John D. Meyer, Old Mechanical Penny Banks, 1952 Handbook, Banks 46-60
No. 46. Praying Darkey, Kneeling — Nods head, chalk and wood mechanical. Wooden box, with locked drawer. Built on top in paper mache and plaster is raised mound. On that a kneeling praying colored boy in white robe. Drop coin in slot in front of him and he nods. Printed paper, pasted on is: "For Benedictine Foreign Missionaries." Also on paper pasted on box are several verses of poetry. $150.00
No. 47. Circus — The clown in a cart drives his galloping pony around circus ring. The clown raises hand and knocks coin into box. Name "Circus Bank" on base. September 18, 1889. d18618. "Packed each in a wooden box." Price $8.50 per dozen. Pat. by Charles G. Shepard and Peter Adams. $200.00
No. 48. Circus Ticket Collector — A man standing behind barrel nods his head when coin is deposited in barrel. Variation man with beard. Man is 5 inches high and barrel 2 inches in diameter. $100.00
No. 49 Clown On Globe — The clown straddles the globe and you wind it up by turning the globe around and when spring is released the clown rises on his hands and spins around. Ornate base. Catalogue describes this as the "Funny Clown Bank." 248459. Stevens. $55.00
No. 50. Clown On Bar, over iron base. Commonly called Clown, Tin, over building.. This is really a boy shaped out of tin, dressed in a Clown outfit. The face is distinctly a boy’s face. He holds himself on the horizontal bar with one hand and in his other hand holds a wire loop up in front of his face. You insert the coin in this and give the boy a push, he swings over the bar and coin drops into base, which is 5" by 3" and 3" high. The top slopes to the center to allow for the swing over the bar and to catch coin as it drops out of the wire loop. On the side of the base this reading: "C.G. Bush & Co. Prov. R.I." $250.00
No. 51. Confectionery Store — Girl at counter with section of drawers behind her. Each labeled, pushes lever and she turns, receiving on tray from one of the drawers a package of gum. This bank used Stollwerks (old) gum and candy packs. Rings bell. June 14, 1881. 243048. Pat. by Rudolph M. Hunter and manufactured by Kyser & Rex. $200.00 (50.00 in 1939)
No. 52. Cow, Milking or Kicking — Press lever and the cow kicks over the boy, who is milking, bucket and all. She also flips her tail. Correct name according to catalogue is "Kicking Cow" and the same is more to the point. "This bank is very strong and well made, and offered for the first time this season," from Selchow and Righter catalogue in 1888. $8.50 per doz. Stevens 1888. $200.00 ($50.00 in 1939)
No. 53 Creedmore — A soldier standing with rifle in hand takes aim shooting the coin which has been placed on the rifle barrel into a tree trunk. Word "Creedmore" bank on base. It takes its name from an old New York State rifle range on Long Island. The soldier wears skull cap, no visor, a red tunic and a cape over his shoulders. 196870. November 6, 1877. Varieties. Stevens. $20.00 ($10.00 in 1039)
No. 54. Creedmore, New — This is same in all respects to the preceding Creedmore except the soldier is dressed in a William Tell uniform and the words "New Creedmore" on the base. An old catalogue advertises it as The "Tyrolese Bank." November 6, 1877. $25.00
No. 55. Dapper Dan — Coon Jigger Bank or "The Jigging Banker." Tin. Wind up and insert coin and colored Dapper Dan dances a jig. Pictures of various coins decorate the top of base. Various other names such as "Thrifty Tom" etc. May 24, 1910. $50.00
No. 56. Darktown Battery — This bank has three base ball figures and many moving parts. Place the coin in the right hand of the pitcher and he throws the coin over the plate and the batter strikes at it, the catcher misses it and the coin disappears between his knees, in the breast protector. Name "Darktown Battery" on base, also called "Base Ball Bank." Original cost $8.50 per doz. Stevens. January, 1888. 376628. $50.00 ($10.00 in 1939)
No. 57. Dentist — The dentist pulls a darky’s tooth and falls backwards and the coin which was placed in his pocket falls into a gas bag receptacle and the darkey and dentist’s chair both tilt over. Was also called "Dental Bank." (Originally $8.00 would have bought twelve of these banks.) $165.00
No. 58. Dinah — Operates like Jolly Nigger, but is a colored woman’s bust and dressed in a bright low-cut yellow waist. She wears an elaborate necklace and pendant earrings. Name "Dinah" on back. Two common varieties, long sleeve and short sleeve. $150.00
No. 59. Dinah and the Fairy — Base is 8 in. long, 3 in. wide and 5 in. high, made of spelter, very light weight. Sides of base decorated with bright colored pansies and upper part to represent grass. Aunt Dinah is seated on the grass with arms extended and apron spread out with a plate on her lap with word "Charity" on it. Back of her is a black cat which acts as a lever and when pressed the plate turns over and you read "Twenty Dollars" with an American eagle in center. On top of base appear these words: "Old Aunt Dinah and the Fairy." The Fairy is standing on the grass in front of an elaborately colored woods waving a wand which moves in conjunction with the movements of Dinah. A very beautiful penny bank. $xxxxxx
No. 60. Ding Dong Bell — This bank is made of tin. Winds up. The name is "Ding Dong Bell" not Ding Dong Dell, notwithstanding the nursery rhyme. Has this wording "Save Your Pennies and the Dollars Will Take Care of Themselves." "A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned." Three children are pictured and a boy is pulling a black cat out of the well. Weeden. $xxxxxx
