Circa 1886: Designed by Charles Shepard and Peter Adams Jr. and manufactured by Shepard Hardware Company in Buffalo, New York, the Uncle Sam is the most beloved and patriotic mechanical bank ever produced.
For Sale: $5,900
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 1907: Designed by Charles A. Bailey for the J. & E. Stevens Company in Cromwell, Connecticut, the Teddy and the Bear celebrates President Theodore Roosevelt's penchant for bear hunting. This is the scarce gray tree variation, which is only found on perhaps one out of every 50 examples.
For Sale: $3,795
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 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 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 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 1882: Made by the Connecticut company J. and E. Stevens, out of Cromwell Connecticut.
For Sale: $2,450
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 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 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 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: $1,750
Circa 1873: This colorful red, yellow, and blue Novelty Bank is in great condition and has no chips, cracks, touch ups, or repairs.
For Sale: $1,750
Circa 1875: This bank was made in many color schemes , but this patriotic variation in red, white, and blue remains the most endearing.
For Sale: $1,450
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 1892:This example comes complete with its coin drawer and key, which are almost always missing.
For Sale: $395
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 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 1925-1950: Measuring 8" in height, this rare salt glazed sewer tile football on tee bank is most probably the work of legendary Tuscarawas County, Ohio, potter Edward J. Ellwood.
For Sale: $1,150
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 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 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 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
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: $225
Bob Zordani and Heidi Kellner: (217) 714-5016, Lexington, Virginia: zandk@zandkantiques.com
