John D. Meyer, Old Mechanical Penny Banks, 1952 Handbook, Banks 91-105
No. 91. Ferris Wheel — One of the largest penny banks. It is twenty-two inches high on top of a safe. When lever is pressed coin drops in and the wheel revolves. Two people sit in each of the six cars or chairs. Rather complicated mechanically. You wind up a strong spring with a key and insert coin which releases a lever and wheel starts to revolve. Words "Ferris Wheel Bank" on front and back of base. "Bowens patent applied for" on bottom. Is a replica of the famous Ferris Wheel at the Chicago Worlds Fair in 1892. $275.00
No. 92. Foot Ball — Place coin in the Foot Ball, set the leg of the Old Darky wearing high hat back in position, ready to kick. Press the spring on the Darkey’s back; his foot will kick the Foot Ball, throw it over on the Water Melon, and the coin will be deposited. From Selchow & Righters Catalogue 1888-1889. Each packed in a wood box $8.50 per dozen. June 26, 1888, 385225. Stevens. (So far as is known none of these banks has turned up.) $xxxxxx
No. 93. Football Player — The football player is standing on the field and in front is a tee on which the coin is placed. You draw back his foot into kicking position, press the button and he kicks sending the coin into an opening in the side of a building when it strikes a bell or gong. The base represents a football field. Has words "Foot Ball Bank" on base. 247326. (Wouldn’t it be nice if every collector could have this one.) $xxxxxx
No. 94. Fortune Teller, Building — Tall shallow building, about 7-1/2 in. tall and 2 in. deep, with four steps leading up to it. In front of sloping roof is slot for coin, with words "Drop a coin and I will Tell Your Fortune." On upper part these words "Automatic Coin" and "Savings Bank." Between these is an open space where the Fortune reading appears. Readings change with each coin deposited. The words "National Savings" appear across the front of the building and under them are the windows and door of a bank. The Fortune I read was "You will rise to Honor and Distinction." "The Light of Love Shines over You." "Pat. Applied for" on back. $200.00
No. 95. Fortune Teller, Safe — Square safe, name on front. Coin goes in combination slot and lever in top. Press lever and wheel of fortune spins inside the bank. It is necessary to put coin in bank to make it work. Fortune verses appear out of top of safe. $160.00
No. 96. Forty Niner — A donkey on an oblong base 5 by 2-7/8 inches, with a pack on his back and a slot cut in it to receive the coin. The figures ’49 on one side of pack and words "Forty-Niner on base. Ears and tail move. My opinion is that originally this was a cigar cutter and "doctored" up and passed off as a bank. $55.00
No. 97. Fowler — Figure of a hunter swings his gun around and shoots at bird which flies away when spring is released. This was also called "Sportsman Bank" on advertising dodgers, and here are the printed instructions which came with bank. "Put coin in the slot, and set trap. Then place Bird on the trap and push the lever, when the coin disappears as the bird rises in the air the sportsman fires." The rifle is arranged for firing paper caps. $300.00 ($65.00 in 1939)
No. 98. Freedman — A colored man dressed in red and black cotton shirt sits back of a wooden table or desk. The coin is laid on the table and lever is pressed which sets the clock-like works in motion and with his left hand he slides the coin into an opening in the table and he puts his right hand up to his nose and twiddles his fingers in an unmistakable manner. Made in Bridgeport, Conn. To sell at $5.00 each, a rather high price in those days and didn’t sell very well and this accounts for its rareness now. Regarded as one of the earliest mechanical banks, made in 1865. Made in two types, one with four legs to the table and one without the legs. One shows the legs of the colored man in cotton trousers under the table, the other just shows the upper part of the body. Two different heads were used, one with a wig of hair, the other with the top of the head painted black. So far only three or four of these banks have been discovered. Made by Jerome B. Secor, Mfr. Of mechanical toys. $xxxxxx
No. 99. Frogs — Two. A small frog is lying on its back in front of the larger frog. Place the coin on the extended front feet of the smaller frog and it is kicked by its hind feet into the open mouth of the larger frog when the lever is pressed. English, July 28, 1882. U.S. August 8, 1882. 262361, by James H. Bowen. $30.00 ($12.00 in 1939)
No. 100. Frog In Den — Tin. The den or well is about eight inches high and the bank is ten inches long. The front part is about one inch wide and the back part represents a den or well with a covering over it. Place the frog in the den, close the lid, put coin in the holder on opposite end from the den. Take cover off and frog jumps out and moves forward and grabs coin. The frog is balanced with weights at other end. This bank has certain resemblance’s to the Alligator in Tin Trough and was made near about the same time. Pat’d by James Fallows, August 29, 1871. $xxxxxx
No. 101. Frog On Rock — The frog opens his mouth for coin when lever is pressed. Very small bank. August 20, 1872. Kilgore Mfg. Co. Westerville, O. $18.00
No. 102. Frog On Round Lattice Base — When the frog’s foot is pressed the eyes move and the mouth opens to receive the coin. Lattice base is marked "Bank." Old advertisement calls it "Toad Bank." 130575 August 20, 1872. $15.00
No. 103. Frog On Stump — With tiny turtle at the bottom of the stump. Opens mouth to receive coin when lever is pressed. Advertised in old catalogues as the "Toad on Stump" bank, and the illustration of it in old catalogues shows a two-cent piece in the frog’s mouth ready to be swallowed. $20.00
No. 104. Frog and Serpent — Tin bank. The base is brightly decorated with aquatic scenes. The bank is small, 5-1/2" x 2-1/4". At one end is the frog which opens its mouth and receives the coin from the snake at the other end, when it strikes and dislodges the coin which had been placed in its mouth. The bank really has nice action. $200.00
No. 105. Gem — Tiny dog holding a tray in his mouth stands on a track and when spring is released he takes the coin into a slot in the side of the house. Word "Gem" on front of the house over the door. Word "Pat’d" on comb of roof. A variety without word "Gem" on it, is evidently made up from a still bank of a like building. Was called "The Watch Dog of the Treasury" in Erich Brothers’ catalogue of 1880 and sold for 35c. Also one with date 1878 instead of word "Gem." $25.00
