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 1980sThe 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 readDurable 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.
1970s with plastic T handle
The early 1980s was the last years of the Original Uncle Sams 3 Coin Bank.
1982 - 75th Anniversary edition
Joey Pagan