This is a genuine original cast iron advertising mechanical bank from the early 1890s. It is in the form of a beehive on a base. The beehive, which has the cast-in word “BANK”, can be rotated a full 360 degrees. Each corner of the base has a cast-in number (1 through 4) and an accompanying coin slot. When the slot in the hive is rotated to one of the numbers, and is aligned with a slot in the base, it can accept a coin the size of a nickel, dime, quarter or half-dollar, and the coin drops into the base. It is about 6¾” square, about 7″ high, and is nickel-plated. The base includes 4 removable side panels, 3 of which display prominently the phrase “ECONOMY ACCUMULATES WEALTH”; the 4th panel was used to promote a particular financial institution — in this case, by stating PATD. MAR 1,’92” and “Branch of 3D PIQUA BUILDING AND LOAN CO. That is one of 8 or 9 known institutions that signed onto this promotional bank. The Third Piqua Building & Loan Co. Was incorporated in 1884 and was headquartered in Miami County Ohio. Arthur Colton of Detroit, Michigan was issued a patent for this beehive bank in 1892. Colton was a very successful industrialist with an outstanding business reputation and a huge manufacturing plant on Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, as well as being a prolific inventor. Retrieval of the coins is accomplished by inserting a unique 9-inch long key into the opening in the panel marked ACCUMULATES, and using it to loosen the bolt that holds the side panels in place. This listing includes the key. It is considered a fairly difficult bank to find in excellent condition like this one. The mechanical movement works as designed. Guaranteed all original, no touchups, no repairs, no damage (with the exception of a couple of small chips in the side panels, as shown in the photos). The item “1892 cast iron mechanical bank beehive Piqua, Ohio Arthur Colton Detroit” is in sale since Sunday, January 22, 2017. This item is in the category “Collectibles\Banks, Registers & Vending\Mechanical Banks”. The seller is “mfmtoys” and is located in Barrington, Rhode Island. This item can be shipped worldwide.