"Plan-It" Mechanical Bank, circa 1959
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Artifact Overview
Many early space toys depicted outer space as a futuristic fantasy world. But when space travel became possible, these toys portrayed a more realistic and scientific vision. The "Plan-It" bank from about 1959 features the then nine planets -- possible destinations for future American astronauts as the U.S. entered the space race.
Artifact Details
Artifact
Mechanical bank
Date Made
circa 1959
Creators
Place of Creation
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Object ID
2018.82.5
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Raymond Reines, Dedicated to the Berzac Family.
Material
Metal
Polyvinyl chloride
Color
Silver (Color)
Blue
Multicolored
Dimensions
Height: 4 in
Diameter: 9 in
Inscriptions
on bottom:
ASTRO MFG. INC. E. DETROIT, MICH. / A BERZAC CREATION / PLAN-IT BANK / PAT. PENDING
on rings on top:
MERCURY 88 DAYS / VENUS 224 DAYS+ / EARTH 365 DAYS+ / MARS 686 DAYS+ / JUPITER 4,443 DAYS+ / SATURN 10,759 DAYS+ / URANUS 30,685 DAYS+ / NEPTUNE 60,187 DAYS+ / PLUTO 90,469 DAYS+
label on top:
ORBIT Your [Savin]gs . . .to LOCAL [?] [CRED?]IT UNION / 14880 Wyoming [?] TE 4-0359
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