Hobby sideline

[badpenny]

At the time of decimalisation when I started buying my own slots, I got the "anything with a coin slot" fever.
This led me to peruse savings banks as well. Not piggy banks, but those with a mechanism.
Over the years that side line came and went and was never "a passion" currently I think I only have 3.
The Fat Banker - An American cast iron contrivance, consisting of a fat man in a chair. You place a coin in his up held hand and he swiftly deposits it in his top breast pocket, then nods his appreciation.
Tin plate telephone - Deposit a coin, phone tinkles.
Uncle Sam's 3 coin register - Just bought it, never seen one before ...

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John Peterson kindly told me about them and sent me a link http://unclesamsbank.com/how-the-banks-work/
You can deposit nickels, dimes & quarters in the slot, when you pull the handle it knows what has been entered and the total to date is moved up accordingly. When you total $10.00 the draw at the bottom unlocks and you may then access the contents. Amusingly in the instructions on the back it says "if you need to empty the cash before the total is achieved then use an axe"
Mine is 1956, although they date back to the beginning of the 20th century.

[bryans fan]

I'm pleased to see that, in the background of the first picture, you still have a land line!

[badpenny]

The strange thing is that although I'm in Lincoln its number on the dial is Sheffield 61.
It is rewired from the bell box and consequently works perfectly. When it clatters the cathedral people come round to complain it's drowning out their bells.
And when you talk into it; so I'm told, you sound like Noel Coward at the other end ... Dear Boy.
BP

[treefrog]

There were a number of British savings money boxes that would increment a dial every coin and when reaching target, say 5 shillings, the access to it would open. I have one somewhere….

I only have one American cast iron unit because although I think they are great items, I am sure only one in ten are the real deal and I cannot tell the difference

[roger]

Badpenny made reference to cast iron banks with movable parts......These are a very popular collectible in the U.S. and are referred to as "Mechanical Banks".
A few years ago a friend of mine, who works for an auction house, flew to Scotland to pick one up which was consigned for auction. The owner had found it burried in a pile of junk in his attic.
It sold for $ 225,000.00...........REPEAT $ 225,000.00. ROGER

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COASTING BANK

[roger]

I was surprised to learn that many club members could not afford the "Coaster" mechanical bank and that Mr. Peterson made a gallant effort as the underbidder.
May I suggest this "Fat Man" bank which badpenny made reference to........These go for a paltry $300 . ROGER

[badpenny]

May I suggest this "Fat Man" bank which badpenny made reference to........These go for a paltry $300 . ROGERbanker bank.jpg

Or £60 in folding cash in The UK when you buy from a collectors' fair where nobody has a clue what it is.

[coppinpr]

I know this fellow is one of the common ones but I like him. Uncle Sam dropping the money into a US treasury bag while his beard shoots up appeals to me. I bought him over 50 years ago for £3.