Identifying Original Cast Iron Banks

What Are Cast Iron Banks?

Cast iron banks are old-fashioned coin holders. They were made a long time ago for kids to save money. These banks come in many shapes. Some look like buildings or animals. Others have moving parts that “eat” coins. Today, people collect these banks because they’re unique and old.

Why Are Cast Iron Banks Special?

Even though many old things don’t cost much now, cast iron banks can still be worth a lot. A good, actual cast iron bank might sell for thousands of dollars! That’s why knowing how to spot the real ones is essential.

How to Spot a Real Cast Iron Bank:

1. Check How It’s Put Together:

Natural old banks were made very carefully. The parts fit together really well. New fake banks often don’t fit together as nicely. Look for these things:

Alignment: On old banks, all the parts line up nicely. New ones might not line up right.
Seams: The places where parts meet should be hard to see on old banks, but new ones might have significant gaps.

2. Feel the Surface:

Old banks feel different from new ones. The surface of an old bank feels smooth but with a beautiful, sandy texture. This is because they used wonderful sand to make the molds. New banks might feel rough in some spots.

3. Look at the Paint:

Paint is super essential when checking if a bank is old or new. Old Paint looks different:

It’s thicker
The colors are brighter
It looks shiny and hard

Making new Paint look old is hard, but it’s not impossible. So it would be best if you looked closely.

4. Check the Bolts and Screws:

The bolts are almost flat against the surface on old banks, barely visible. On new banks, the bolts might stick out more.

Here’s a big clue: If you see screws with a cross shape (Phillips’s head), it’s new! Old banks only used flat-head screws.

5. Use Your Nose:

This might sound funny, but you can smell the difference! Old cast iron smells earthy, like mushrooms. This smell is more pungent when the iron is wet. New cast iron doesn’t smell like this.

6. Look at the Color of the Metal:

Old cast iron is very dark, almost black. It feels smooth when you touch it. New cast iron is lighter and more silver-colored. It might feel rough and have red rust, but real old cast iron never has red rust.

Types of Cast Iron Banks:

Building and Safe Banks:

The oldest cast iron banks looked like tiny versions of actual bank buildings and safes. You could drop coins into these mini buildings.

Animal Banks:

People also made banks shaped like animals. There were:

Pigs
Dogs (sitting and standing)
Rabbits

Character Banks:

Some banks looked like famous characters. For example, there were Mutt and Jeff banks. These were based on characters from old comic strips.

Mechanical Banks:

These banks were fun. They had moving parts. You could put a coin in a hand or mouth, push a button, and watch the bank “eat” the coin. Some popular mechanical banks were:

Uncle Sam banks
Frog banks

But be careful! Many fake mechanical banks are out there. They often have bright, fresh Paint and shiny screws. The edges of the metal might be rough, too.

How to Open Old Banks?

Old banks opened in two main ways:

With a simple metal key at the bottom
By taking out a flat-head screw

Remember, if you see a Phillips-head screw (the cross-shaped kind), it’s new!

Is It OK to Buy New Banks?

Yes, it’s OK to buy new cast iron banks. They can look nice in your house. But they’re not worth much money. Please don’t pay too much for them. They probably won’t go up in value during your lifetime.

How to Buy Real Old Banks?

If you want to buy old banks that might be worth more later, here are some tips:

Go to the right places: Look at public auctions, big antique shows, or particular antique stores.
Learn more: Buy a good book about cast iron banks. You can get one for less than $20. These books show many examples and tell you how much banks are worth.
Know what to look for. Good old banks have smooth metal edges, old-looking colors, some wear, and missing Paint. This is normal because kids use these banks a lot.
Watch out for rust: A little rust is OK, but too much rust that has made holes in the metal is bad. This happens if the bank is kept somewhere wet. Lots of rust makes a bank worth much less.
Be extra careful with mechanical banks: These are copied a lot. Look for the signs we talked about earlier, like the kind of screws used and how the Paint looks.

Why Collect Cast Iron Banks?

Collecting old cast iron banks can be fun and rewarding. Here’s why:

They look exciting and can make your home look excellent.
Each bank has a story. They show how people lived a long time ago.
If you buy carefully, your banks might be worth more money later.
Learning about old banks is fun. You can become an expert!

Tips for New Collectors:

Take your time: Don’t rush to buy everything you see. Learn first.
Start small: Begin with a few cheaper banks. Learn about them before buying expensive ones.
Ask questions: Talk to other collectors or antique shop owners. Most are happy to share what they know.
Keep learning: Read books, look at websites, and maybe join a collector’s club.
Have fun: Remember, collecting should be enjoyable!

Wrapping Up:

Cast iron banks are neat old things that tell us about the past. Learning to spot natural old banks takes time, but it’s fun. Remember to look at how they’re made, feel the surface, check the Paint and screws, and even use your nose!

Whether you want to collect old banks or enjoy looking at them, there’s much to discover. So next time you’re at an antique shop or flea market, look at those heavy little banks. You might find a real treasure!

Remember, the key to collecting is to learn, be patient, and have fun. Happy bank hunting!