banks with variations of 27 of them are discussed, as are the different traps Chein used. Banks are rated on a scale from A (common) to E (rare). Pictures are in black and white with highly variable quality.
Specialty – “The Stanley P. Sax Collection”, Bill Bertoia Auctions, Vineland, NJ, 1998. This auction catalog is hardbound and pictures 251 banks of the Sax collection which were sold May 2,1998. Where possible the name, manufacturer, designer, patent date, rarity, description of operation, condition, price estimate, and provenance is given. In addition, many patent drawings are included. The collection consisted of many of the rarest banks made, often in superb condition. Most were mechanical and cast iron. An outstanding and splendorous visual delight.
Specialty – “Banthrico/Toystalgia/Valley Casting Co. Building/Monumental/Landmark Bank Replicas”, Lance G. Oldham, Poulsho, WA, 2000. A catalog of more than 250 specific bank replicas and their variations produced by Banthrico and their successor companies. Where possible the author provides name, date, state abbreviation, type of finish, dimensions, composition, manufacturer, quantity made, and price range. Oldham rates the banks from A (very common) to F (very rare). Cross referencing is made to several other bank book sources. Pictures are high quality black and white.
Specialty – “Money in the Bank – The Katherine Kierland Herberger Collection”, Corine Wegener & Karal Ann Marling, The Minnesota Institute of Arts, 2006. A well-done, interesting and unusual treatment of the more than 1000 banks left to the Minnesota Institute of the Arts. Many banks seen before but the format warrants inclusion into the select classic treasury of bank books.
Others – “Penny Banks – A History and a Handbook”, Carole Rogers, E.P. Dutton, New York, 1977. A nice tightly written little book for the beginning collector with a history of banks and collecting money from BC until 1977. Mostly in black and white, there are about 135 banks shown. The book covers many manufacturers and shows many affordable still and mechanical banks.
Others – “Money Boxes”, Constance Eileen King, Lutterworth Press, Surrey, England, 1983. Pictures in black and white of 97 banks. There are chapters on ceramic, wooden, mechanical, vending, registering, safes, and still banks. A lot of useful information for the beginning collector with many affordable banks shown.
Others – “Piggy Banks”, Savi Arbola & Marco Ovesti, Chronicle Books, San Francisco, 1992. A good book for the beginning collector with 250 banks pictured. Written in English and Italian, many countries are represented with the majority of the banks pictured being stills. The book shows a wide range of materials used for manufacturing. There are 25 pages of cast iron mechanical banks but in general there is little in the way of descriptions, although a brief history of banks is given and several manufacturers touched upon. One strength is that many affordable banks are shown. Great photography.
Others – “A Penny Saved – Still and Mechanical Banks”, Don Duer, Schiffer Publishing Ltd, Atglen, PA, 1993. One hundred ninety banks from the author’s collection are pictured in color. Chapters are divided into time periods with small vignettes for almost all of the banks. A history of several manufacturers and some trade card information is given.
Others – “Penny Banks Around the World”, Don Duer, Schiffer Publishing Ltd, Atglen, PA, 1997. Over 1600 banks are pictured in color. Still and mechanical banks made of many materials are included. Where possible Duer provides the name, height in inches, country of origin, and date of manufacture. Banks are rated from A to F with A being the most common and F the rarest.
Others – “Collector’s Guide to Glass Banks – Identification and Values”, Charles V. Reynolds, Collector Books, Paducah, KY, 2001. A comprehensive and well-researched book that includes a history and 14 categories of glass banks. A cross over book of interest to glass collectors as well as bank collectors. A must for bank collectors.
Others – CD-ROM, “Toy Bank Related Patent Collection CD”, R. West, 2003. Over 400 old and new patents can be viewed by date, title, assignee and whether it is a utility patent or design patent. Available through www.gadgetsplace.com.
Others – CD-ROM, “Mechanical Bank Magazine Articles”, Sy Schreckinger, 2005. 280 articles that were published in the Antique Toy World as well as over 1000 pages of antique mechanical bank references. Available from Mr. Schreckinger.
The books and CD-ROMs listed above are available but some are not easy to get.
More information about bank collecting may be obtained by joining The Mechanical Bank Collectors of America or The Still Bank Collector Club of America. Auction catalogs devoted solely to banks such as the Norman, Sax, and Steckbeck catalogs supply a rich source of information. They provide information on variations and come with the prices realized. In addition, Sy Schreckinger continues to write an excellent column on mechanical banks for The Antique Toy World. So stay tuned or rather keep reading! My apologies to any authors whose books were not included or for not being able to review every book written by a particular author. No slight was intended.
* 1. An earlier version of this article appeared in an issue of The New England Antiques Journal |
