ITEM DESCRIPTION:

We are offering The Book of Knowledge 1950s reproduction of the Cabin mechanical bank. In the late 1950s, The Book of Knowledge commissioned Gray Iron Casting Company in Mt. Joy, PA to reproduce its collection of original mechanical banks. Gray Iron was selected because they still used the original hand crafting methods used in the late 1890s to make the original mechanical banks. The result is this beautiful cast iron mechanical bank just like the original; handmade and hand decorated. At the same time, late 1950s, a public relations event was initiated. Lending institutions were asked to sponsor and publicize local exhibits of The Book of Knowledge penny bank collection and to offer a limited number of the replicas for sale to the general public for $10.00. Cast into the bottom is "REPRODUCED FROM ORIGINAL IN COLLECTION OF THE BOOK OF KNOWLEDGE". Some savings banks gave these banks away to customers in the 1960s. On the bottom is a circular advertising piece with the name of the savings bank. Below is the action of the bank: 1) Lock the man in the upright position. 2) Place a coin on the front edge of the roof. 3) Pull the broom handle on the right side of the bank forward. 4) The man in the door is spring loaded and will rotate 180˚ to the upside-down position. 5) As he goes upside-down his feet hit the coin and drive it into the bank. Your savings are retrieved thru a twist trap on the bottom. Base size is 4.125 inches long by 2.875 inches wide and 3.125 inches tall. This is an original Book of Knowledge bank. Condition is near mint with NO breaks or repairs. Shipping to the west coast will be $9.00 plus insurance; your ZIP may be cheaper.