The owner has decided to part with some of the finest banks in his collection and he continues that tonight. This is the “OCTAGONAL FORT” Mechanical Bank also known as the “Fort Sumpter Bank”. The “Octagonal Fort” is probably the best of the cannon/shooting banks and undoubtedly the rarest. Not many of these banks have survived these many years. Even though the bank is an unusually heavy casting it was apparently subject to breakage which greatly reduced the number of “Octagonal Fort” banks available. There are no cracks or breaks and overall the bank is in excellent condition considering the many years of use. In the first place, this bank is apparently a Civil War commemorative item. The fort is octagonal shaped and there is water represented on the bank between the fort and the cannon. This would lead to Fort Sumpter and the firing of the first shot of the Civil War. The cannon is of the type that can be seen in Charleston, S. The bank could have been made by the Major. The bank isn’t just a toy but a piece of history. In Bill Norman’s book “The Bank Book” he ranks mechanical banks for rareness by assigning a number to each bank. The “Octagonal Fort” has been assigned a rarity of “1”, attesting to the scarcity of this particular mechanical bank. To operate, a coin is placed in the end of the cannon barrel, then the lever underneath the end of the barrel is pushed and held in place while pulling up the knob at the rear on top of the cannon. The firing knob at the top of the breech of the cannon is then pressed and the coin is propelled into the fort. The action is fast and effective. The bank is in proper working order and deposits are retrieved by unscrewing the base plate underneath the bank. The number of “Octagonal Fort” banks in private collections is quite limited and those owning this bank are extremely fortunate. The bank is approximately 11″ long, 3″ wide and 4 1/4 tall. The item “Cast Iron OCTAGONAL FORTRare Mechanical Bank Antique Americana Toy” is in sale since Wednesday, March 10, 2021. 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.

• Featured Refinements: Cast Iron Mechanical Bank
• Modified Item: No
• Country/Region of Manufacture: United States