"Hen and Chicken" Mechanical Bank, 1901-1928

01

Artifact Overview

Banks with ingenious mechanisms made saving fun and were perfect gifts for children whose parents wanted to promote thrift. When a child placed a coin in front of this hen and activated a lever, a small chick emerged to peck at the coin. The mother hen's head nodded as she watched her thrifty child; her beak also moved as if to cluck approval.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Mechanical bank

Date Made

1901-1928

Creator Notes

Patented by Charles Bailey and manufactured by J. & E. Stevens Company, Cromwell, Connecticut.

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

38.309.29

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Susan Stebbins Stark.

Material

Cast iron

Color

Brown
Yellow (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 4.5 in
Width: 9.75 in
Length: 4 in