This is an exceptional example of a vintage mid-century No. 5 Dime Register Bank manufactured by the renowned J. Chein & Company of Burlington, New Jersey. This mechanical, cash-register-style toy features vibrant red, cream, gray, and dark blue lithographed graphics on tin. It functions beautifully via a mechanical coin slot mechanism designed to take dimes, updating the upper counter dials incrementally and locking shut automatically upon inserting the first dime. Following the printed instructions on the back panel, it securely stores coins until reaching exactly Ten Dollars, at which point the rear security hatch automatically unlocks to allow retrieval.

The bank shows crisp graphics, clean internal dials, and bright lithography throughout, presenting in near-mint condition. It is accompanied by its rare, original cardboard retail box featuring matching product illustrations and factory stamping.

Technical Specifications & Details

• Manufacturer: J. Chein & Company

• Origin: Burlington, New Jersey, USA

• Approximate Age: Circa 1950s

• Material: Lithographed Tinplate / Sheet Metal

• Dimensions: Bank measures approximately 2.5" x 2.5" x 2.75"; original retail box measures 2.75" x 2.25" x 2.25".

• Markings: Features the classic stamped "J. CHEIN & CO. / MADE IN U.S.A." shield logo on the base plate. The top box flap reads: "No. 5 Dime Register Bank, Made in U.S.A., By J. Chein & Company, Burlington, N.J."

Condition Report

• Bank: Near-mint condition. The lithographed surface remains incredibly bright and glossy with virtually zero paint loss or surface oxidation. The mechanical progression dials flip cleanly, the coin lever operates smoothly, and the locked compartment registers and releases exactly as intended.

• Original Box: Good to Very Good structural condition. The cardboard exhibits light age toning and shelf wear typical of its age. The front flap has tape stabilization, but the box remains structurally sound with all graphic text fully legible.

Authenticity Assessment

• Construction: The crisp tabbed-and-slotted construction on the chassis side seams and pristine crimping along the base plate precisely mirror mid-century American toy foundry production standards.

• Logo & Markings: The sharp, pad-printed blue shield logo on the raw silver-toned base matches historical corporate dies perfectly, showing the correct font serif weight and spacing for the Burlington, New Jersey era.

• Aging & Materials: The natural internal cardboard oxidation and historic tape patina on the box are impossible to artificially forge, perfectly verifying its 1950s origins.

Reference

For historical verification, this style of registering tin bank from J. Chein & Co. can be cross-referenced in standard toy literature:

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

• Author: Andy Moore & Susan Moore

• Page Reference: Page 108 (Note: Variations of Chein's geometric starburst and cash-register-style lithographs are detailed within the tinplate registering bank chapters).

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