Cast Iron Clown Bank

[makemeanoffer1]

Hello fellow antique lovers. I have done as much research on this item as I can. I've learned that these clown and ball banks were first produced in the mid to late 1800s through the early 1900s. I've also learned that James D. Capron took an interest in them and started making replicas in the 1950s and 1960s. The replicas all stated that there were infact replicas and even has the replica patent number on the bottom of the bank. The replicas also didn't come with a lever to active the spring loaded ball and clown.  I have this piece here and it fits the original coloring scheme and it does have a lever to active the piece. My question is do I have a very unique reproduction or is this an original? Thank you in advance for your advice.

[Rauville]

Fifty years ago an antique dealer told me that, "You can tell old cast iron by closing your eyes, and feeling it. Old iron will be as smooth as a baby's butt." That's still good advice.

[makemeanoffer1]

Well there's no doubt that it's cast-iron and it is smooth-ish. What are some markers to verifying this piece age?

[Rauville]

If you can find the book by Robert McCumber that has full size tracings of original mechanical bank bases you can compare a suspect bank to those. Generally the later made banks will have slightly smaller dimensions.
Otherwise, the best clues will be the bank itself. Casting quality and finish, how the parts fit, paint quality and condition, etc. Does the bank show true age and wear,or has it been given a coat of burnt umber to give it the appearance of having age?

Here is an original:



Good Luck!

[mart]

One tip is to look at Rauville`s example !!  Look at the high points on the arms, when you pick an item up, or wipe it or dust it, that is where the most wear would be !!  Just pick it up several different ways and see where your hand touches !!  Even that can be faked but if you look at it long enough,, something will stand out as either being right or not !!

[makemeanoffer1]

Thank you very much for the helpful information! 

[mart]

From looking at your bank, I honestly can`t see enough wear to think its an original !!  However many of the repros are old and worth keeping !! I think you may have an early repro.

[makemeanoffer1]

I also read that some of the early originals had a process call japaning done to the bases which is what this appears to have. If this is an early repro it's a good one.

[mart]

I don`t think so,, japanning is a method of laquering and layering over a painted surface that would result in an extremely high gloss finish. Your bank looks to have been painted with more modern day enamels !! At least that is what I am seeing from the enlarged pics !! Someone else may have a different opinion !!

[makemeanoffer1]

So basically what you're saying is I have a giant metal paper weight. If this was an early repro it could have had some value but seeing that it looks like it's been covered with modern enamel paint it's pretty much worthless.

[mart]

Since I see you have it listed on ebay and it has decent bids for a repro,, I wouldn`t say its worthless !!  There are several others similar to yours,  listed as repro`s !!  That should have given you a clue !!

[makemeanoffer1]

Well thank you for all your insight. I appreciate your help.