Our intentions this month were to picture several of the Harper banks as discussed in last month’s article. However, we feel that other important news about mechanical banks should be passed along while it is still in the news category. In other words, we like to keep our readers informed and up to date, and we can picture the Harper banks another time, possibly next month.

In any case, there’s been a great deal of activity in the mechanical bank field of collecting and some great banks have turned up and passed into the hands of a number of collectors.

A recent auction in England offered a fine all original Snake And Frog In Pond (Tin) and Steve Steckbeck flew over, was the successful bidder, and brought back a very good addition to his collection. This has to be one of the outstanding tin mechanical banks. Right on top of this practically, both Lee Perelman and Wally Tudor added a Snake And Frog In Pond to their respective collections. It’s hard to believe that a circumstance of this kind could happen — but it did! It seems an old toy store in England had five of these banks (this is the total number to the best of the writer’s knowledge) show up when the store stock was being cleared out. Imagine, here is a bank that only two were known to exist, Emerine and Meyer each having one, Emerine in mint condition and Meyer in fair condition. And this was the way it was for over thirty years. Then, bango, at least five of them turn up right out of the blue. Another example of the unusual and interesting circumstances that occur in collecting mechanical banks.

The other two Snake And Frog Banks? Well we did not know or have the information at the time of the March 1978 article where we told of the acquisition by Ed Mosler of a Snake And Frog. That is one of the group, accounting for four of them. Then, as we understand it, an English collector has the fifth. So, as it stands now, we know of seven Snake And Frogs that exist in collections. There is no question that you have to hop on to something like this when it’s available, it’s been proven time and again. And don’t be surprised if it’s another thirty years or more before another Snake And Frog shows up.

Would you believe one of the great tin banks was just obtained by Bob McCumber — the Royal Trick Elephant in nice condition. This is a tough tin bank to come across. Also include a Wimbledon Bank in Bob’s recent additions, and that’s doing pretty well.

On the market recently was a Giant In Tower, Bear Bank (Tin), and a John Bull’s Money Box. The Giant and John Bull are not in great shape; however, these are pretty hot banks. We do not as of this writing know of the disposal of these three banks.

Now we come to Al Davidson whose latest addition is the Clown Bank (Bust). This is an English cast iron mechanical that is very difficult to come by and Al is to be congratulated. It is all original and in pretty good paint condition, particularly for this bank. We might mention that Al was recently involved in a rather bad automobile accident and hospitalized for some time. We are pleased to report that he is on the mend now and coming along o.k.

That same question keeps popping up by individuals asking the writer — ‘where can you find mechanical banks today’. Anyone ever try the Brimfield Flea Market in Brimfield, Massachusetts? Well, the writer finally went to the affair for the first time. In a way it’s a mild form of insanity — mobs of people and 700 plus exhibitors. Everything is there from junk to antiques, but the main point is there were numbers of mechanical banks for sale. There really were a lot of mechanicals available. They were scattered around among the exhibitors and also concentrated with certain dealers. Showing fine displays of mechanicals were McCumber, Whitson, Suozzi, and Maxwell. Also it bears mention that some fine still banks were on hand. So if you’re trying to find mechanical banks go to Brimfield. It is held three times a year, Spring, Summer and Fall, and the dates are widely advertised.

Finally, the hottest news right now is an auction just held in Cogan Station, Pennsylvania, by the Roan Brothers. This was the sale of the very rare Jonah And Whale (Jonah Emerges). The bank was sold in a matter of minutes and went to a dealer. Numbers of dealers and collectors attended the sale just to bid on this rare bank. A part was missing from the front of the bank and there was a break in the coin base, but tremendous interest was involved in spite of these defects. This is one of the really rare desirable mechanicals to come on the market in some time and auctions do seem to be where the action is, not only where buying is concerned, but also where rare banks are available.

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