Blast Off! A Collection of Space-Themed Banks

Written by
Donna R. Braden
Donna Braden is the curator of public life at The Henry Ford.
"Plan-It" Mechanical Bank, circa 1959

In 2018-2019, The Henry Ford acquired a collection of space-themed banks and related materials dating from 1949 to 1964. These items, produced by Detroit-based companies Duro Mold and Manufacturing and Astro Manufacturing, were offered at local bank branches as incentives for potential customers to start bank accounts. The mechanical banks' designs speak to Americans' changing perceptions of outer space during that time — from fantasy to reality.

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"Rocket Bank," circa 1951

In the years before the space race of the late 1950s, many Americans viewed outer space exploration as fantasy and science fiction. Whimsical space toys based on popular movies, radio and television shows, and comics featured futuristic robots, ray guns, and spaceships. This mechanical rocket bank from about 1951 resembles those early comic-book-style space vehicles.
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"Atomic Bank," circa 1949

This "Atomic" bank made about 1949 has little to do with atomic power. In the years immediately following the Second World War, the word "atomic" held a mysterious and somewhat magical meaning for Americans — though few understood how atomic power actually worked. Merchants and manufacturers used the word to pique customer's interest and sell all types of products.

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"Strato Bank," circa 1953

Made by Duro Mold and Manufacturing about 1953, this mechanical "Strato" bank includes a mechanism for launching coins from the rocket through the "stratosphere" into the moon.
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5-4-3-2-1 Blast Off! to More Savings Accounts with the Astro Missile Coin Bank, 1957-1963

The Astro Missile Coin Bank — one of a series of space-themed banks produced by Astro Manufacturing, Inc. — drew upon Americans' interest in outer space during the mid-20th century. This advertising poster, geared toward bank managers, described the many reasons why offering these mechanical banks to customers and clients provided benefits back to the local bank.

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"Guided Missile" Mechanical Bank, circa 1957

The Astro Missile Coin Bank was also referred to as the Guided Missile bank. Made by Astro Manufacturing about 1957, it contains a spring-loaded mechanism that launched a coin into a slot in the underside of the rocket's nose.
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Astro Manufacturing Cuff Links and Tie Clip Set, 1957-1963

This cuff links and tie clasp set was produced by Astro Manufacturing, the producer of the full-size mechanical version of the bank depicted on them. This so-called Astro Missile Coin Bank, like the other banks produced by this company, drew upon Americans’ interest in outer space during the mid-20th century. This set was a free gift when a bank placed its order.
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"Plan-It" Mechanical Bank, circa 1959

Made by Astro Manufacturing from about 1959, the "Plan-It" bank features the then nine planets — possible destinations for future American astronauts as the U.S. entered the space race.

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"The Satellite Bank", circa 1961

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 bank, made about 1961, resembles rocket ships that launched people into orbit. It also commemorates the six U.S. astronauts chosen to be the first Americans in space.
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"Destination-Moon" Mechanical Bank, 1962

This mechanical bank made by Duro Mold and Manufacturing 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.

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"Unisphere" Mechanical Bank, circa 1964

An earlier version of this mechanical bank had the rocket topped with the moon. This later version depicts the 1964-65 New York World's Fair Unisphere — a symbol of global interdependence in the space age.

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