The
Springfield Republican, Springfield Mass., June 6, 1948            The Springfield Republican, Springfield Mass., June 6, 1948 COLLECTOR A resident of South Hadley Falls, Ted Johnson is shown with a part of his unique collection. He also collects early American glassware, miniature animals, and Staffordshire china. ANTIQUE TOY BANKS Saving money was a lot more fun for the youngsters of yesteryear than for tots of today. In those days, kiddies' banks were mechanized. The reward for thrift was entertainment. "Black Sambo" would roll his eyes and lick his lips as he swallowed a penny; "William Tell" would shoot a coin from his crossbow. . . with deadly accuracy. . . into a hollow tree. The mechanisms were fabulous, the variations innumerable. Then gradually the fad flickered out, and the cast-iron contrivances were discarded, or relegated to musty attics. Today those same banks are collectors' items, sought out, bought, and cherished by fanciers all over the world. Recently, Union Trust Co., of Springfield, displayed a collection of these toy banks in its downtown lobby, where a photographer was on hand to record the reaction of a generation whose "toys" had been mainly atomic pistols and rocket ships. All banks shown on this page are from the collection of Ted Johnson, honor student at Wilberham Academy, who derives not only pleasure but profit from his collection. Eventually Ted hopes to liquidate his unusual collection for enough money to see him through college. Photos by Arthur Streen
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