Speaking Dog Mechanical Bank, 1885-1895

01

Artifact Overview

Depressing a lever on the base near the dog causes the girl's right arm to move back, dropping the coin placed on the tray into the seat opening beside her, while the dog opens its mouth as if barking and wags its tail. The Shepard Hardware Company began producing these mechanical banks about 1882, but sold this line in 1892.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Mechanical bank

Date Made

1885-1895

Creator Notes

Patented by Charles G. Shepard and Peter Adams. Manufactured by Shepard Hardware Company of Buffalo, New York.

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

28.367.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Cast iron

Color

Maroon
Yellow (Color)
Red

Dimensions

Height: 7.25 in
Width: 7 in
Length: 3 in

Inscriptions

Front of base: SPEAKING DOG End of base: BANK Bottom of base: PAT JULY 15, 1885 / AND / OCT 20 1885