This is an authentic, original Art Deco mechanical coin-registering toy savings bank manufactured by the renowned Kingsbury Manufacturing Company of Keene, New Hampshire. Produced between 1927 and 1931, this specific variation is known as the "Four Coin Bank", uniquely engineered to accept, mechanically count, and register four different U.S. coin denominations: nickels, dimes, quarters, and half-dollars.

The bank is designed in an elegant, architectural Art Deco clock-tower shape. It features a top-mounted coin slot with its original brass instructional banner plate reading: "Press coin in slot and move crank to right one complete turn. Deposit only Nickel - Dime - Quarter - Half." As coins are inserted and the heavy rear hand-crank is rotated, the mechanical internal assembly advances the clock-like front dial indicator to tally the total savings.

To encourage children to save, the mechanical lock on the bottom trapdoor is designed to remain sealed until a specific target amount is achieved (the dial mechanism triggers the latch to release automatically at $4.95). On the reverse side, the original factory text is crisp and cleanly embossed into the steel: "In case of accident to bank send insured to Kingsbury Mfg. Co. Keene, N.H. Bank will be repaired and returned with check for contents less 25¢ charges. Opens only at $4.95."

Technical Specifications

• Manufacturer: Kingsbury Manufacturing Company (Keene, New Hampshire, U.S.A.)

• Model Name: Four Coin Mechanical Register Bank (Clock-Style)

• Production Period: Circa 1927–1931

• Material: Heavy-gauge pressed steel body, brass gear mechanism, painted lithographed dial face, and a stamped brass instruction banner plate.

• Dimensions: 7.25" Height x 5.5" Width x 2.5" Depth

• Weight: 1 lb 5.3 oz

Origin & Age

• Country of Origin: United States (Keene, New Hampshire)

• Era/Age: Late 1920s / Early 1930s (Pre-WWII Art Deco Period)

Reference

This specific model can be verified and researched in the definitive reference volume for still and mechanical bank collectors:

• Book Title: The Penny Bank Book: Collecting Still Banks

• Authors: Andy Moore and Susan Moore

• Section Reference: Stamped steel and mechanical register banks section (under Kingsbury manufacturing listings).

Condition Report

• Overall Condition: Good, completely untouched "as-found" vintage condition with a beautiful authentic patina.

• Surface/Paint: The bank retains its original cream/ivory painted finish over the pressed steel body. There is honest surface wear, light scuffing, minor paint loss, and flaking along the high edges and base, showcasing its historical age and genuine play wear. The finish has intentionally not been chemically cleaned, polished, or over-restored, beautifully preserving its original surface character.

• Mechanical Functionality: Excellent, fully operational condition. The heavy rear hand-crank rotates smoothly, and testing with a U.S. quarter confirms the internal mechanism is completely functional—the coin drops securely into the vault, and the internal gears engage as intended. The front dial face remains brightly legible under its original celluloid lens, currently registering at the 50¢ mark. The bottom access door is entirely complete and intact with its original "PATENTED" ink-stamp visible. Please note that the trap door is mechanically engineered to remain locked until a total of $4.95 is reached; it is currently secure and will release automatically once the savings target is met.

Authenticity Assessment

This piece is an authentic original antique manufactured by Kingsbury Mfg. Co. in the late 1920s. Visual examination confirms all the essential, widely accepted authenticity markers for early American pressed steel toys. The crisp, clean clarity of the raised embossing on the reverse casing is perfectly consistent with industrial die-stamping methods of the 1920s. Furthermore, the specialized typeface used for the bottom ink-stamped "PATENTED" mark, the chemical composition of the paint flaking patterns exposing the dark underlying oxidized steel, and the heavy weight of the internal brass clockwork gears (visible through the top slots) cannot be convincingly simulated by modern reproductions. The presence of authentic age-toning underneath the celluloid lens cover confirms decades of natural exposure rather than artificial distress.

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