Bank
DistributorDistributed by
Mechanics Savings Bank
(American, incorporated 1861)
ManufacturerManufactured by
Bankers Utilities Co.
(American)
Datepatented 3 July 1923
MediumLeather and gold-painted metal
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width x depth): 4 5/8 x 4 3/16 x 1 1/8in. (11.7 x 10.6 x 2.9cm)
ClassificationsEquipment
Credit LineGift of the Discovery Museum
DescriptionCoin bank in the shape of a book. The bank / book has a black leather cover, and gold-painted metal forms the pages. A slot cut in the of the pages allows coins to be deposited; a keyhole on the side of the pages enables the bank to be unlocked (there is no key). The black leather cover is decorated with gold, green, and blue highlights. A geometric pattern is formed of different colored subsections. Both the front and back cover have a central black panel outlined in gold. The panel on the front shows the main facade of a bank, with an American flag flying atop the building. The pediment on the building has the words, "MECHANICS SAVING BANK". Below the bank's facade, printed in raised black letters, is "INCORPORATED 1861". Gold lettering below that reads, "MECHANICS/ SAVINGS/ BANK/ 80 PEARL STREET/ HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT". The back cover also has a black panel outlined in gold. In side the panel is an oval within an oval. The interior oval reads "STABILITY" over the image of a pyramid. The outer oval reads, "MUTUAL SAVINGS BANKS/ OF CONNECTICUT". A gold rectagle outlined in blue fills the top half of the spine of the bank / book. Raised letters inside the rectangle read, "BOOK/ OF/ THRIFT". At the bottom of the spine is the Roman numeral "VIII" in raised letters. The metal on the bottom of the bank is stamped, "BANKERS/ UTILITIES CO./ SAN FRANCISCO/ PATENTED/ JULY 3 1923/ MADE IN U.S.A." Across from that stamp, the bottom edge is also stamped, "1941".
Object number2003.333.0
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