Fostoria Banker Treasures Rare Toys

(Plain Dealer Special)
          FOSTORIA, O., June 25 — Believed to be one of the country's leading collectors of old toy banks, Andrew Emerine, president of the First National Bank of Fostoria, has enlarged the scope of his hobby by acquiring all kinds of unusual mechanical toys.
          The leader in Emerine's strange procession of "mechanical persons" is "the Bubble Boy." a heavy-haired dreamy-eyed youth who dips a pipe into a pewter bowl, raises it to his mouth and blows a perfect bubble with each dip. A clockwork in the base keeps the boy at play. Emerine estimates that the toy is 60 years old.
          "Ulysses S. Grant" is a tobacco addict who will smoke anything that is put into his hand, cigarettes apparently being as welcome as a good 5-cent cigar. When the clockwork which runs for five minutes after each winding is set in motion the toy general raises the cigar to his lips, inhales a full draft of smoke and exhales the smoke.
          Emerine uncovered this toy in Washington and it is believed to have been produced in the late 1880's, when Grant was at the peak of his popularity.
          A toy bank, known as the "Freedman Bank," is another of Emerine's prize collections. It shows a colored gentleman, who sweeps in the coin with his left hand, while his read turns slightly to display a well-satisfied smile.