Kovels Antiques & Collecting: Mechanical Banks
By Terry and Kim Kovel
Mechanical Banks
A mechanical bank like this “Two Frogs” bank used to put on a show for as little as a penny. Place the coin on the flat spot on the small frog's chest, press the lever on the back of the bank, and the large frog opens its mouth to catch the coin as the small frog kicks it in.
Antique mechanical banks have gone from storing pennies to selling for thousands of dollars. This frog bank is well known and highly prized, selling recently for $12,800 at auction. PHOTO CREDIT: Kovels.com
In the 19th century, mechanical banks taught children that saving money could be fun. Now, collectors save up their money to buy them: This bank was the top seller at a Morphy auction, bringing in $12,800. Cast-iron mechanical banks from the late 19th to early 20th century have been popular collectibles since the 1950s, and they keep selling for high prices. Collectors look for examples in excellent condition with functional mechanisms and the original paint intact.
Mechanical banks are well-documented, with names (like "Two Frogs") coming from the advertisements and order forms where they originally appeared. Serious collectors are familiar with these advertisements, which also provide the bank's maker, date and original price: "Two Frogs" used to sell for 85 or 95 cents!
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Q: I'm hoping you can help me with this question. I inherited this table from my great aunt. I'm interested in selling it, but have no idea who the maker is or if it's worth anything. She had it ever since I was a child; I'm 57. Can you help? If I need to pay for an appraisal, I'm willing to do so, depending on the cost.
A: To estimate the date of a piece of furniture from family history, take your age and add 25 years for each generation before you owned the piece. By this method, your great aunt's table would be about 107 years old. However, this method isn't always accurate. If you don't know how old your relative was when they got the piece, you may estimate that the furniture is older than it really is. Without a maker's mark, it is difficult to determine the age of a piece of furniture from photographs alone. Remember that furniture styles are often copied or reproduced by later makers. Look for an appraiser in your area. You may find some online, in local business resources or listed in the Business Directory on Kovels.com. Tables that look similar to yours have sold at recent auctions for about $100 to $200.
TIP: Never repaint an old bank. It lowers the resale value.
CURRENT PRICES
Auto, sign, traffic, "No Parking To Broadway," oval, raised letters, worn yellow paint, Village Board, metal, two-sided, 10 1/2 x 15 1/2 inches, $110.
Bottle, barber, art deco, frosted, teal to clear, enamel flowers and leaves, green and white, gilt trim, pontil base, 8 inches, pair, $260.
Folk art, whirligig, two figures, woman with washtub, man with bucksaw, wood, sheet iron, dated, 1872, 9 1/2 x 28 inches, $430.
Lamp, electric, Osiris, chrome, round reflector, flat silk screen, column support, Thomas O'Brien, Visual Comfort Co., 60 x 16 inches, $960.
Rug, hooked, clipper ship, on water, multicolor striped field, anchors and shells in corners, wood frame, 29 x 39 1/2 inches, $1,150.
For more collecting news, tips and resources, visit www.Kovels.com
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