Uncle Sams 3 Coin Register Bank History

 Uncle Sams 3 Coin Register Bank History

First made in 1907, this coin bank found its way to many kids and adults from the 1920s -1970s.

Locks at first 25 cents, and ONLY OPENS in the front when reach $10 reads 00.00

It only opens when you put $10 dollars of coins in, numbers will turn over and reads 00.00

In looking at different models from different years Ive determined by its features, about what years each model looked at was made. Made of cold rolled Steel in the U.S.A. till the 1960s, then made of  heavy Tin in Japan from the 1960s 1970s then finaly Korea and Hong Kong China early 1980s
The Durable Toy and Novelty Company in USA made the coin banks for over 50 years.

1923 and 1907 models

In the early 1900s till 1923 the first design was different, the coins were deposited in a vertical slot, and the lever was to the very right of the bank, in a square paddle shape. The coin bank in the form of a cash register had in those early 1900s a pin stripe design outlining the sides of the coin bank.

After 1923 the design of the coin bank change the way it looked and stayed that way, to the last year in production in the early 1980s. The only differences are few and slight in the metal casting I will call it  Also a couple of features changed though the years, and can be noticed when looked for. Other things that happened in its production is the company name and what country it was produced in the later years.

The Uncle Sams banks in the first half of the century also sold in single coin banks
Uncle Sams Penny bank
Uncle Sams Nickel bank
Uncle Sams Dime bank
Uncle Sams Quarter bank

The 1920s metal casting difference was, -The 3 Notches. In very front view you can notice 3 notches in the metal  above the door.These 3 notches are1 in the center and other 2 on the left and right front corners. Also the back of the coin bank has no coin slot, or hole for rolled paper money. The hole for rolled paper money is located at the bottom of the coin bank.  Stamped wording at the bottom RH27 means 1927.

 1920s bottom paper money hole

The 1930s metal casting difference was, -Still the 3 notches at front view, plus rear coin slot for half dollars, and hole for rolled paper money on back of coin bank. There are also 2 notches on the back on either side of the back coin slot. The hole for the rolled paper money is raised at its circle edge. ( this raised circle edge can tell an early model from a later model )

World War 2 era Uncle Sam figure on Bank

The 1940s in the WW2 years (world war 2 1940-45 ) a figure pic of Uncle Sam was placed in right front under the coin slot. This was a patriotic war time coin bank those war years.. Still the same metal casting type of the 1930s and 20s with the 3 notches.
Pin Stripes 1920s 30s 40s

Also from the 20s, 30s, and 40s the pin strips on the sides were used. and from the late 30s  painted word directions on the back, with  company name and year number 38 means 1938, 60 means 1960. After 1960 years no longer put on the coin banks,
but company change showed which decade later


Circle eye metal lever early 1950s
The 1950s metal casting changed twice 2x, early 50s and late 50s, and the 3 notches in front are no longer there in the 50s on up.The two 2 differences in the castings are early 50s and late 50s, can tell by - The hole raised circle edge for rolled paper money, and the change of lever handle, from a  straight metal circle eye lever in the early 50s, with new straight rubber knob lever placed in the late 50s till early 60s.

straight rubber knob lever late 50s till early 60s

In 1958 The Durable Toy and Novelty Co. was bought by Western Stamping Co. and from Late 57-60 The name painted in back read
Durable Toy and Novelty Company 
a Division of Western Stamping Company.

The 1960s Western Stamping Company changed is production from U.S.A. to Japan, and changed the metal casting, from Cold Rolled Steel, to Heavy Tin. Can tell by the hole for rolled paper money no longer has a raised circle edge, now having a flat thin circle edge, also the words made in Japan. The painted directions on back, no longer there, changed to a sticker on back and later placed under the bottom.

The 1970s was the years I personally  had this Western Stamping Japan made bank and  difference on the 1970s up is the plastic T  lever handle.

1970s with plastic T handle

The early 1980s was the last years of the Original Uncle Sams 3 Coin Bank.

1982 - 75th Anniversary edition

A 75th Aniversary Limited Chrome edition was issued in the early 80s over 20 thousand made. It says made in Korea in back, and Company name changed to Wesco. Before that Ohio Art was the company name after Western Stamping Company. These Anniversary Banks were the last of the original coin banks.

The Chrome 3 coin banks Ive found were(from top to bottom order) a 1940s with the WW2 Uncle Sam, a early 50s and Late 50s chrome. models. A company called Rocket in 2002 made chrome and color reproductions of the 3 coin banks but many reproductions did not work halting reproduction coin banks. The Uncle Sams Bank, always spoken about with a smile. A joy of childhood memories.
   Joey Pagan