| Fostoria, Ohio, November 21, 1957 Review-Times, Page
18 Andrew Emerine's Collection Of Toy Banks One of Finest In Nation Display May Be Seen On Mezzanine Floor At First National Bank  On the mezzanine floor of the First National Bank of Fostoria may be viewed one of the outstanding coin bank collections of the country. This colorful array of museum items collected by Andrew Emerine, is systematically arranged in large wall cases and represents the survivors of many thousand of their kind, that were presented to the youngsters of eighty years ago. Most of the banks are of cast iron and from 1870 to 1900 were the principal product of several eastern foundries, Stevens Foundry at Cromwell, Conn. being the largest producer. They were sold from the general and hardware stores at prices from $1.00 to $3.00 and given to the youth with the thought of instilling thrift. They were made in a wide variety of characters and subjects — biblical, historical, comical, sports, Chinamen, Indians, Irishmen, elephants, frogs, pelicans, Jonah and the Whale, Red Riding Hood, William Tell, Christopher Columbus, Uncle Sam, John Bull, Teddy Roosevelt; about three hundred different banks, each one performing its particular stunt on it’s acceptance of a coin. Most of these banks are of 
American make, the greater number of them having been obtained from the
east, although there is scarcely a state that has not yielded a bank or two.
Five English banks, including a “John Bull,” came from England. Three from
the Canary Islands, several from Canada and the most prized one in the lot,
the Freedman bank, made in Bridgeport, Conn., was purchased from an antique
dealer in Mexico City.Old mechanical banks are rated in several classifications as to their value and desirability. Where there were but fifty made of one variety, the present day survivors may be five banks, these being regarded as rare items and find ready sale at $200 to $300. Where they may have been 3000 of a kind produced, as was the case with the Eagle, these now sell for $25. The Freedman and the Harlequin are two banks that command the highest prices. Each has sold at a price in excess of $600. There are four Freedman banks known to exist. Many Of The Banks Are Classified Among Most Wanted By Collectors Thirty years ago these old banks were plentiful, many homes had one stored in the attic, they could be found in the antique shop and the village general store, and could be had at a price double or treble the original retail cost. There were but two other collectors in the country advertising for banks and it was not a difficult matter to gather them in. As time passed, more collectors entered the field and gradually the banks became more scarce and the price advanced accordingly.  In addition to the banks in the museum, there may be seen a display of Automatona. Musical dolls in action, acrobats, walking figures, boy with pewter dish containing soap suds, into which he continually dips his pipe, places it to his lips and blows bubble after bubble; U. S. Grant seated in chair, smokes with satisfaction, turning his head and puffing out smoke leisurely; women in action at churn; lady at wash-tub, in action on washboard, and a singing bird in gilded cage. There are also extremely rare sand toys, where by turning a toy upside down the sand trickles down on a cardboard wheel, action is transmitted to figures, resulting in banjo and violin players, dancer and dog all going into action. There is no claim made that this is the best collection in the country; although it does compare favorably with five of the leading collections. The Saturday Evening Post, under the title “The Sorcerer of Fostoria” devoted two pages, with colored prints, to this collection, and it has been twice featured on WSPD television, Toledo, Ohio. Variety Of Characters And Subjects Portrayed In Coin Operated Banks The story referred to appeared in The Saturday Evening Post under date of May 3d., 1947, accompanied by colored illustrations, and related to a collection of old time mechanical coin banks and clever old mechanical toys owned by Mr. Emerine. This assembly of interesting and rare objects is the result of twenty five years of collecting what may be regarded today as one of the outstanding displays of museum items of its kind.
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