An Outstanding Collection Of Mechanical Banks by The RSL Auction Company

Wednesday, July 17, 2024

Clear skies / Lots of Sun

82° F / 27.8 ° C

An Outstanding Collection of Mechanical  Banks

by 

The RSL Auction Company

from the

Haradin Family Collection

I can't believe how fast the time is "flying"this year. I feel that the older. I get, the faster time literally flies by. 

I'm on the RSL Auction Company's mailing list, and so I received their latest 2 auctions.One just came up in July, and the other one (which  I will be showing today),will be on

August 3, 2024

(Live Auctioneers)

Of course as time "flies by", everything changes, 

and so does this fine American Auction Company.

For this exceptional auction, the RSL Auction Company has

created an excellent Adobe PDF (Portable Document Format).

I downloaded it (I am a monthly subscriber to some of Adobe's

programs), although you might be able to download it also,

without cost. 

Personally, I find lately, that successful and fine  auction companies

are advancing and modernizing their ways of bringing fine merchandise to auction.

Photography has improved , and presenting merchandize against a white background makes merchandize stand out much better.

However, creating  a catalogue as an Adobe PDF file to download is

marvellous. It allows the viewer to download one large file and view it at his or her pace, whenever they want.

This takes time, along with skilled people who can take professional photos, and then present them in a program that assembles the items into a beautiful catalogue.

 

Please click on this sentence to visit this wonderful 

collection of Cast Iron Banks

I really enjoyed writing this blog post. It's great to see toys, and especially these cast iron banks, being auctioned to other new owners. These new owners will continue to marvel at these fine types of toys for another generation.

For myself, I find that the older I get, the faster time goes by.

Yet these toys will be around for a long time to be handed down from one family generation to another, or to be sold at auction like this great collection is. 

It's wonderful to realize!

Thanks for dropping by to visit my blog,

and as always,

have a great part of the day or night, 

wherever you may be.

My name is (Mr.) Stacey Bindman,

and I can always be reached at:

toysearcher@gmail.com

The RSL Auction Company's Upcoming 2018 Auction

Monday, April 30, 2018
Cloud with Rain
11 C  51.8 F

The RSL Action Company's

Upcoming 2018 Auction

(Tom & Lori Sage Collection)

Please click here to visit this exceptional American Auctioneer

Yesterday, I was searching out new potential material for posts, 

when I came across the current RSL Auction Company's website.

I had written recently (January 2018) about this great company and had returned 

to see what's up. Sure enough, the website had been updated. Perhaps I 

hadn't been attentive enough before, but the new component

was in being able to download old and new catalogue auctions.

This is great, because I can search through their catalogues

on my computer without using up too much download data on my Internet supplier.

Also, I could see many toys on one page.

Below are the latest 3 auctions scheduled for June 2018

Today's post is about the Tom and Lori Sage auction.

Below is a screen-capture from the very large auction website liveAuctioneers.

liveAuctioneers is a company that manages the presentation and bidding for auctioneers. 

It's one of the largest types of these company's in the world! You register yourself on this website and bid for merchandise.  The actual merchandise delivery is handled by the auction company (e.g. RSL Auction Company) which then ships the winning merchandise to your home or office.

The owners of the RSL Auction Company have known Tom and Lori Sage for a long time, and have become friends with them. As such, the Sages had selected RSL to be their auctioneer.

Below is a screen-capture of the liveAuctioneers website.

Below is a well-written introduction about the collectors, Tom and Lori Sage.

 When you visit the RSL Auction Company, you'll find a web page that

allows you to download the 3 auctions coming up in the beginning of June 2018.

Below is the download place for the Sage collection.

Below is the most expensive mechanical bank in the Sage Collection.

It's called The Mikado Bank.

The next mechanical bank is called the Merry-Go-Round. It also is very expensive.

Interestingly, it was selected for the cover of one of my reference books-

A History of Antique Mechanical Toy Banks. It was published byLong's American, 

and the author is Mr. Al Davidson.

The final bank for today's post is titled "Clown, Harlequin, and Columbine".

I only selected the three most-expensive mechanical banks for this post.

As you can see and read, Both liveAuctioneers and the RSL Auction Company

are excellent websites to research mechanical banks and toys. 

Some people write to me and ask if I can identify a toy for them.

If you ask me to identify a toy, please send accompanying photos of the toy.

The photos should include different angles of the toy, and if there is

any writing on the toy that also.

This helps la lot in helping me help you. The photos should be taken from skylight

entering through your window. Sun is too harsh and contrasty. 

Also, a white reflector opposite the toy and the skylight will reflect

light into the shadows of the toy.

The size of the photos should be at least 4" x 6" 

and about 144 dpi (dots per inch), 

or about 4 MB.

So that's it for today.

Thanks for coming by,

And as always,

Have a great part of the day or night,

Wherever you may be.

Stacey Bindman

toysearcher@gmail.com

he skylight will help to add light into the shadow areas.

Two Fine Cast Iron Mechanical Banks

Monday, April 16, 2018
Overcast with freezing rain 
and snow pellets
-2 C  28.4 F

Two Fine Cast Iron

Mechanical Banks

Please click here to visit Dan Morphy's website

Please click here to visit Dan Morphy's Auction on Liveauctioneers

Auction date:  May 16, 2018

Beginning 09:00 AM EST

The reason that I've added two links above is for a reason. The photographs on liveauctioneers are larger. On the Dan Morphy website, the written details of the toys are much more elaborate.

The weather certainly is not springlike up here in Montreal (Quebec, Canada). It's been raining freezing rain on us, followed by snow pellets. This is spring in Quebec. Fortunately, I haven't yet changed from winter tires to summer tires.

Yesterday, I mentioned that Bertoia Auctions had increased the size of their photos. Today, as I was perusing through liveauctioneers, Dan Morphy had also increased the size of his photos. Not only that, but he (his photographer of course) had placed toys against a white background. That's most certainly helped me out, since I no longer have to use Photoshop to remove other backgrounds.

I just selected 2 fine cast iron mechanical banks for today's post. It's difficult to find different ones from the ones I already have on my blog. However, the two banks today were photographed superbly with lots of nice and detailed photos.

Cast Iron Indian (Native American) Shooting Bear Mechanical Bank

This bank was manufactured by J.& E. Stevens of Cromwell, Connecticut.

Pull the trigger under the Native American, place a coin on the gun.

When the trigger is pulled, the Head of the Native American drops, and the coin 

is shot into the slot of the bear's stomach.

Circa: 1883

Length x Height:  10.5" x 7.75"   26.7 cm x 19.7 cm

William Tell  Mechanical Bank manufactured by J. & E. Stevens

Pull the coin launcher back (on the top surface of the gun) until

it is in the locked position. The figure lowers his head as if aiming, 

A coin is placed on the rifle the shooter's right foot is pressed, 

and the coin is fired into the slot above the head and the apple falls

off the boy's head.

Circa 1896

Length x Height:  10.5" x 6.75"   26.7 cm x 17.2 cm

There are a lot of nice toys included in this auction, so have a look 

at both the websites and see if there is anything that you like.

The J. & E. Stevens Company (Mechanical Banks)

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Sunny with clouds

-7 C  19.4 F

The J. & E. Stevens Company

(Mechanical Banks)

Please click here to visit this Dan Morphy Auction on Liveauctioneers

John and Elisha Stevens  created their company in Cromwell, Connecticut (USA) in 1843. 

Like most cast iron companies of the time, the company cast-iron hardware such as hinges and locks, hammers and some cast iron toys.  The cast iron toys became so successful,that the company

decided to manufacture toys and mechanical banks. Eventually the J. & E. Stevens Company became the largest manufacturer of cast-iron toys in the U.S.A. *

* Courtesy of Connecticuthistory.org/cromwells-iron-made-made-toys-for-boys-and-girls/

J. & E. Stevens Germania Exchange Cast Iron and Lead

Mechanical Bank

Circa 1880's

Place a coin on the goat's tail. Turn the faucet and the goat deposits

the coin in the bank and presents the depositor a glass of beer.

Height x Width:  7 3/4" x 5 3/4"  (198 mm x 145 mm)

J. & E. Stevens Boy Robbing Bird's Nest

Cast Iron Mechanical Bank

Raise the tree limb and place a coin in the slot.

Press the lever and as the limb falls, the coin disappears

Width x Height:  6" x 8"  152 mm x 203 mm

J. & E. Stevens Lion Hunter

Cast Iron Mechanical Bank

Ptented 1911

Cock the rifle, and place a coin in position.

Press the lever and the hunter shoots the coin at the lion

as the lion rears up and the coin deflects into the bank.

Height x Length:  7 3/4" x 10 1/2"  197 mm x 267 mm

J. & E. Stevens Cat & Mouse

cast Iron Mechanical Bank

Patented 1891

Place a coin in front of the  mouse and press the lever.

The coin falls into the bank as the cat appears to hold the mouse.

Width x Height:  5 1/2" x 8 1/2"   140 mm x 215 mm

J & E. Stevens Novelty 

Mechanical Bank

Open the door and place a coin on the tray of the teller.

Release and close the door to deposit the coin.

J. &  E. Stevens Boy Scout Camp

Cast Iron Mechanical Bank

Circa: 1917

Insert a coin at the top of the tent.

Press the lever, and the Scout raises the flag as the coin drops in the bank.

Height x Length:  153 mm x 242 mm

Many of these banks often do not have the lock or the metal trap

 to open the hole, at the bottom of the base of the bank.

This bank has one.

J. & E. Stevens  Eagle & Eaglets

Cast Iron Mechanical Bank with Original Wood Box

Circa 1883

Place a coin in the mother eagle's beak and press the lever.

The mother eagle leans forward as the eaglets rise from the nest crying for food.

Length x Height:   6 1/2" x 8"  165 mm x 203 mm

This bank has the original wood box that the bank came in.

Many mechanical banks that are found do not have their original boxes.

You might want to visit Dan Morphy on Liveauctioneers, because there are 

a  lot more mechanical banks that were sold in this particular auction.

Thanks for dropping by,

and have a great day or evening.

Stacey Bindman

Toysearcher@gmail.com

Toy Collections of Collectors

Sunday, January 28, 2018
Sunny
+3 C  37.4 F

Toy Collections of Collectors

You often see collections being auctioned off by collectors. The collectors are very serious and are usually financially secure so that they can purchase the best toys possible. 

By "the best toys possible", I mean that these toys are rare, in excellent condition,they work, and may have come with their original wooden box.

Such  is the case of the mechanical banks presented today.

What is also interesting is the information  about these collections that is available

on the Internet.  If you type in the name of the person with the word "collection", you will find more information about the auction and the mechanical banks. These collections are sometimes worth more than $ 5,000,000.00, and the auctioneers will send out bulletins to various newspapers to promote the auction. This is to garner more publicity and attention to potential bidders. So if you ever want more information about an auction or valuable toy, try searching on the Net.

CALAMITY MECHANICAL BANK - CHOCOLATE BASE
Rare Chocolate Base Color Made by the J. & E. Stevens Company Cromwell, Connecticut – Circa 1905 The "Calamity Bank" portrays collegiate football as it was played at the beginning of the 20th Century. In this particular example, we find two defense tacklers from Yale (blue details) taking down a running fullback from Harvard (crimson details). Wearing only nominal protective gear, many players sustained serious injuries. President Teddy Roosevelt viewed this situation as very dangerous. He planned to incorporate the abolition of collegiate football as part of his platform for re-election in 1904. It's a good thing that his political advisors talked him out of it. Material: Cast Iron  

Provenance: Stephen Steckbeck Collection

Kilgore The Turtle Mechanical Bank
Made by Kilgore Mfg. Co. Westerville, Ohio – Circa 1930 Kilgore affectionately named this little bank "Pokey the Turtle". However for Steve Steckbeck, it was the Holy Grail of all mechanical banks. There was a flaw in the design of "Pokey" and consequently, it has been conjectured that production of this bank was suspended permanently. This theory would explain the extreme scarcity of the Turtle Bank. Only nine specimens are known to exist. Material: Cast Iron  

Provenance: Gertrude Hegarty Collection, Stan Sax Collection, Dick Stevens Collection

(The above 3 collections refer to 3 different people who 

successively owned this mechanical bank at one time)

INITIATING BANK – FIRST DEGREE - MECHANICAL BANK

Manufactured by Mechanical Novelty Works New Britain, Connecticut – Circa 1880 Though the imagery used in the "Initiating Bank" has never been deciphered, it is, none-the-less a very visually appealing and active mechanical bank. Three unlikely companions: a goat, a frog and a black male youth, are seen as participants in some sort of ritualistic initiation. A coin placed in the boy's tray is deposited into the frog's mouth after the lever activation causes the goat to ram the boy in the behind with his horns. This rare bank is almost never found in such beautiful condition. Material: Cast Iron  

Provenance: Stanley Kesselman Collection

CHIEF BIG MOON BANK – RED AND YELLOW BASE
Made by the J. & E. Stevens Company Cromwell, Connecticut – Circa 1899 Charles Bailey's inspiration for "Chief Big Moon" may have come from the frog pond adjacent to the Stevens foundry building. Once again, we find his meticulous, almost obsessive, attention to detail. Note, in particular, the complexity of the hieroglyphics that appear on the teepee and the bas relief images that appear so perfectly, albeit shallowly, around the base. The phenomenal color and action of this bank, along with its unparalleled condition, makes this bank worthy of any serious collector's collection as an upgrade. Material: Cast Iron  

Provenance: Bill Bertoia Collection, Donal Markey Collection, Stanley Kesselman Collection.

ATLAS MECHANICAL BANK

Unknown Manufacturer, Probably produced in the 1890's. A clever capitalist adage appears in raised letters on the top of the Atlas Bank: "Money Moves the World". These words are closely tied to the action of the bank. To deposit a coin, the lever must be pushed leftward, exposing the coin aperture. When released, the globe spins several times on Atlas' shoulders. Thus, in the case of the Atlas Bank, money literally moves the world. Coincidentally, the silver & gold painted finish of the base evokes the opulent wealth and taste of the Gilded Age, the era in which robber barons such as Andrew Carnegie, J. Gould, and John D. Rockefeller ruled as capitalist icons. Material: Cast Iron, White Metal Figure and Paper-covered wooden globe  

Provenance: Leon Cameto Collection, Larry Feld Collection

Surprisingly, I have never seen 2 of the 5 banks above. 

They are:

1. Kilgore the Turtle Mechanical Bank

2.Atlas Mechanical Bank

For myself, they appeared less-complex than other more complicated banks. 

 I probably passed on them in past posts because of this.

Who knew that these 2 banks would hit high prices as the other 3 banks. 

I'll have to be more conscious of toys that may not look that interesting because you never know!

Thanks for dropping by,

and have a great day or evening.

Stacey Bindman

Toysearcher@gmail.com