Th is the “UNCLE SAM” Mechanical Bank designed by Charles Shepard and Peter Adams and manufactured by the Shepard Hardware Co. It was patented November 16, 1886. The “Uncle Sam” shown here is one of the. Which is quite unusual as the paint on most surviving specimens is usually very badly chipped, peeled, flaked and worn. For various reasons the paint simply didn’t stay on most Uncle Sam banks too well. The paint itself was exceptionally well done with fine facial detail and other parts in bright appropriate colors. The “Uncle Sam” bank is one of the most sought after of mechanical banks because of its historical appeal, highly attractive paint scheme, fragile nature, and imposing appearance. This is one of the few political banks and the condition of this bank is impeccable. To operate, a coin is first placed in the extended right hand. A lever to the back of the umbrella is then pressed down. The satchel 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 and the bag closes. Uncle Sam’s beard, being counter-balanced, then swings up and down, and his mouth opens and closes for some time as thought he were talking. The action is clever and quite realistic. Coins are removed by means of a key lock coin trap at the rear of the bank. The bank is in proper working order and has an original rectangular trap with key. It is approximately 11 1/2″ high on a 5″ x 4 base. The item “Cast Iron UNCLE SAM EXCELLENT PLUS Mechanical Bank Original Antique Toy” is in sale since Friday, July 21, 2017. 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.

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