Antique Mechanical TAMMANY BANK Cast iron, "PATD DEC 23 1873", J E Stevens For Sale

Offered is an antique mechanical cast iron bank, circa 1873 of a man seated in a chair. He has a very dark brown suit on with a yellow waistcoat. The figure has one hand raised with a notch to hold coin) The bank works.

There are inscriptions with a fan motif on either side of the chair. When a coin is placed in the figure's hand, the weight of the coin causes the hand to lower and deposit the coin into the pocket of the figure. This also causes him to nod his head.
INVENTOR: John Hall
MARKS: Cast on each side of chair: "TAMMANY BANK

Cast on the back of chair at the top is: "PATD DEC 23 1873"

MANUFACTURER: J. & E. Stevens Company (1843 - ca. 1940)

CHARACTER: William Magear Tweed (American, 1823 – 1878)

Object: Tammany mechanical bank,circa 1873, Connecticut, United States

COMPOSITION: Iron, paint

DIMENSIONS: 5-3/4 x 4-3/8 x 3 in. (14.6 x 11.1 x 7.6 cm)

WEIGHT: 1.85lbs
Humorous or satirical subjects with brightly painted surfaces i.e.. mechanical banks amused children while encouraging thriftiness. This bank is said to represent Boss Tweed, a notorious Tammany Hall leader who pocketed illicit money. He is our figure here.

The Tammany Bank: Patent No. 145,734, issued to John Hall on Dec. 23, 1873.