If you are into vintage mechanical toys, I've got one that I've just posted on eBay.
The motorized bank features a bowler at one end of bowling alley. When a coin is placed on the two plates located on the floor by his side, an electrical contact is made which starts the battery power to the motor. This makes his hand slowly pull back, then snap forward quickly, causing a striker below his hand to hit the coin toward the bowling pins at the opposite end of the alley. If hit well, the coin slides under the pins and into the bank. Immediately after this, the pins all drop as a unit and the "strike" light illuminates above the pins.
Check out this fun mechanical bank (or kinetic sculpture depending on your point of view) by Gina Kamentsky. I suppose it could also be used as an automatic coin-flipper, but it may throw the coins a bit too consistently for that. Like many of her "Mechanical Confections", this one uses a small wind-up motor to power the action. This is an older piece made back in 2003 as part of a series of mechanical penny banks she created.
Check out this lovely mechanical wooden coin bank by artist Christopher Blasius. When you turn the handle a snail emerges to grab the coin and pull it into its shell. The reverse side is covered in Plexiglass so the mechanism can be seen. Love those gears! Plans are available and the latter portion of this video shows you just what you'd be getting into if you decide to make one for yourself.
Here is the latest mechanical creation from the talented Pablo Lavezzari, creator of Facing a Fake Foe and other amazing automata.
This time around Lavezzari has created a mechanical bank in the form of a man. Any coin may be placed on the man's outstretched hand. When the lever is pulled, El Tragamonedas (or 'Slot Man') flips the coin into his gaping mouth.
I posted the other day about this mechanical tin bank that comes to us by way of mechanical master, Falk Keuten of the Spiel und Kunst mit Mechanik blog. He decide to reshoot the video to show the mechanism better. It worked. Thanks Falk!
If you prefer your mechanical birds to give rather than take, you might like the toothpick dispensing bird I referenced in that post. I use toothpicks in the workshop a lot. It just occurred to me that this would be a much easier and fun way to store and dispense them.
If you like this kind of thing in general, here's a list of posts on mechanical banks that I've done over the years. It could keep you busy for a few minutes.
Falk Keuten of the Spiel und Kunst mit Mechanik blog posted this video of a German tin toy bank made by toymaker Lorenz Bolz. A coin is placed in front of the opening in the birdhouse. When the hand-crank is turned, the bird emerges from the hole with its beak open. In a quick movement, the bird closes its beak on the coin, and flips back into the house. The telltale sound of a coin hitting tin lets us know that the bird has dropped the coin inside.
The second half of the video reveals all the mechanical details that allow this to happen. In many similar mechanical toys such as the toothpick dispensing birds and cigarette dispensing birds, the beak is not articulated, but has a tapered opening. The pressure of upper and lower portions of the beak hold item by friction. It's up to the user to remove the item because the beak itself cannot release it. This mechanical bird bank is different and more complex than that.
It's a truly ingenious little machine. I am certain that if I were asked to design the mechanism, it would be far more complex and cumbersome, and no more reliable.
Back in July of 2011, I did a post about a William Tell cast iron mechanical bank. At the time, all I could offer you were a picture and description. I've seen them in person at antique stores and shows, but because they seem to be worth a fair amount, I've never asked to see it work. There is currently another one for sale on eBay and this one comes with a video, which you see above.
The bank itself is an antique cast iron William Tell Mechanical Bank dating late 1800's. This model was patented in 1896 by Russell Frisbie and manufactured for 7 years by J&E Stevens Co.
From the eBay description:
To operate, the user cocks the launcher and places a coin in front of it. This "loading" of the mechanism also causes William Tell's head to lower into a position that makes it appear as if he is taking aim at the apple. Next, the boy’s right arm is pulled down bringing the apple to the top of his head. When ready to fire, the operator presses William Tell's right foot, the gun fires, and the coin shoots forward, knocking the apple from his son’s head as the boy simultaneously raises his right arm. The coin is deposited inside the castle tower, rings a bell, and William Tell's head falls backwards as if in relief.
Of the cast iron mechanical banks, this model is one of the most sought after variations. The original paint is in good shape, and this bank works great as you can see. Best of all, the seller warrants is not a reproduction because ownership can be traced back through her family. Beware of any "original" mechanical bank you find that seems like it is a deal too good to be true; I've spotted a lot of reproductions being presented as antiques. Here's a book about still and mechanical banks which features the William Tell bank on the cover.
I recommend the eBay listing itself. It is informative, contains 14 full of color photographs and is good reading. Here is where you can see the listing for this antique cast iron William Tell mechanical bank.
I posted last year about Barkly the Banker mechanical dog piggy bank which is shown in the video above. This bank is now on sale at ThinkGeek.com under the name of Bailey The Mechanical Doggie Bank. The only difference I can detect is the name of the dog, the color of the base, and the $4 dollar savings.
Here is a very authentic-looking antique reproduction cast iron bank depicting a magician doing a stage performance. Start by placing a coin on the table. Next, push down on the magician's top hat, and then press the spring-loaded button beside him. Your coin will disappear! This mechanical bank is based on a design originally made by J & E Stevens Co., designed by Charles A. Bailey, circa 1900.
Who said that saving can't be fun? This mechanical piggy bank features a dog that seems to gobble up your coins. This is a clever use of a simple mechanism being used to produce a lot of convincing motion.
It is amazing to see the various clever ways in which the designers figured out entertaining ways to get a penny into the bank. This bank features a classic scene in which the penny is shot from a crossbow over the head of William Tell.
From the ebay description of the mechanical bank:
The Bank features the figure of William Tell pointing a rifle shaped weapon at an apple on the head of a little boy who stands in front of a castle tower. To operate, the odd shaped piece on the top of the gun barrel is pressed back until it snaps into position. This "loading" of the mechanism also causes the head of William Tell to lower into a position that makes it appear he is taking aim at the apple. A coin is placed on top of the barrel just in front of the odd shaped piece. The boy’s right arm is pulled down bringing the apple to the top of his head. When the right foot of William Tell is pressed down he fires the gun and the coin shoots forward knocking the apple from the boy’s head as he raises his right arm. The coin is deposited inside the castle tower ringing a bell and the head of William Tell falls backwards. The mechanism here is in excellent working condition.
The William Tell Bank was patented in 1896 by Russell Frisbie and manufactured by J & E. Stevens for a several years.
Recently, we featured this clever dog mechanical bank and a couple of banks that grab the coin. It got me wondering what other cool mechanical banks were out there. Here are some of my recent finds:
Face bank - most bizarre bankHere's where you can get your own creepy/cute Face bank.
Clown bank - traditional cast iron bank
Maybe your tastes are more traditional? Here's cast iron bank you might like. Wind the clown around the ball until it latches, press the lever and he spins around the ball then stands on his hands while depositing your coin. Here's where you can get this reproduction clown bank.
Spin bank - automatic coin spinnerThis one was a real surprise to me. It looks like addictive fun at an affordable price. Here's where you can get the coin spinning bank.
Safe bank kit - learning about mechanisms
What I like about this is that you construct the safe from items included in the kit and learn about its inner workings in the process. When you're done you can use it as a bank. Here's where you can get the armed safe money bank kit.
Check out a dozens of nifty mechanical banks at the the mechanical bank section of The Automata / Automaton Store.
Who said that saving can't be fun? This mechanical piggy bank features a dog that seems to gobble up your coins. This is a clever use of a simple mechanism being used to produce a lot of convincing motion.
Back in the 1980s there was a program for the Commodore 64 computer called 'The Toy Shop'. The program allowed you to print out designs to make twenty paper models, many of which were kinetic. The models included trucks, airplanes, a carousel, a sundial, flying toys, a catapult, a working scale, several machines, a zoetrope and this amazing mechanical bank!
A wonderful web page documents all of the projects from The Toy Shop program, allowing you to download both the patterns and the instructions for free.
Another one of my favorite automaton-makers is Pablo Lavezzari. Check out this delightful piece entitled, The Banker. It is a sophisticated animated bank made of wood, copper, and bronze. The automaton also features a working oil lamp and a crazy clock with a mind of its own. A very special key is required to open the drawer below where the coins are saved. The piece measures 24 X 24 X 55 cm.
Here's a modern, Japanese version of an older mechanical bank theme. This one features an cartoon cat. Put the coin in kitty's food bowl and it'll pop out of the box to steal it, then meows to thank you.
Click your way over to the Strong National Museum of Play web site for three pages worth of mechanical toy images including banks (like the cast iron magician shown here), wind-up toys, clocks, and automata. The rest of the site is worth checking out too. If you happen to be in the Rochester, New York area...well, lucky you!
