Antique Shepard Hardware Iron Uncle Sam Mechanical Bank

http://www.opamerica.com I am presenting a nice antique Shepard Hardware Co. mechanical bank called "Uncle Sam". Circa 1880s. O'Briens Collecting Toys 11th Edition puts the year at 1886. You put the coin in his hand, press the knob on the base, the arm lowers and drops the coin into his bag. Mechanism works well. Note no key. This bank is in very good condition! Still has majority of paint. This bank needs a cleaning but I will leave it untouched. The bank measures 11 1/2" tall and the base measures 5" x 4".

I found the following information about this bank from www.mechanicalbanks.org:

"THE Uncle Sam mechanical bank was made by the Shepard Hardware Company of Buffalo, New York, in 1886.

Made of cast iron, and standing 11-1/2 inches high, it has been hand painted with bright colors. Uncle Sam has a ruddy pink face, long white hair that falls to his shoulders, and a beard that extends to the first button on his blue star-spangled vest. Red and white striped trousers, a dark blue frock coat, red and white striped bow tie, and a gray top hat with blue band decorated with silver stars completes his costume.

The figure is represented as standing on a platform of simulated boards, the front decorated with an eagle and the legend "Uncle Sam." He holds a dark green umbrella in his left hand, and a brown carpet bag rests nearby at his feet.

The action is both clever and realistic. A coin is placed between the thumb and four fingers of Uncle Sam's extended right hand. When the action lever (located just in back of the umbrella} is pushed down, his lower jaw goes up closing his mouth, and the carpet bag springs open. When the lever is released the bag closes, the coin drops into a receptacle below, and Uncle Sam's beard, being counterbalanced, bobs up and down for almost a full minute.

Mechanical banks handled coins in a variety of ways, but eventually each one pulled the pennies away from its owner for safekeeping."

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Antique
• Vintage
• Shepard
• Hardware
• Cast
• Iron
• Uncle
• Sam
• Mechanical
• Bank
• Opamerica

[momakristie]

Do you know the value of this bank?

[opamerica]

visit ebay store opamerica to find value on this bank and other great items.

[clanmcarthur]

If you have a perfect one, still in the box, with the key, it can fetch upwards of 20K. Not too many of those out there. They started in 1886 and were made until about 1916. By the Sheppard Hardware Company. Most good working, fair paint models go for about 2000-3000. I am not lucky enough to have one. Although I have a few "Book of Knowledge" banks that are still cast iron and look great. Lucky you for having one...

[circuitprotector]

One way to tell if it is a reproduction is the door on back. Most repros don't have one. It shouldn't say "Taiwan" on the bottom either....lol

[jerseyst1]

i have the same thing. they sell for 800 dollers now

[ActionFigureWorld]

their also a reproduction ,still very cool found out mine is still cast iron .

[ActionFigureWorld]

what year is this ??

[HeartlandTrailsvideo]

Awesome antique bank! Looks like it's in great condition, too, given its age! Whoever bought this is a very lucky person.

[Jgrizz2009]

I have one does anybody know a site to price it's worth I've looked but I can't find one it's 100% cast iron from top to bottom as well as the plug in the bottom

[iiLuVcHrIsBrOwN]

i have one of those

[ronaldharwood]

tubemusicdownload com to get this song

[RockOnGoodPeople5394]

i just looked this up and the original is worth between 6 and 7 thousand dollars