o W N THE ANTIQUE DETECTIVE Anne Gilbert Condition Determines Toy Bank Prices Mechanical and still toy banks have fascinated collectors ever since they were first manufactured in the 19th century. Originally when made in the late 19th century they sold from 75 cents to $1.50 each. When serious col lecting began in the 19305, the same banks sold for up to $5O dollars for the mechanicals and a few dollars for still banks. At a recent Skinner auction of a wide variety of both types, even missing parts and replacements didn’t keep bidders from spending several thou sand dollars apiece. One bidder plunked down $1,700 for an “artillery bank” by early maker Stevens, even though a part was missing. Another in complete bank “Eagle and eaglets” with missing parts sold for $l,OOO over its estimate of $3OO-500. These bidders probably knew where to find missing parts and restorers. Still banks, even those with novel shapes and designs sold for modest prices. A beginning col lector could have bought a unique top hat still bank for $75. Historically, the first iron banks were still banks, made after the Civil War and resembling the square buildings of their day, topped with cupolas. Shortly afterward a spring ac tion was inserted and the mechanical bank was born. So was a new collectible. What child could re sist putting a penny in the mouth of a figural „ dog and watch him drop it onto the bank- A penny in the slot could make punch hit Judy, a mule kick his heels or- Wiliam Tell ~ shoot the apple off the bear’s head Patriotism, bigotry, and humor of the day were popular subjects even in bank designs.; One bank, known aff‘ the “reclining China man” depicted a Chi nese gambler lying on a log. This image re ferred to the hundreds of Chinese coolies who served as cheap labor for the railroad con struction of the 1800 s. At that time, higher priced American work ers resented the immi grant group. Mirroring the times were the anti-German banks popular around the time of World War I. German submarines were referred to as “pig boats” by Ameri can sailors. 4 Animals and furds were favorite thanes. Among them the American eagle feed ing it’s young (like the one sold at the Skinner auction). CLUES: The 1976 Bicentennial brought the banks to the atten tion of a new generation of collec tors. The result was re productions, fakes, and artificial aging. Among the most popular reproductions were Jonah and the whale, William Tell, and a plastic Uncle Sam. A the trade was (and still is) to bury the iron repro duction in manure to “age it.” I still see many of these pieces at mall shows and coun- try shops. Although less than a dozen firms produced mechanical banks, more than 600 designs from manufacturers catalogs have been discovered, and mil lions were made between 1850 and 1910. When a bank can be attributed to one of the early makers, prices rise. One of the most famous early “fakes,” the Carnival bank, was made in the 19305. For a time it fooled col lectors. Today, it is collected as a curiosity. One way to recognize sand cast reproductions, because of their recasting, they will have a rougher surface and shrinkage. Some of the mechanical parts won’t work as well because of the shrinkage. The seller will probably explain it by saying, “ What do you expect? It’s old.” Novelties were minted for spe cial events such as the Colum bian Exposition of 1893 and the Pan-American Exposition in 1901. “Teddy and the Bear” de picted President Theodore Roosevelt on one of his hunting expedition. You can bank on prices going up and up. PUBLIC AUCTION ANTIQUES SMALLS & COLLECTIBLES, FURNITURE, TRAINS, FRAKTUR, E-TOWN ITEMS MON., JAN. 7, 2002 2:00 P.M. Located at the NEW Shaffner Auction Gallery, 977 West Main Street, (Route #230) Mount Joy, PA 3 Miles from either Rheems or Manheim/Mount Joy exits of Route #283 mid way between Lancaster & Harrisburg PA Antiques & Collectibles: 1845 pen & ink drawing of spread wing eagle inscribed “James Polk and a sound and uncorrupted Union” signed Abraham Eckman, Fraktur w/2 birds & flowers, early Benjamin Franklin air rifle #7OO, Hubley race car w/animated pistons, 50+ Marx tin litho train cars & engines, Lionel tram cars, train buildings, mod els, & accessories, butter chum, 2 slag glass hanging lamps, Aladdin lamp, other fluid lamps, 2 Mail Pouch broadsides, unusual clown lawn sprinkler, early sleds, coffee grinder, iron cat & frog doorstops, egg baskets, milk cans, prints & frames, copy of 1858 Mt. Joy map, quilts, scales, ice tongs, Mt. Joy slaw board, drying rack, pitch er pump, Marx doll house & furniture, Phillies Yearbooks 1970-1984, E-TOWN ITEMS: LG. band concert poster (Middletown Band) w/great E-towo advertising? 1909 HS grad. Program, Moose building dedication program, Spickler’s Dairy wooden crate w/12 milk bottles, early pho tos E-toytm Schnitzel Band, E-town Boys Band, E-town Coronet Band, school photos, adv. items, etc. 1922 photo of Mt. Joy band & Lititz Fire Co., 1900 photo Penryn Park Locomotive with Salunga & Landisvjlle bands, adv. playing cards, Occ. Japan figurines, washbowl & pitcher. Royal Doulton mugs, McCoy, Shawnee creamer, peanut butter glasses, Bristol vase, feather-edge platter, Fostoria, Margaret* Rose set of china, Stangl sculpturedjfhiit set, jardiniere, Roseville hanging planter, photo album, knife rests, Wallace Nutting print, 20+ 10K rings & other jewelry, glassware & china, FURNITURE: Ornate walnut pump organ, oak bed, dresser, & washstand, Duncan Phyfe table & chairs, organ stool, walnut dresser, marble top 3 drawer dresser, grained blanket chest “JSW 1905”, marbleized slate fireplace mantle, rockers, oak treadle sewing machine, bookcase, iron floor lamps, kitchen cabinet Can we work for you 9 At our location or yours 9 Receiving hours at the Gallery are Wed 2PM - 7 PM & Sat 9AM - Noon or call tor a tree confi dential appointment to discuss how to get the most for your collection. Shaffner Auction Co. 717-367-8000 Mark Diffenderfer AU-2897-L 717-492-0004 Marty Fleck, Apprentice 717-413-6238 “We treat your property as if it were our own” www.shaflFnerauction.com PUBLIC AUCTION HOUSEHOLD GOODS ANTIQUES & TOOLS SAT., JAN. 12, 2002 8:00 A.M. To be held at the Lincoln Fire Hall, in rear of 1438 West Main Street, Ephrata, Lancaster Co., Pa , (One block off Rl 322 West) Watch for sale anows EARLY WIND UP CRADLE Walnut Victorian Love Seat and 4 Chairs, Repro Open Pewter Cupboard with Raltail Hinges, Wood Chest, Oak Dropleaf Ext Table, Early Dough Tray, Mahogany Corner Cupboard & Breakfront, Hitchcock Table and 4 Chairs, Mahogany Pie Crust & Drum Tables, Depression Bedroom Suite, Early Night Stand, Victorian Table, Brass & Marble Stand, Martha Washington Sewing Stand, Bucket Shell, Old Ice Cieam Table and 4 Chairs, 6 Arrowback Plank Scat Chans, Boston Rocker, Oak Rocker, Laddciback Chairs, Claw Foot Piano Stool with Back, Mahogany Bench, Old Doll Cradle, Heeled Bench, Oak School Chair, Atlwater Kent Radio in Desk, Wicker Fernery, Quilting Frame, Truetone Floor Model Radio & Record Player, Monkey Stove, Oak File, Walnut Folding Hat Rack, Goldleal Mirrors, Oak Picture Frames. Iron Pitcher Pump Lamp, Iron Floor Lights ICE BLUE CARNIVAL DISH (MARKED “N”) Nontake “Tree in the Meadow" Vase, Large Austrian Vase, Hull Vase, Cranbeiry Enameled Bottle, Moon and Star Compotes, Fiesta, Limoges China Dinnei Set, Chocolate Set, Colored Ironstone Plates, Fostona, Pressed Glass Table Set, Wine Set, Colored Glass Compotes, Nest of Fire King Bowls, Coal Oil Lights, Gone With The Wind Light, Stoneware Ice Tea Crock, Gilchnst Banana Split Ice Cream Dipper. Coca- Cola Clock, Cheny Seeders, Large Tin Advertising Thermometers, Stick Phone, Ship Lantern, Old Farm Toys, Brass Fireplace Tools, Mickey Mouse Toy Chest, Quilt, Alligator Pocketbooks, Minolta Cameias, Aluminum Chustmas Trees, Stainless Steel Kettles. Wooden and Metal Planes, Augei, Gas Cham Saw, Gas Weed Eater, Hand and Garden Tools, loads of other items. Not Responsible lor Accidents. Refreshments will be sold TERMS BY: MARGARET WORLEY ESTATE AND OTHERS DALE L. PUTT, AUCTIONEER AU-000733-L Phone Akron (717) 859-1430 PUBLIC AUCTION JOHN M. HESS AUCTION SERVICE INC. ANTIQUES, COLLECTIBLES, FURNITURE SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 2002 9:00 AM jassa^ f*'* % 1 JUT w mm* % if jifet ' ,v„ £'a*. ' * Auctioneer’s Note: For more information & pictures, check our website at www.hess-auction.com. Auction lor 3 local estates. For more information call John Auction House - 717-733-8192 Home - 717-664-5238 Location: Wolgemuth Auction Center, 109 N Maple Avc , Leola. PA 17540 Furniture: Empire chest of drawers w/Lionshead carvings, 2 paint grained blanket chests, 1 miniature blanket chest, oak dresser with unusu al carving, 6 matching paint decorated plank bottom chairs (excellent condition), matching paint decorated high chair, large early blanket chest, early painted sewing box, PA House hutch, 3 marble top end tables, 4 pc. bedroom suite, 5 pc solid cherry bedroom suite, mahogany dining room suite w/6 chairs, china closet, buffet, table, mahogany drop-leaf table, mahogany end table, mahogany coffee table, modern solid cheny corner cupboard and drysmk, empire chest of drawers, mortised bench, miniature rolltop desk, ball & clawtool piano stool, pump organ, 2 cedar chests, painted wood box, breakfast set, miscellaneous rocking chairs, curio cabinet, unusual carved coffee table, 2 matching Victorian uphol stered chairs, overstuffed sota and matching chairs, hardwood wardiobe, 2 small school desks, 2 modern sofas, numerous upholstered chairs, washer & dryer (nice), modern electric range, drum tables & numerous other end tables, many more furniture items not mentioned. Antiques & Collectibles: 4 pc cobalt blue mixing bowl set, early provin cial Roses & Roosters, spongcware water pitcher, unusual yelloware bowl, 4 pc. Jadeite Fireking nesting bowls & other Jadeite, numerous pcs. of early paste transfer ware, 2 Roseville flower vases, large Weller vase, numerous Goebel figurines, Lefton teapot, redware crock, Perecscope viewer & cards, patchwork quilt, green depression, early tex tiles, No 12 Griswold frying pans & other cast non pans, hobnail, 2 Howdy Doody marionettes, early dolls, sm. wooden airplane propeller, paper weights, early balance scale & weights, large German dish set, wooden wheelbarrow (excellent condition), 5 cast iron butcher kettles, numerous early wooden boxes, McCoy flower vase, 2 fire engine pedal cars, clocks, washboards, oil lamps, large cast iron trough, small chicken waterei, 2 early egg crates (Manheim & Boyertown), Kasco egg basket, large cleaver, broad ax, 2 copper wash boilers, numerous crocks & jugs, Marx tram. Precious Moments figurines & dolls, Mattel Easter tin toys, and many more items too numerous to mention. Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 5, 2002-B1 “Horst Auction Center” PUBLIC SALE ANTIQUES, HOUSEHOLD GOODS, COLLECTIBLES, TOYS, MODERN & ANTIQUE TOOLS WED., JAN. 9, 2002 AT 2:00 P.M. Sale to be held at the Horst Auction Center, located at the corner of Rt. 322 & Durlach Rd. (approx. 2 1/2 miles west of Ephrata), Ephrata, Lancaster Co., PA. FURNITURE - A Lg Variety of Antique & Modern Including Bedroom. Dining Room, Living Room, Kitchen & Patio Sets & Individual PCS In Various Styles, Woods & Upholstery “HIGHLIGHTS” - Grained Wood Chest, Walnut Dropleal Table, Nice Selection m Mahogany (Duncan Phyfe Dining Set, High Boy, Low Boy, Dropleaf Table, Stands, Etc ), Maple Dry Sink, Dinette Sets, Hide-A-Beds & Much More' APPLIANCES - TV’s, Microwave. Sewing Machine, Kitchenware, Silvci & Assorted Metal Ware CHINA & C.LA Antique, Collectible & Modern Including Watts Bowls. Ironstone, Pottery, Redware, Stoneware, Bone China, Goebel Figurines. Collector Plates, Stangl, Northwood, Lots of Depression, Carnival, Pressed & Pattern, Lg Collection of Bottles LINENS - Blanket, Spreads, Tabic Linens, Oriental & Hooked Throw Rugs, Books, Records, Original Artwork, Local Prints TOYS - Buddy L Type Dump Truck, Farm Toys, Oliver Pedal Tractor. Games TOOLS - (Modem & Antique). Good Selection of Woodworking Equipment & Hand Tools, Lawn & Garden Equipment, Antique Tool Chest & Hand Tools, Cherry R S Lumber & Much More' ’’’A More Detailed Listing is Available on our Web Site at www horstauction com Most Complete Listing w/Photos on Evening of 1/8 & 1/9 All Day *■■ No Out of State Checks Without Prior Approval Horst aucts. AU43BL T. Glenn (717) ess 1331 (7i?) 738-3080 Timothy G. Fax #(717) 738-2132 Thnmac A www horstauction com 1 iiwniaa VOICES OF EXPERIENCE” Auctioneer; John M. Hess A U-003484-L RE u Van AUCTION SERVICE INC
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers