Presenting an exceptionally rare and structurally remarkable piece of late 19th-century American craftsmanship: The Chandler’s Mechanical Savings Bank, manufactured by the National Brass Works of Cleveland, Ohio, circa 1895.

This beautiful architectural-style bank measures approximately 4 1/2" tall by 4" wide and features an ornate, deeply cast aesthetic highlighted by an intricate classical foliate on the front facade. Above this, the bold, high-relief text reads "SAVINGS BANK". Sourced from the prestigious Peirce Collection.

Mechanism & Operation:

The bank utilizes a beautifully designed, gravity-assisted "vanishing coin" mechanism. Pulling the brass knob extends the front coin drawer from the housing. A coin is placed on the flat bed of the drawer; when the drawer is pushed fully back into the frame, a hinged interior leaf drops down vertically, allowing the coin to silently slip deep into the lower vault of the bank. Pulling the drawer forward reset the leaf seamlessly to repeat the action. The mechanical action is completely smooth and entirely self-contained.

Base & Markings:

The underside plate is deeply cast with high-relief block lettering reading:

CHANDLER’S / BANK / PAT AP / NATL BRASS / WKS / CLEVELAND.

Origin & Age

• Manufacturer: National Brass Works, Cleveland, Ohio

• Date of Production: Circa 1895

• Provenance: Proudly sourced from the esteemed Peirce Collection.

Material & Finish

Cast from dense, high-grade iron utilizing precision industrial molds. The exterior finish boasts a stunning, untouched original dark copper/bronze flash and patinated striping down the sides, offering phenomenal contrast with the brightened natural brass accents of the coin tray and lock.

Condition Report

• Overall: Excellent Plus antique condition.

• Mechanical Integrity: 100% fully functional with smooth, crisp drawer articulation.

• Surface: Extraordinary dry, original historic surface. The bank preserves its original darkened patina and crisp casting edges perfectly. It has not been polished, re-painted, chemically cleaned, or altered in any manner.

• Weight: Substantial and solid at 2 lbs.

• Lock & Bottom Plate Note: The bottom clean-out trap plate is completely original and intact. The keyhole barrel spins freely, but the bottom door is currently frozen/locked shut and does not pull open. The primary mechanical vanishing coin drawer on the front functions perfectly and smoothly.

Authenticity Assessment

An examination of the casting traits confirms authenticity. The lettering on the base plate is incredibly crisp, lacking the soft, rounded edges characteristic of modern recastings. The seams across the perimeter of the iron vault are tightly aligned and visually precise. Crucially, the weight profile is dead-on at 2 lbs, verifying the correct density of the original late-Victorian iron pouring. There are no signs of artificial chemical aging or modern non-period screw replacements; it is a textbook, premium-grade original example of this rare bank.

Reference

This exact pattern and mechanism is documented and verified in standard collector texts. For cross-reference, a similar vanishing-drawer model line can be reviewed in:

• Book Title: Penny Lane: A Visual Guide to Antique Coin Banks

• Author: Al Davidson

• Page Reference: Page 42 (Note: Similar vanishing-drawer types and architectural metal mechanics are also detailed heavily throughout the official Mechanical Bank Collectors of America archives).

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