Circa 1892: Designed by Charles A. Bailey and manufactured by The J. & E. Stevens Company in Cromwell, Connecticut, Professor Pug Frog's Great Bicycle Feat is one of the most ingenious cast iron mechanical banks ever produced.
For Sale: $9,450
Circa 1891: Manufactured by J. & E. Stevens Co., the scarce cat and mouse mechanical bank was marketed in many different paint schemes, and this example with beautiful light blue leaf decoration is one of the rarest and most visually pleasing color variations.
For Sale: $8,950
Circa 1912-1917: Designed by Charles A. Bailey for the J. & E. Stevens Company in Cromwell, Connecticut, the Boy Scout Camp mechanical bank features three boy scouts at their campsite with a cauldron, coffee pot, flag, owl, and teepee.
For Sale: $6,950
Circa 1870: Fresh from our personal collection (Ex Abby Schroeder) is this extremely scarce 14.5" tall early Ives clockwork circus rider with rare clown dancing figure.
For Sale: $5,950
Circa 1905: What a pleasure it is to offer this extremely scarce Kenton Sight-Seeing Auto to the antique toy collecting community!
For Sale: $5,500
Circa 1901: Designed by Charles A. Bailey for the J. & E. Stevens Company in Cromwell, Connecticut, the hard to find Hen and Chick mechanical bank is one of the firm's most endearing creations, featuring a protective mother hen and her precious yellow nestling, who pops out from under his mother's feathers to push the coin into the bank for safekeeping.
For Sale: $5,195
Circa 1883: The J. & E. Stevens Company's scarce Monkey Riding Velocipede bell toy is usually found decorated with a japanned surface, but this deluxe 8 color painted variation is especially rare.
For Sale: $4,975
Circa 1890: Original Jonah and The Whale cast iron mechanical bank, Shepard Hardware Company, superb original paint, works great, wonderful example, 5.5"H x 10.25"L x 3.75"D.
For Sale: $4,750
Circa 1884: The Shepard Hardware Company in Buffalo, New York, manufactured cast iron mechanical banks for a scant ten year period and is known for the high quality and beautiful paint schemes of their ingenious mechanical banks, most of which, like the ever popular Punch and Judy bank, were designed by Peter Adams, Jr.
For Sale: $4,250
Circa 1890-1920: This tin windup toy from the German firm Gunthermann portrays famed nursery rhyme couple Mr. and Mrs. Jack Sprat: "Jack Sprat could eat no fat, / His wife could eat no lean. / And so between them both, you see, / They licked the platter clean."
For Sale: $3,950
Circa 1895: Produced by the Judd Manufacturing Company, the Dog on Turntable mechanical bank is rarely found in multicolor paint schemes like this wonderful example.
For Sale: $3,950
Circa 1905: Lehmann's Paddy's Dancing Pig is one of the most whimsical and fantastic German tin windup toys of the early 20th century, featuring an Irishman saddled atop a pig and ready for the ride of his life.
For Sale: $3,750
Circa 1890: This version of the Clown on Globe has the scarce yellow base and the round Stevens coin trap. The bank retains an unusually high percentage of its colorful original paint, and is in superb working order.
For Sale: $3,750
Circa 1873: Portraying corrupt 19th century Democractic New York politician William "Boss" Tweed, the Tammany Bank is one of the most popular mechanical banks produced by Cromwell, Connecticut's J & E Stevens Company and designed by John Hall.
For Sale: $3,695
Circa Late 1920s: The era of large pressed steel vehicles are highlighted by rare examples like this 27.5" long American National Giant series U.S. Army truck.
For Sale: $3,500
Circa 1880: Produced by East Hampton, Connecticut's storied Gong Bell Manufacturing Company, this Poodle Dog Bell Ringer No. 45 features a colorfully adorned clown and his trick dog.
For Sale: $3,500
Circa 1926-1928: Manufactured by Freeport, Illinois toy giant Arcade, this four color blue and black sedan includes silver radiator accent, gold headlights, a nickel plated spare tire, and rubber wheels marked "The Republic Rubber Co. Youngstown O."
For Sale: $3,450
Circa 1891: Designed by Charles G. Shepard and Peter Adams and manufactured by Buffalo, New York's legendary Shepard Hardware Comany, this colorful and amusing cast iron bank depicts two young men playing the classic child's game of leap frog, whose origins stretch back to the late 16th century.
For Sale: $3,250
Circa 1880s: This whimsical 7.75"H x 8.75"L x 4.5"D early American tin atriculated bell toy with an eye catching pair of yellow horses atop a green base was manufactured by Philadelphia's James Fallows and Sons.
For Sale: $3,250
Circa 1880s: This sculptural 12.25" long early American tin pull toy manufactored by James Fallow and Sons of Philadelphia depicts the immensely popular racehorse Dexter (1858-1888) being ridden by a gentleman wearing a tophat.
For Sale: $2,950
Circa 1880s: This wonderfully dynamic 6 color paint decorated walnut Parcheesi board with a rare robin's egg blue ground features a very unusual inset home square and a mitred walnut frame.
For Sale: $2,950
Circa 1880: Created by East Hampton, Connecticut's famed Gong Bell Manufacturing Company, this beefy 9.25" long Ding Dong Bell / Pussy's Not in the Well cast iron bell toy depicts a cheerful couple and their beloved white cat, who, thankfully, is not trapped in the well.
For Sale: $2,950
Circa 1920s: Measuring a petite 13.5 "H x 9.5"W, this gorgeous 4 color paint decorated pine tabletop dartboard features a graceful cut-out shape and an uncommon paint scheme of teal green, orange, red, and black.
For Sale: $2,900
Circa 1872: Manufactured by Cromwell, Connecticut's J and E Stevens Company, this cast iron Home Bank features a patriotic red, white, and blue paint scheme and is the very scarce still bank variation of its widely distributed mechanical cousin.
For Sale: $2,850
Circa 1889: Buffalo, New York's Shepard Hardware Company manufactured a bevy of classic mechanical banks, and the iconic Santa Claus standing at the chimney remains one of its most popular and endearing creations.
For Sale: $2,850
Circa 1878: John Girard’s highly detailed Pelican mechanical bank was manufactured by Cromwell, Connecticut bank giant J. and E. Stevens Company and depicts a realistic pelican who has captured a comical Middle Eastern gentleman in its mouth.
For Sale: $2,795
Circa 1882: Originally marketed as the Bullfrog Bank and the Frog Bank, James H. Bowen’s strikingly visual Two Frogs mechanical bank was manufactured by Cromwell, Connecticut bank giant J. & E. Stevens Company and imitates, in comic fashion, a frog catching its prey, in this case a child’s coin, by having the small frog punt the coin into the bigger frog's open mouth.
For Sale: $2,750
Circa 1891: Designed by Philadelphia's James H. Bowen and manufactured by The J. & E. Stevens Company in Cromwell, Connecticut, the charming and relatively scarce Monkey and Coconut mechanical bank is noted for the monkey's unusually realistic portrayal in an era when most banks presented stereotypical or cartoonish visions of their subjects.
For Sale: $2,695
Circa 1890: Ingeniously designed by Charles A. Bailey for J. & E. Stevens Company, the Bad Accident mechanical bank features a mule drawn wagon whose driver who is too busy munching a slice of watermelon to notice a careless child run out in front of the wagon from behind a bush and cause a calamitous accident that spooks the mules, upends the wagon, and throws the poor driver backward.
For Sale: $2,650
Circa 1888: Cast iron Boy on Trapeze mechanical bank, J. Barton Smith Co., Philadelphia PA, excellent original paint, no chips, cracks, or repairs, 9.5”H x 5”L x 5”D.
For Sale: $2,450
Circa 1870s: The Stevens and Brown velocipede, forerunner of the modern tricycle, is one of the earliest and most cherished American clockwork toys, and this example is the scarce version with a young African American male driver.
For Sale: $2,450
Circa 1882: J. & E. Stevens originally pictured Paddy and the Pig in a number of their catalogs as the Shamrock Bank.
For Sale: $2,450
Circa 1917-1935: This German hand painted and lithographed tin windup EPL 725 Echo motorcycle from the storied firm Lehmann is one of the company's most recognized toys with its two tone blue lithographed frame and its lithographed rider with factory hand painted details.
For Sale: $2,350
Circa 1950s: In near mint condition with only very minor scratching, this large battery operated racer features a dynamic six color paint scheme and the sleek 1950s aerodynamic design modeled after the Indy race cars of the period.
For Sale: $1,950
Circa 1890s: The Speaking Dog, like the Girl Skipping Rope, is one of a handful of mechanical banks marketed specifically for girls and the blue dress variation is the most difficult to find.
For Sale: $1,950
Circa 1882: This example has 85% of its original paint, has never been touched up or repainted, and has no chips, cracks, or repairs.
For Sale: $1,950
Circa 1920s: Marked "made in Germany," this nearly 5" long antique tin litho windup Lehmann Naughty Boy depicts a father and his ill-behaved son in an early automobile.
For Sale: $1,950
Circa 1915: Created by New York City's John W. Schmitt and manufactured by The J. & E. Stevens Company in Cromwell, Connecticut, the elusive Bill E. Grin mechanical bank has a simple action (sliding a coin into the top of Bill's head) and a surprising result (Bill's long tongue sliding out of his upturned mouth) that surely meant to both delight and frighten children in the same manner as early 20th century Halloween and Christmas decorations.
For Sale: $1,895
Circa 1890: This version of the Clown on Globe has the brown base and the round Stevens coin trap. This is a fine example of one of the most unusual, graphically pleasing, and kinetic of all the great American cast iron mechanical banks.
For Sale: $1,850
Circa 1930s: Founded in 1898, Lancaster, Pennsylvania's Hubley Company manufactured a bevy of cast iron toys, such as still and mechanical banks and animal drawn toys (among many other things), but the historic firm has garnered its most lasting fame from their line of realistic toy Harley-Davidson and Indian motorcycles.
For Sale: $1,795
Circa 1873: This is a terrific original Novelty Bank from the beginnings of the great age of cast iron mechanical banks.
For Sale: $1,750
Circa 1921-1928: The cast iron Yellow Cab is Freeport, Illinois, toy giant Arcade Manufacturing Company's most famous creation. This is the largest version of the iconic Yellow Cab.
For Sale: $1,695
Circa 1890-1920: We have seen a lot of pull toys over the years, but this is the first time we have come across this example consisting of three complexly painted composition roosters on spring legs atop a wooden base with its original mustard ground and black painted feet.
For Sale: $1,675
Circa 1873: Manufactured by Cromwell, Connecticut's J and E Stevens Company and dated "Oct. 1st 1873" on the back, the 5 1/2"H x 4 1/4"W x 3 3/8"D cast iron City Bank with Crown features an extremely scarce green building with white trim, the rarest of its six color variations.
For Sale: $1,650
Circa 1900: East Hampton, Connecticut's N.N. Hill Brass Company innovated the manufacture of small bells and produced a superb line of cast iron pull toys that incorporated their bells.
For Sale: $1,650
Circa 1905: Manufactured in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, by the little known firm Ober Manufacturing Company is this rare 5" tall The Capitalist sociopolitical themed still bank.
For Sale: $1,595
Circa 1920s: Made from 1904-1948, the Lehmann sailor walking toys came with several different ribbons on the hat, each representing a different naval vessel.
For Sale: $1,550
Circa 1908: Signed "Copyright by J. M. Harper 1907," this scarce cast iron still bank depicts a stork delivering a baby. Figural safe banks are rare and desirable in the bank collecting community, and finding the only one designed by the elusive Mr. Harper is a difficult feat indeed.
For Sale: $1,495
Circa 1895-1938: From the great German manufacturer Lehmann, comes this charming tin windup. Working condition.
For Sale: $1,450
Circa Early 20th Century: Richard Felton Outcault's groundbreaking 1890s comic strip Hogan's Alley features a character named Mickey Dugan, who became widely known as The Yellow Kid and is generally regarded as America's first comic character.
For Sale: $1,450
Circa 1924: This 7" long antique German tin litho windup Maggie and Jiggs platform toy was manufactured by Einfalt for comic character toy giant Nifty.
For Sale: $1,450
Circa 1875: The Liliput measures a petite 4.5" H x 3" W and takes its name from Jonathan Swift's classic taleGulliver's Travels.
For Sale: $1,450
Circa 1880s: Attributed to James Fallows and Sons, this 12" long early American tin City Passenger horse drawn railroad trolley features an original five color paint scheme with no touch ups, repairs, or restoration.
For Sale: $1,425
Circa 1872: Made in many color combinations and designed by Russell Frisbie, the Frog on Round Base mechanical bank was patented on August 20, 1872 and manufactured by Cromwell, Connecticut's storied J. & E. Stevens Company.
For Sale: $1,395
Circa 1930: Exhibited at the Washington County Museum of Fine arts in 1988, this outstanding pair of wooden folk art dolls are attributed to Polly Page at the Pleasant Hill Academy in Pleasant Hill, Tennessee.
For Sale: $1,350
Circa 1880: Designed by James H. Bowen and manufactured by The J. & E. Stevens Company in Cromwell, Connecticut, the highly popular Owl Turns Head mechanical bank was produced in many color schemes, this one being the brown variation.
For Sale: $995
Circa 1880s: With it's central star motif, folky borders, and the popular name of "Lester" this 10" antique wooden dolls sled is a delightful find.
For Sale: $995
Circa 1930s: Chad Valley brings exceptional detail with the black and gold mohair, velveteen face with glass eyes, felt hands and large leatherette shoes assembled into this fantastic bumble bee character.
For Sale: $975
Circa 1922-1946: This 17.75" square blue and white ring toss game is signed " J. Pressman & Co. Inc., New York, N.Y." Pressman came to fame in the gameboard world by manufacturing Chinese checkers games, and they also had a line of other wooden boards, including graphically dynamic ring toss boards.
For Sale: $975
Circa 1902-1917: Under the pen name Bunny, Carl Schultz created the good humored, clever and witty character of Foxy Grandpa that quickly captured the hearts of the American public.
For Sale: $950
Circa 1911-1932: Manufactured in Kenton, Ohio this 9 5/8" tall Statue of Liberty penny bank in its original silver paint with gold highlights is the largest and most difficult to find version of this patriotic still bank.
For Sale: $950
Circa 1903-1918: With it's ceremonial head cover and fringed blanket this early example of Schoenhut's first large animals is in excellent, all original condition with it's leather-tipped wooden trunk, tusks, leather flap ears, swivel neck, jointed legs and rope tail. Measures 8".
For Sale: $945
Circa 1920s: The Swiss have long been known for technical innovation, and the August and Cie Bucherer Company of Amriswil, Switzerland, produced a fabulous line of metal fully movable metal jointed dolls with composition hands and changeable composition heads.
For Sale: $950
Circa late 19th century: Complete set of seven nested chromolithographed paper on wood boxes, McLoughlin Bros. New York, with nursery rhyme scenes, losses to paper as photographed and a few late small unobtrusive nails added for stability, largest box 6"H x 7 1/8"L x 7 1/8"W, 39.5"H when stacked.
For Sale: $895
Circa Early 20th Century: Manufactured in Ravenna, Ohio, by still bank giant A.C. Williams, this 5.75" cast iron baseball player penny bank is modeled after Hall of Fame baseball palyer Ty Cobb, The Georgia Peach, the most storied athelete of his era.
For Sale: $795
Circa 1882: Manufactured by J and E Stevens Company, the Shell Out bank carries a humorous message by asking its keeper to "shell out" some change, thus serving as a teaching tool for children to set back a few pennies for a rainy day.
For Sale: $750
Circa 1890-1920: This German squeak toy with working bellows depicts a colorful rooster perched atop a tree stump. The legs are springs, and when one presses the squeaky bellows and lets go, the rooster moves back and forth.
For Sale: $725
Circa 1910-1913: Sporting near mint black paint and what appears to be an unturned orginial screw, this high grade seal on rock still bank manufactured by Freeport, Illinois, cast iron toy giant Arcade measures 3.5" tall and 4.25" long.
For Sale: $695
Circa 1907-1935: Here is a nice 7" tin litho Lehmann EHE & Co 570 open bed truck. The mechanism works, and the paint is all original.
For Sale: $650
Circa 1903-1918: This regular sized wooden jointed Schoenhut tiger with glass eyes measure 8" long not including its original tail. This figure was part of the popular early 20th century Schoenhut Circus and is in completely original condition with no paint touch-ups or restoration.
For Sale: $645
Circa Early 20th Century: This classic bank retains its original paint, has its original screw, and serves as a fantastic tribute to America's favorite pastime.
For Sale: $595
Circa 1927-1933: Albert Schoenhut's wooden circus sets remain one of his most well known creations. Evoking the feelings of anticipation and magic at the arrival of the circus, Schoenhut's early wooden toys capture the imagination.
For Sale: $475
Circa 1920s-1940s: This attractive blue and yellow ring toss game was most probably manufactured by New York City's J. Pressman and Company. Pressman rose to fame by manufacturing Chinese checkers games, and they also had a line of other wooden boards, including graphically dynamic ring toss boards.
For Sale: $450
Circa 1918-1933: The hand painted expression on this poodle is delightful and the original condition makes this a wonderful example of Schoenhut's expressive animals.
For Sale: $425
Circa 1918-1933: This regular sized wooden Schoenhut two hump camel with painted eyes measures 8" long not including its original tail.
For Sale: $325
Circa Early 20th Century: Manufactured in Ravenna, Ohio, by still bank giant A.C. Williams, this 5" tall cast iron Buster Brown and Tige penny bank has original four color paint scheme.
For Sale: $325
Circa Early 20th Century: This 5.25" tall cast iron Mutt and Jeff penny bank depicts Bud Fisher's famous comic strip characters posing on a box.
For Sale: $295
Bob Zordani and Heidi Kellner: (217) 714-5016, Lexington, Virginia: zandk@zandkantiques.com
