Bidspirit auction | RARE Clown, Harlequin & Columbine

RARE Clown, Harlequin & Columbine Mechanical Bank - According to the Mechanical Bank Collectors of America website, the Clown Harlequin and Columbine Bank rates second as the most sought after bank from a collector’s standpoint. Certainly it is the most desirable and rarest of all mechanicals made of cast iron. The bank was undoubtedly designed by J.H. Bowen of Philadelphia, Pa., who also designed Darktown Battery, Creedmore, Bulldog Bank, Owl, Two Bullfrogs, Monkey and Coconut, Girl Skipping Rope, Cat and Mouse, Spise A Mule, and The Calamity. The bank was made starting in 1906 1906 by Stevens in Cromwell, Connecticut. The bank operates as follows: The three figures are moved from the position shown, on an axis under the Clown so that they are in the reverse position. The coin is then inserted between the figure of the Harlequin and the Clown. A lever on the right is pressed and the figures automatically reverse themselves causing the figure of Columbine to spin and the coin is automatically deposited in the bank. The entire action is quite realistic and intriguing and the bank is painted in bright attractive colors of red, yellow, silver and white. So far there are six of these banks known to be in private collections. This bank comes from a prominent east coast collector offering it here for the first time. It is in beautiful original condition with no breaks or repairs, and 90+% original paint, and operates perfectly. Measures 8” wide, 7” tall.