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Posted 2 years ago
Mike213
(2 items)
Have these two antique banks just wondering if anyone can tell me anything about them. Interested in any history/date info on them also if possible an approximate worth of them each. Not looking to sell just curious. Thanks for looking.
First one is stamped "The Bankers Service Corporation. New York Patent no. 1011521" and is stamped with the companys logo. It has slots for bills, $5 gold pieces, cents, dimes, halfs, nickles and quaters. It's the rectangle shaped bank with the handle in the pictures. It's in great shape just needs to be cleaned up a little.
The other one is stamped "UNION TRUST COMPANY NO. 15235" (on top by the key hole). The Bottom is stamped with a bunch of stuff (haha) it goes as follows:
"original compartment recording safe patents
THE SAVINGS TELLER
patented: APRIL 26-1904 JULY 4-1905 APRIL 25-1911
patented: SEPT. 8-1913 SEPT. 23-1913
other patents pending
THE AUTOMATIC RECORDING SAFE CO.
CHICAGO, U.S.A."
It's the oval/oblong shaped bank in the pics, It is in very good shape has the box and 2 keys.
Just wondering some info about them.
Thanks for looking.
-Mike
Still BanksA still bank describes any type of receptacle designed to receive and store…
Your first bank was invented by Elmer B Stone of New Britian Conn. on Dec 12 1911. He assigned his patent over to The Corbin Cabinet Lock Co, New Britian, Conn.
Your second bank was Patented by Charles Fisher of Chicago, Ill. He held several patents on banks and they were all assigned to the Automatic Recording Safe Co of Chicago. The patend I found for your bank was April 24, 1913.
Wow, Thank you so much very great and detailed info! I appreciate it. How did you find so much info out if you don't mind me asking? I'm impressed. Any idea on the worth of each? Not looking to sell they have been in family for a long long time just curious as to the worth if any at all. Thanks again, Mike
Since you had the patent numbers, I did a google patent search and found the information. If you didn't have the patent number I would have search under still banks, but that is a long ordeal. I have seen your still banks listed/sell on Ebay at 75.00 to 125.00.
Mike, I have a bank like your #1. It has a metal plate on the end that states "Dillsburg National Bank". Dillsburg is a small town in southcentral PA near where I live. Question--does your bank have a key and if it does, what is the shape? Mine has no key. I'm thinking that perhaps the toy bank was a way to get youngsters to save money and the big bank had the only key so that the child had to deposit the money into an account. Thanks.
Thanks, Jason. Are you saying that it would be a waste of my time to look for a key to the bank in the box of stuff it was sitting in? The Dillsburg National Bank has been through several ownerships so I doubt if the key survived. Wonder if a locksmith could make one? I would like to say that the bank is filled with Barber and Walking Liberty halves, Standing Liberty quarters, Indian head cents, Mercury dimes, AND $5 gold pieces but, alas, it is totally empty. I will continue my quest for a key! Thanks for your response. Chuck
Kevin, I searched the cardboard box where I found the bank but no key. My cousin has an antique shop in Abbottstown (PA) and I will show the bank to him in the off chance that he might have a key that will fit. Or perhaps he can shed some light on the bank itself. Another path I may pursue is to talk to an elderly ex-banker who lives near me--maybe he can help me with the background of the bank. I thought that perhaps my mother (age 95) might have some info but she does not. If there were coins in the bank I would probably try my 1/8 inch 'key' and Makita drill. But being empty it would be a shame to wreck it. Thanks again for your help with my key situation. Chuck
I have one of the very same Bankers Service Corporation banks. It has a tag on it promoting the Farmers Bank from Butler, PA. It does have a key. I really appreciated the information given.
Darlene. Would it be possible for you to furnish me with an outline or the measurements of your key. I spoke with a locksmith in York PA yesterday and asked if he could make a key for my Dillsburg PA bank. He said that he could but it would cost between $40 and $50. That means $50!! I don't think that the bank is worth that much. I'm thinking that 'one key fits all' for these banks. Thanks so much. Chuck
Chuck,
I'd be happy to send you a clay impression of the key. We were fortunate that the one left to us by a family member had the key attached. Darlene
Awesome, Darlene. Or even an outline if that would be easier. There is a very large flea market in New Oxford PA in a week or two--i will be looking for similar banks there but don't have much hope!
Chuck Wallace 142 Hull Drive East Berlin PA 17316
Chuck, I'll send it out tomorrow. I made a simple polymer clay impression. Glad to do it!
Darlene, thank you so much. I'm hoping my 'one-key-fits-all" idea is a good one. If not, there's still the New Oxford flea market. Anxiously awaiting the impression. Chuck
Well did the key impression you got work? I too have a bank with no lock. I'm wondering if I could see that impression too.
Carmen, I received the impression from Darlene in five pieces thanks to the USPS. Fortunately she had carefully placed it on a piece of cardboard and wrapped it in several layers of aluminum foil. Nothing was out of place so it was easy for me to glue the pieces back together. I intend to measure the impression tonite and begin the hacksawing and filing processes. I've got my fingers crossed that first of all I can duplicate the impression and secondly that the key will open my bank. IF the key works I should be able to have a locksmith duplicate it and mail one to you.
We'll see! Chuck
Sorry folks. My 'one-key-fits-all-banks' theory just flew out the window! I started with Darlene's impression and made my key just a bit oversize and then tried it and filed it and filed it and tried it.......no luck at all. I'll be making a trip to a locksmith in Hanover tomorrow. Hopefully he'll have a ring of keys that I can try. Chuck
Absolutely no luck in Hanover although I did try several dozen keys that were possibilities. However, one of the locksmiths that I talked to told me that he had gone to a 'long-ago-bought-out' bank and asked if they had a key to 'their' banks. Y E S ! I'll be driving to Dillsburg in the near future and visiting the long-ago-bought-out Dillsburg National Bank. Maybe, just maybe, the manager of that branch will remember seeing an old key or two laying around somewhere. I have not yet given up! Thanks again Darlene.
No luck with Dillsburg National Bank although they did give me the name of a retired manager who "might know something about your bank". We'll see! The quest continues--stay tuned.
We also have a bank like the first one way ahead and would be interested in a key if ever one is found....ours is long gone somewhere.
We believe this bank is empty except for one quarter.
I too have one of those banks. Mine is from the First National bank York, PA
I used it as a child and I took it to the bank that was on the NE corner of the square in York and had it emptied periodically. I don't know if there is still a bank there or if their key would fit your bank.
Kat A, thanks for the info. I'm assuming that you no longer live in the York PA area. York is still there although the downtown is probably different than you remember it. I gather from your discussion that you did not have a key since you state that you took it to the bank to be emptied periodically. Did you ever have $5 gold pieces to put in the bank? I would think that $5 was quite a bit of money 'back in the day'. I will visit Continental Square and check out the possibility of whatever bank is there now having the key hanging somewhere in a dark corner. Thanks again, Chuck
I Have two of the Banks & two keys, Miners savings Bank Olyphant.PA. The bottom reads orignal compartment recording safe patent's and also the branch bank bill's. Patented April 25,1904, july 4, 1905, april 25, 1911, september 9,1918, september 23, 1918..also say's under the hole for bill's " other patent's pending", also under that say's " automatic safe company " Chicago, USA. My grandfather was a coalminer in Pa. and gave me two of these banks with the key's. One is numbered 142..the other one is also numbered. If anyone has any information on the value of these bank's please contact me. Thank-you Bruno
could someone send me a tracing of a key? mine is oval shaped, #9586. thanks in advance.
Hi! I have a bank that is from The bankers service corporation in excellent shape it has been unlocked. It has the number 1375 on the handle. Just wanted to find out how much it is worth if any or if you could tell me more about it?
Thanks