Owl Mechanical Bank, 1880-1920

01

Artifact Overview

Banks with ingenious mechanisms made saving fun and were perfect gifts for children whose parents wanted to promote thrift. These mechanical banks could have intricate movements or simple ones. This owl bank is simple. Place the coin in the tree near the owl's head and activate a lever; the owl's head turns and the coin disappears.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Mechanical bank

Date Made

1880-1920

Creator Notes

Patented by James H. Bowen, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Manufactured by J. & E. Stevens Company, Cromwell, Connecticut.

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

38.309.31

Credit

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

Material

Cast iron

Color

Brown
Yellow (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 7.5 in
Width: 4 in
Length: 3 in

Inscriptions

On perforated base plate: PATD NO 232628