"Destination-Moon" Mechanical Bank, 1962
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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 became more realistic looking. This mechanical bank commemorates astronaut John Glenn orbiting the Earth in 1962. The rocket resembles spaceships of the time and is topped by the moon--America's ultimate goal in the 1960s.
Artifact Details
Artifact
Mechanical bank
Date Made
1962
Place of Creation
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Object ID
2018.82.8
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Raymond Reines, Dedicated to the Berzac Family.
Material
Metal
Color
Green
Dimensions
Height: 10.5 in
Diameter: 4 in (at widest point)
Inscriptions
inside rim of base:
MODEL - 1000 - / DESTINATION - MOON / BANK / 1ST US DIRECT HIT APRIL 26 - 1962 / DURO MOLD AND M.F.G. INC. / DETROIT 34 MICH. / U.S.A PAT. D-54,508 / CANADIAN PAT. D-25826 / OTHER COUNTRIES PEND.
on side of rocket:
U S A
on top of rim around moon:
COMMEMORATING LT. COL. JOHN H. GLENN JR. - TRIUMPHANT TRIPLE ORBIT OF THE EARTH FEBRUARY 20, 1962
on bottom of rim around moon:
SHEPARD GRISSOM GLENN CARPENTER SCHIRRA
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