This is a rare, authentic early 20th-century personal "Home Savings Bank" manufactured by the W.F. Burns Company (NY/Chicago). This specific unit features a highly desirable copper-marbled (striation) finish over a heavy-gauge steel body. The front is adorned with an original nickel-plated brass plate for "Elbridge L. Howe, Private Banker at The Howe & Stetson Stores, New Haven, Conn."

The bank is designed with a side coin slot and a circular side aperture labeled "FOR BILLS ONLY." It features a robust locking mechanism on the bottom door, which is fully operational. Unlike most surviving examples, this bank includes its original three-holed "clover" style key. Elbridge L. Howe was a prominent figure in the New Haven retail and banking scene, making this a cross-collectible piece for bank collectors and Connecticut historians alike.

• Manufacturer: W.F. Burns Co., New York

• Origin: New Haven, CT (Advertising)

• Era: Early 1900s (Patent Applied For / Pat. 1905)

• Material: Heavy Gauge Steel with Copper Striation Finish; Nickel-Plated Brass Plate

• Dimensions: 4.25" x 4.25" (including handle)

• Weight: 1 lb 1 oz

• Inclusions: Original Working Key

Condition Report

• Functional: The lock turns smoothly with the included key; the bottom door opens and secures perfectly.

• Finish: Excellent "as-found" condition with original copper striations visible. Shows honest age-related wear, minor oxidation, and surface patina consistent with a 120-year-old utility object.

• Structural: The handle is firm, and the rivets on the advertising plate are tight. No dents or structural compromises.

Authenticity Assessment: This bank appears to be an authentic W.F. Burns production. Key markers include the "Patent Applied For" stamping on the top surface, the specific three-holed key pattern (proprietary to Burns locking mechanisms of this era), and the heavy-gauge steel construction which weighs significantly more than modern reproductions. The wear on the copper striations is organic and non-uniform, confirming the original factory japanned-style finish.

Reference

For authentication and valuation support, this type of bank is documented in:

• Book: The Penny Bank Book: Collecting Still Banks Through the Penny Door

• Authors: Andy Moore & Susan Moore

• Reference: See section on "Promotional and Commercial Banks - W.F. Burns Co." (Refer to page 121 in the 1997 Schiffer Edition for related metal savings banks and manufacturer history).

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