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Wonderful and rare, original, 1880\'s Political Americana Cast Iron Mechanical Bank by the J. E. Stevens Company of Cromwell, Connecticut titled the \"Tammany Bank\" with wonderful, original surface paint.
This outstanding, original Cast Iron Mechanical Bank measures approx. 5 3/4\" tall and 3\" by 4 1/4\" at the base. This Mechanical Bank carries the title \"Tammany Bank\" cast within circular medallions on each side along with text on the back at the top of the chair that reads \"Patd. Dec. 23, 1873\". The Bank retains its original and separately patented, sliding trap on the base.
The Bank features a portly \"politico\" seated in a chair. When a coin is placed in his hand the weight of the coin causes the man\'s arm to drop depositing the coin in his pocket. At the same time our politician nods his head in both thanks and recognition. The figure itself bears no resemblance Boss William M. Tweed, the head of the Tammany Hall Society who was convicted in 1873 of 204 charges related to political corruption, but rather a composite symbol of the many crooked and disreputable politicians who were closely associated with Tammany Hall during the period when this bank was manufactured.
The example offered here retains the vast majority of its original surface paint and has what we believe is among the earliest color schemes. Colors are as follows: The chair is tan with a mottled orange-brown outlining. The figure wears a black jacket, yellow vest, white shirt, blue bow-tie, brown trousers, and black shoes. His face and hands are flesh color. His hair, moustache, and features of his face are all black. To operate, a coin is placed in his right hand which lowers (from the weight of the coin) to his left hand where it drops into the provided slot pocket. In so doing the head nods forward, caused again by the weight of the coin.
This wonderful, 1880\'s Political Americana \"Tammany Bank\" Mechanical Bank is quite heavy, very finely cast and is in excellent condition. The Bank retains approx. 95% of its original surface paint and the paint is 100% original - the Bank has never been restored, repainted, touched up or altered in any way. The Bank is in excellent working condition and the simple but delicately balanced mechanism is smooth and as manufactured. The Bank retains the early form, 1875 patent, sliding form trap on the base. There are no crack, breaks, chips, repairs or physical damage to the cast iron. There is some surface nicks to the paint on the fellow\'s face and on his pant legs and on the lattice work of the back of the chair but overall this is a well preserved example of an early edition of this important American Mechanical Bank. Please see the numerous scans below for a good indication of the condition of the 100% original paint.
A wonderful and rare, early edition of the Political Americana, Cast Iron Mechanical Bank by J. E. Stevens Company titled the \"Tammany Bank\" and a fantastic addition to any collection!!!
Please Note: The Mechanical Bank offered here is unconditionally guaranteed authentic, original and of the period - manufactured by the J. E. Stevens Company in the late 19th century. The Bank is backed by our “no questions asked” return policy and lifetime guarantee of authenticity.
Overseasshippping is extra and cost will be quoted at buyers request. Massachusetts residents must add 6.25% sales tax.
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Important Notes about Shipping Charges:
The amount quoted for Shipping & Handling is calculated by and is equal to the EXACT amount charged by the Post Office plus a $1.00 \"packing fee\" - the $1.00 fee is our only compensation for the virgin packing materials we use on all of our professionally packaged boxes as well as our cost for the salaried help that does most of our packing - as I am sure you can see, we make NO profit on the Shipping charges and, in fact, our costs are usually greater than the $1.00 fee. Please contact us if there are any issues regarding the cost of shipping.
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