Up for auction is this Vintage Still
Bank, issued by “The Mohnton National Bank, of Mohnton, Pennsylvania.”, Charter
#8938. The bank was Chartered in December
of 1907, and issued a mere 3,326 total sheets (13,304 banknotes) of 3rd
Charter Red Seals, Date Backs and Plain Backs over a 13 year 6 month period, before
being liquidated on June 1, 1921. The
most recent 6th Edition Kelly Book shows this bank as “UNREPORTED”,
but I have on good authority that one note is reported and in collector
hands. With all the Pennsylvania State
and County Collectors looking to add a note on this bank to their collections,
here is an opportunity for one person to own an inexpensive alternative. A promotional advertising Still Bank issued
by this rare bank! I have only seen one
other advertising still bank from this Mohnton National Bank in my 5 years of collecting
these banks!
In the 1890’s, there was a push for
banks to increase their customer base and find new depositors. Normally it was only Businesses that had
checking accounts in Banks. Bankers
Service Corp of New York, was an independent company that Banks would hire to
seek out new customers to increase their retail business. Bankers Service Corp would be paid for each
new account they would bring to a Bank that hired them. This was a new means, whereby Banking
Institutions could attract the individual and family accounts, as depositors. Banks would order these Home Banking Safes
with sequential numbers stamped on them.
The Banks in turn would lend these Home Banking
Safes to potential depositors that would open an account at the bank for $1.00
or more. The bank kept the key to the
Home Banking Safe, and the individuals would bring the Home Banking Safe into
the bank, to have the contents emptied and deposited directly into their
account. The number stamped on the Home
Banking Safe became the individual account number that depositor had at the
bank. This was an economical way for banks
to attract the individual depositor, and it was forced savings for the
depositors.
Because the bank kept the key, it is
very rare to see one of these Home Banking Safes with a key, especially a Bankers
Service Bank. The #1217 stamped on the top handle,
represents the account number the individual that was lent this bank, was
assigned when they were given this Home Banking Safe to use.
This Bankers Service Corp., New York
still bank was patented on December 12, 1911, but was probably manufactured and
distributed to the Mohnton National Bank of Mohnton, Pennsylvania, sometime between
1914 - 1920. While there were other
companies that were making similar products; these Bankers Service Corp., Home
Banking Safes were extremely well built, very strong, and the average person at
the time could not break into them! This
bank weighs 1 pound, and 5 ounces, and is built with heavy gauge brass and some
steel making it near impossible to break into.
This bank has a patented design to prevent the coins from being removed
once deposited through the coin slot.
This particular Still Bank is in my
opinion was the pinnacle design for these Advertising Still Banks! The Bank has stamped on the far end “M’F’G’D’
BY THE BANKERS SERVICE CORPORATION, NEW YORK”.
This is
not the case, it was manufactured FOR them by Corbin Cabinet Corporation, of
New Britain, Connecticut!!! This
Still Bank was extremely well built, had a simplistic two-piece design and made
it easy for Bank Tellers to count, stack, record and deposit coinage into
customer accounts quickly. Its rectangular design required minimal space
to count and separate coinage into 8 distinct slots, which included compartments
for Cents, Nickels, Dimes, Dimes, Quarters, Halves, $5 Gold and Currency. Deposited coins would stack neatly with the
help of its internal spider form jig.
There were small die-cut oval slots (windows) with hash marks, so the
depositor could see exactly how much money was in the bank, before handing it
to the Bank Teller for deposit. The only
case this did not apply to, was the currency hole on the top of the Still Bank. This particular bank utilized U.S.
Patent #1011521 and was patented on
December 12, 1911. After this time
period, Manufacturers of these Still Banks began to cheapen their Banks to be
competitive in an expanding market place, the result was that Still Banks built
beyond beyond this point were never as strong or as well built, as they began
to become more disposable and not reusable!
This Home Banking safe has most of
its original nickel plated finish remaining, and is amazing condition for its
age! There are some very light
scratches in the finish, but after all, this piece is 100
plus years old! This Home Banking
safe measures 4-3/8 inches long x 2-1/4 inches wide x 2-5/8
inches tall (with the handle down). When
the handle is extended it increases to about 3-7/16 inches tall. The key and lock
work very well, and there is no need to jiggle or force it, as the lock mechanism
works like it was made yesterday. If
this still bank were a coin, I would grade it About Uncirculated, or a bit
nicer. Just like a rare coin, I choose
not to try to clean this piece up, for fear of ruining its originality. The new owner can do so if they wish. I will include a copy of the patent document
along with the Still Bank and Key, to add to the amazing history behind this
Still Bank!
Own this fantastic piece of Banking
History. It is a must for National
Banknote collectors and people interested in Banking History, as these Home Safes
were in use during the early part of the Third Charter period and onward!
This Advertising Still Bank would
make a fine addition to any Pennsylvania National Banknote collection! This bank is located in Berks County, so it
should appeal to people collecting National Banknotes and other Banking
Collectables from that and the surrounding counties. Don’t let this incredible item get away!
I will ship this item via USPS
Parcel Post with tracking in the United States.
New Jersey
Sales Tax = 6.625%
Please feel free to contact me with
any questions, or if you need better photos of the item, Bob [201] 843 1450 EBAY:
Vette70
Please take a moment to look at my
many other Ebay listings.
Good Luck & Happy Hunting!