The banks are being listed with no reserve and a reasonable starting price. The owner of the banks has decided to part with much of his collection and he continues that tonight. This is the’ UNCLE SAM Mechanical Bank made by the Shepard Hardware Co. Uncle Sam was covered by a design patent dated June 8, 1886 and a regular patent November 16, 1886, both of which were issued to Peter Adams and Charles Shepard. The last picture is from an ad in Ridley’s magazine in autumn of 1889. Unfortunately, it is difficult to find “Uncle Sam” banks with original paint and no cracks. As many collectors are aware, the Shepard Hardware Co. Did not use a primer when they painted the banks. Accordingly, most of the banks have little paint or have been touched-up. Also, there was a weak spot in the top plate when made by Shepard and consequently most of the banks have a crack on the top plate just behind Uncle Sam’s back foot. That’s why many of the banks have a recast top plate. The bank being offered here tonight has original paint, an original top plate and no cracks. The paint work itself is exceptionally well done with fine facial detail and other parts in bright appropriate colors. To operate, a coin is placed in the right hand of Uncle Sam. A lever to the back of the umbrella is then pressed down. The bag opens and the right arm lowers so that the coin falls into the bag. At the same time the mouth of the figure closes, tilting the beard forward and upward. On releasing the lever the arm raises to the original position, the bag closes and the coin drops inside the base. Uncle Sam’s beard, being counter-balanced, then swings up and down and his mouth opens and closes as though he were talking. The action is very clever and quite realistic. Coins are removed by means of a key lock coin trap on the back plate. Uncle Sam is a true typical American bank and a fine patriotic item. It is one of the most attractive of all the mechanical banks and makes a very desirable addition to your collection. The bank works properly and the base is approximately 5″ x 4″ and 11 1/2 tall. The key is included. The item “Cast Iron UNCLE SAM Mechanical Bank Original Antique Americana Toy” is in sale since Sunday, August 28, 2016. This item is in the category “Collectibles\Banks, Registers & Vending\Mechanical Banks”. The seller is “thingsnsuch100″ and is located in Brookfield, Ohio. This item can be shipped to United States, to Canada, to United Kingdom, DK, RO, SK, BG, CZ, FI, HU, LV, LT, MT, EE, to Australia, GR, PT, CY, SI, to Japan, to China, SE, KR, ID, to Taiwan, TH, to Belgium, to France, to Hong Kong, to Ireland, to Netherlands, PL, to Spain, to Italy, to Germany, to Austria, RU, IL, to Mexico, to New Zealand, SG, to Switzerland, NO, SA, UA, AE, QA, KW, BH, HR, MY, CL, CO, CR, DO, PA, TT, GT, SV, HN, JM, AG, AW, BZ, DM, GD, KN, LC, MS, TC, BB, BD, BM, BN, BO, EC, EG, GF, GG, GI, GP, IS, JE, JO, KH, KY, LI, LK, LU, MC, MO, MQ, MV, NI, OM, PE, PK, PY, RE.

• Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
• Original/Reproduction: Original