A fantastic, rare collector’s trio of late 19th-century mechanical antique vest pocket savings banks manufactured by The Magic Introduction Company of New York. These compact, precision-engineered metal cylindrical "pocket tubes" feature internal automatic coin-counting mechanics that track deposits via a slotted vertical gauge line on the reverse sides. Intended for daily personal thrift, they fit perfectly into a gentleman's vest pocket or lady's purse.

The trio consists of three distinct variations:

1. The "Magic Surplus" Bank (New Model 1892): Stamped on the front fascia with "Magic' Trade Mark, Magic Introduction Co. New York, 'Surplus' Bank, Pat. Mch. 31. 91". The top face is boldly embossed with a numerical "5" for nickels, and the base features a finely knurled texture stamped "NEW MODEL 1892". Features a crisp vertical slotted register line to track savings up to 80 units.

2. The "Empire" Magic Pocket Savings Bank: Features an embossed crown emblem above crisp serif lettering reading "Magic Pocket Savings Bank". The brass top lid is explicitly embossed "EMPIRE S 20 BANK" for tracking 20-shilling or British coin units, with a slot window register on the back tracking increments up to 20.

3. The "Magic Pocket Bank" (Six Pence / British Market Export): Labeled on the front wall as "Magic Pocket Bank, Pat. Aug. 26. 90, Made in U.S.A." The brass top is stamped "SIX PENCE" inside a stippled field, designed specifically for the UK/Empire export market to store pre-decimal British sixpence coins, with a calibrated side vertical register measuring coin columns from 6 to 18 units.

• Material: Mixed brass, nickel-plated brass, and white metal/tin alloys with knurled detailing

• Origin: New York, USA (The Magic Introduction Company, 321 Broadway, NYC)

• Age/Period: Victorian Era, specifically dating to circa 1890–1895

• Dimensions: Grouping measures under 2" tall (the tallest bank stands at approximately 1 7/8" to nearly 2" tall

Reference

These specific cylindrical pocket automatic register banks are thoroughly documented and cataloged within the definitive authority text on the hobby:

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

• Authors: Andy Moore and Susan Moore

• Publisher: Schiffer Publishing

• Reference Note: Listed and illustrated under the "Cylindrical Registers & Pocket Banks" classification sections (typically indexed between pages 110–135 depending on the edition), highlighting patent dates from Elias B. Koopman and The Magic Introduction Company.

Condition Report

• Overall Status: Very Good antique condition, possessing an honest, untouched historical patina.

• Surface: The metal bodies retain original dry surfaces with typical superficial age wear, micro-scratching, minor plating loss, and tarnish consistent with authentic pocket wear over 130 years.

• Structural: The stamped lettering remains perfectly legible and clean. There are no heavy terminal dings or structural collapses noticed. The coin slots show normal minor surface wear around the entry edges.

Authenticity Assessment

An examination of the banks confirm the authenticity of all three pieces based on critical manufacturing markers. The crisp, clean clarity of the incised and raised lettering—particularly the stylized script of the trademark "Magic" logo—points directly to original late-Victorian stamp dies rather than sloppy modern sand-cast reproductions. Furthermore, the precise, tight seams of the spun-metal construction, the micro-knurling on the cap rims, and the legitimate, multi-layered oxidation across the brass and nickel-alloy components confirm over a century of natural environmental aging. These tight manufacturing tolerances and proper weight dimensions are impossible to accurately replicate via modern casting methods.

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