Wonderful and very rare, original, 1882 Cast Iron Mechanical Bank by The Shepherd Hardware Company of Buffalo, New York titled the "The Artillery Bank" with original surface japanning and nickel plating.
This outstanding, original Cast Iron Mechanical Bank measures approx. 6" tall and 8" by 3 3/4" at the base. This Mechanical Bank carries the title "Artillery Bank" cast on the base along with text that reads "Pat. May 31, 1892" on the underside. The Bank retains its original, square, locking trap which helps to identify it as an example of the earliest incarnation of this wonderful Mechanical Bank (also retains the original key to the trap). This Bank was first manufactured between 1892 and about 1895 by the Shepard Hardware Company before the rights were assumed by J. E. Stevens who produced the Bank for a number of years. The Bank offered here is the earliest version with the Shepherd Hardware “Artillery Bank”.
The following description was written in 1971 by F. H. Griffith in his article on the Mechanical Banks of The Shepherd Hardware Company published in Collectors Weekly Magazine:
"A really nice fort and cannon type bank is our choice as No. 196 in the numerical classification. This bank is the well known Artillery Bank, a fine product of, unusually enough, two different companies. It was first manufactured by Shepard Hardware of Buffalo, N.Y. and then J. & E. Stevens Company of Cromwell, Conn. The Artillery was patented May 31, 1892. This is a design patent and, of course, covered the design or configuration of the bank. The drawing in the patent is practically identical to the bank as actually produced. It might be well to point out that while this bank is in the fort and cannon group of banks, the structure into which the cannon fires the coin is not technically a fort as such. The patent refers to this structure as being a "wall or tower." In any case, the bank was first manufactured by the Shepard Hardware Company of Buffalo. At a later date Stevens took over the manufacture of certain Shepard mechanical banks including the Artillery, which they made for the duration of the years it was manufactured. It is not known for certain if both companies made the Artillery simultaneously for any given period of time. Evidence would indicate that when Stevens started making the Artillery, Shepard stopped. We do know that Stevens made the bank long after Shepard had ceased its manufacture.
“Although the Artillery Banks look identical as made by each company, there is a very easy way to tell them apart. The Shepard Artillery has their often used rectangular shaped key lock coin trap in the base. The Stevens Artillery has their usual round pressure held type coin trap. Other than this, Stevens used the same patterns as utilized by Shepard. As a matter of fact, on the coin section base of the Stevens Artillery the rectangular outline of the Shepard coin section is plainly visible. Stevens simply filled in this section on the patterns making it adaptable to the usage of their round trap. This coin trap section is underneath the structure into which the coins are fired or propelled by the cannon.
“To operate the Artillery the large hammer of the mortar is pulled down into position. In so doing the right arm of the soldier is caused to move to a horizontal position. A coin is then placed inside the barrel of the mortar. The lever, located by the letter "K" in the name, is then pressed down, the soldier’s arm drops signaling the firing of the mortar, the hammer snaps up and strikes the coin propelling it into the provided opening in the building. The coin seldom misses its mark. The mortar and hammer are made in such fashion to accommodate a paper firing cap so that a loud noise can accompany the action.
“On the underside of the base plate of the bank in the section beneath the soldier and mortar is inscribed "Pat. May 31, 1892." In closing, it also bears mention that the Artillery, as well as painted in colors, was made with an electrolytic bronze finish and a nickel plated finish. Both these type finishes, bronze or nickel, are the earliest of the Artillery Banks and only made by Shepard. All that the writer has seen so far in nickel or bronze have the rectangular locking coin trap as used by Shepard. It is possible that Stevens could have made the bank with a nickel finish, but, to the best of the writer’s knowledge, this is not the case. Stevens did not produce the bank with a bronze finish. They only finished it in colors from all evidence of their old catalogs, specimens known to exist, and so on.".
The Bank offered here features a combination of the bronzed and nickel plated surface finish as well as the square, key lock trap thus identifying it as one of the earliest editions of this wonderful Mechanical Bank.
This outstanding, 1890's Shepard Hardware “Artillery Bank" Mechanical Bank is exceptionally heavy, very finely cast and retains the majority of its original surface japanning and plating and the surface is 100% original - the Bank has never been restored, repainted, touched up or altered in any way. The Bank is in excellent working condition and the mechanism is smooth and as manufactured and the Bank retains its original base and trap cover as well as the original key to the trap. There are no crack, breaks, chips, repairs or physical damage to the cast iron. There is some wear to the surface finish which is most notable on the figure of the Civil War Soldier. Please see the numerous scans below for a good indication of the form and condition of this wonderful example of the earliest edition of this important American Mechanical Bank. .
A wonderful and very rare, earliest edition of the Cast Iron Mechanical Bank by The Shepard Hardware Company titled the "Artillery Bank" and a fantastic addition to any collection!!!
Please Note: The Mechanical Bank offered here is unconditionally guaranteed authentic, original and of the period - manufactured by the Shepard Hardware Company in the late 19th century. The Bank is backed by our “no questions asked” return policy and lifetime guarantee of authenticity.
Overseasshippping is extra and cost will be quoted at buyers request. Massachusetts residents must add 6.25% sales tax.
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