Bidspirit auction | J. & E. Stevens Co.,

J. & E. Stevens Co., ”I Always Did 'Spise a Mule” Mechanical Bank - An antique late 19th-century mechanical bank manufactured by the J. & E. Stevens Co. of Cromwell, Connecticut, based on the 1879 patent. Known as the ”I Always Did 'Spise a Mule” kicking mule version, the piece is constructed from hand-painted polychrome cast iron. The design depicts a mule reared on its front legs over a seated figure; the mechanism is designed to rotate the mule to kick the figure and deposit a coin into the base. No factory marks are present. Height: 18 cm.