The first lot sold on Saturday was the Saddle Horse on Wheeled Platform, probably Ives, Blakeslee Company, circa 1890s, pristine plus condition, that went for $40,800, over the $35,000 high estimate. It was the second highest price paid for a still bank at auction and the provenance includes both Edwin Mosler and Tim Steckbeck. This is the only known perfect example of this bank and a second known one is without platform. According to the catalog, “This sleek and elegant saddle horse represents the rarest and most beautiful cast iron bank to ever come to market.”

Review and Onsite Photos by R. Scudder Smith, Catalog Photos Courtesy RSL Auctions

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — “We had some wonderful still banks from noted collections and the sale worked out just as we had hoped. It was excellent and Saturday proved to be a happy day for many collectors who were able to add some pristine banks to their collections,” Leon Weiss, the “L” in RSL Auctions, said a couple of days following the sale. The two-day auction totaled $1,284,000, including the buyer’s premium, with $137,000 on Friday and $1,147,000 on Saturday.

This sale, with many rare and pristine banks in the Saturday session, drew a larger than usual gathering to the gallery.

The auction kicked off on October 14 with 429 lots of still and mechanical banks, ceramic banks, cast iron toys and celluloid pocket banks. Doug Rait, an auctioneer from Kansas, called the sale, with lot 1, a Home bank and a Roof bank by J&E Stevens that brought $96, and finishing toward the end of the day with a mechanical standing bear with slot in chest, Kenton Hardware, that went for $270.

A Hanging Stork bank, England, circa 1910, sold for $840, followed shortly by a German Ornamental Chest, cast iron and in excellent condition, $360, and a New Bank, without legs, circa 1872, from the collection of Tom Kellogg, realized $2,040. An English Golliwog in very fine condition brought $570, a Hippo that had been repainted many years ago sold for $1,440, a Santa with Tree made it to $480, and a Transvaal Money Box, circa 1895, England, pristine condition, went for $1,020.

One of the most popular mechanical banks is the Confectionery bank by Kyser & Rex Company, Philadelphia, circa 1881, of cast iron and from the collection of Emmanuel Rodrique. It is in pristine plus condition and went to the high end of the estimate, realizing $32,400.

Pigs took up a page in the catalog, ten different ones to be sold in six lots. Most of them carried some sort of advertising, such as lot 242, a large example with turned up tail reading “Novelty Stock Waterer” on one side. It was 6½ inches long and in fine condition. It went for $840, followed by two pigs, one seated with “Murphy’s Rotary Pig” on its side and the other speaking for “Laconia Malleable Iron.” The pair brought $540.

Among the last few still banks on the first day were a Yellow Cab with cast iron wheels, Arcade Mfg Co., circa 1921, for $600 and a battleship Maine by J&E Stevens, very fine condition, at $1,920.

Among the cast iron toys, a Popeye “Spinach” Motorcycle by Hubley, circa 1935, sold for $480, and an Andy Gump 348 Car by Arcade went for $570. An All Iron Phaeton, 1895 by Hubley, very fine condition, brought $960 while a two-horse Dray by Arcade, circa 1925, went over estimate, bringing $300.

Richard “Rick” Opfer of Timonium, Md., got Saturday, the second day, off to a flying start with lot 500, the Saddle Horse on Wheeler Platform, that sold for $40,800 and went down in the record book as the second highest price paid at auction for a still bank. This bank was probably by Ives, Blakeslee Company of Bridgeport, Conn., circa 1890s. It was in pristine condition and listed Edwin Mosler and Tom Steckbeck in the provenance.

The Santa with Removable Wire Tree followed the horse (see photo) and a few lots later a near mint Andy Gump by Arcade, circa 1920, brought $2,040. Santa with Pack, Arcade, circa 1932, pristine condition and from the Bob McCumber and Ralph Dye Collections, sold for $13,200, over the $10,500 high estimate. The third Santa in the sale was Santa with Tree by Hubley, another pristine example, that sold for $960, just within estimate.

It took a little bit of wood, tin, iron and cloth to come up with the Old Woman with Boy Hooking Behind, Ives, Blakeslee Company, Bridgeport, Conn., circa 1880, measuring 17 inches long. It is in excellent plus condition and sold for $24,000.

Selling for $4,200, just shy of the high estimate, was Barrel with Arms, multicolor, J&E Stevens, dating circa 1890. The catalog mentions that “only 4 or 5 multicolor examples are known to exist” and the provenance lists Rich Garthoeffner Collection.

Cats always seem to be popular and a spelter Cat with Bandaged Eye, German, circa 1925, 4¾ inches high, Mike Henry provenance, brought $1,560, while Snowflake, a small round black baby, spelter, German and in excellent condition, brought $2,880.

Pigs again took a page to show eight examples, six with advertising, including “Invest In Pork” from the Ralph Dye Collection, $1,020, and a Bismark Pig, spreading the word for “Compliments of Economy Foundry & Machine Co., Syracuse, N.Y.”, went over estimate, selling for $900.

The Alphabet Block, probably by A.C. Williams, circa 1895, took $3,240, as did the Padlock on circular base, American, circa 1890, 7¼ inches high; Chantecler, probably by A.C. Williams, Ravenna, Ohio, went for $3,240, within estimate. Four examples of Mulligan the Cop, each with advertising on the back, ranged from $330 to $780, with “Kennedy Clothing House” coming out on top.

Strong interest was shown in lot 841, National Bank with stenciled letters, J&E Stevens, Cromwell, Conn., circa 1870s, that sold for $60,000, in the middle of the estimate. It is of cast iron, sheet steel and paper and the provenance lists Gertrude Hegarty, Donal Markey and Frank Kidd. This “A+” specimen is regarded as the best example in the world.

Lot 762, the Yellow Cab painted yellow and blue, Dent Hardware, mint and bright, went for $1,800, chased by a Checker cab, painted green and black, the rarest color combination for an Arcade cab, that also sold within estimate for $2,280. A John Deere Hay Loader, Vindex Toy Co., circa 1930, went over estimate to bring $1,680.

A Nodders Wagon by Kenton Hardware, Ohio, 15 inches long, with the correct figures in the carriage, went within estimate for $4,200; Horseless Phaeton, Wilkins Hardware, Keene, N.H., cast iron and sheet tin, went over estimate at $1,080; and Three Bicyclists by Ideal Mfg. Co., circa 1890, sold for $2,160 with only three to four examples known.

Boy on Trapeze by J. Barton Smith Company, Philadelphia, circa 1890, pristine, went within estimate for $5,400; the Yellow Magic Bank by J&E Stevens, “one of the finest examples we have ever seen,” Donal Markey Collection, went for $6,000, the low estimate, while Hall’s Excelsior Bank in red and gray, near mint plus condition, also by Stevens, brought just over the high estimate at $6,600.

This Mickey Mouse bank by Saalheimer and Strauss, Germany, early 1930s, lithographed tin, brought $11,400.

Lot 920, the Bugatti Boat Tail Racer, Spanish, circa 1920, 19 inches long, tin in excellent plus condition, went over the $4,000 high estimate, selling for $6,000, and a Juno floor train by James Fallows, Philadelphia, circa 1880s, painted tin in pristine condition, exceeded estimate at $2,160; $24,000 was paid for Old Woman with Boy Hooking Behind, Ives, Blakeslee Company, circa 1880, in excellent plus condition.

The Overhead Swinging Golfer doorstop by Hubley, circa 1930, was within estimate at $840, and among the folk art lots was a Star Lines lake boat model in case, circa 1910, of wood, glass and gesso in pristine condition. It sold just over the high estimate at $2,280.

A Donal Markey and Tom Steckbeck provenance helped a nickel-plated State Bank, a superior example by Kenton hardware, go more than double the high estimate, realizing $1,800, and again the surface on a medium Cupola Bank, red, green and yellow, helped it surpass the estimate and go for $1,320. A large version of the Statue of Liberty, lime green and gold, one of the finest and brightest known specimens of this bank, Kenton hardware, circa 1915, went $1,000 over the high estimate, attaining $6,600.

Toward the very end of the auction “Old Quebec,” a small cottage/house type building in the original colors, unknown maker, Canadian, dated July 1908, went within estimate for $9,600. According to the catalog, there are only three or four known examples, perhaps this one is the best. Bill Bertoia is listed in the provenance. The sale of the three sizes of the House with Bay Window (see photos) followed. Bringing up the rear was the Home Bank, multicolored, near mint plus condition, H.I. Judd Co., Connecticut, circa 1895, for $7,800, just over the high estimate. According to the catalog, “This is perhaps the most colorful and best condition example known and it is from the Donal Markey Collection.”

The last page of the catalog was used to announce another RSL sale, a major auction featuring the Jim Rocheleau Collection of still and mechanical banks for March 18. Since the printing of the catalog the auction has been extended for one more day, Sunday March 19. For more information, 908-823-4049 or www.rslauctionco.com.

The Pelican by Hubley, circa 1930, in excellent plus paint, went over the high estimate, selling for $ 1,440.

Lot 205, the Seated Hippo, American, circa 1950 and measuring 4 inches high, probably made by a cottage industry foundry, pristine condition, went over the $ 600 high estimate, bringing $ 840.

Ten cast iron pig still banks, most with advertising, were pictured on one page of the catalog, including this Momma Pig with Teats, American, circa 1910, 7 inches long, that sold for the high estimate, plus the buyer’s premium, for a total of $ 720.

The large Battleship Maine in white paint on painted water, J&E Stevens, circa 1900, very fine condition, went for $ 1,920, over the $ 1,200 high estimate.

Thirty-two lots of celluloid pocket banks from the William Werbell Collection were offered, including lot 295, three Pennsylvania institutions, American, circa 1920–30, tin and celluloid, pristine condition,
sold for $ 360, above estimate.

Among the ceramic still banks was a Bust of a Monkey, English, circa 1890, 3¼ inches high, glazed redware that went over the $ 150 high estimate, finishing at $ 252.

Among the mechanical banks on Friday was the Clown on Globe, tan base, J&E Stevens, circa 1890, very fine condition, that went over estimate at $ 1,920.

Following on the hooves of the horse on platform was Santa with Removable Wire Tree, Ives, Blakeslee Company, Bridgeport, Conn., circa 1890, ex the Steckbeck Collection, pristine and bright condition, that sold within estimate at $ 13,800. The catalog notes “this jovial Santa Claus bank is prized as one of the most beautiful cast iron still banks ever produced” and “this is an absolutely subline example of the bank, possibly the finest in existence.”

Selling in the middle of the estimate at $ 5,100 was David Lloyd George, AKA Insurance Bill bank, English, circa 1910, one of the rarest English still banks. It depicts George, who was chancellor of the exchequer during the Edwardian Age, and was a leading figure in the Liberal Party. He also served as prime minister (1916–22) during the first World War.

A large Prussian Policeman Issuing a Ticket was the top lot among the German spelter banks, circa 1900, 5¾ inches high, bringing $ 6,600, just over the high estimate. It was in pristine condition and from the Mike Henry Collection.

Selling for five times the high estimate was a Seated Rabbit, when resting on its tail resembled a duck, at $ 2,280, a cast iron figure, 3¾ inches high, from the collection of Ralph Dye. It was pristine and dated circa 1920s.

It is difficult to locate an Auto with Four People in green, but there was one in this sale, which brought
$ 1,560 against a high estimate of $ 900. This pristine bank was from the Tom Kellogg Collection.

Selling for just under the high estimate at $ 3,240 was this Padlock on circular base, American, circa 1890, measuring 7¼ inches high. It is in excellent condition, ex Ralph Dye Collection, and the catalog states, “To the best of our knowledge there are no other extant specimens of this great bank.”

A good number of political-themed banks were in this sale, including an elephant wearing a banner for “Land on Roosevelt 1936” on its back. It is by Kenton Hardware, Kenton, Ohio, circa 1936, ex Tim Steckbeck Collection, and brought $ 1,320.

Another colorful still bank from the Ralph Dye Collection was Peters Weatherbird Bank by Arcade, circa 1920, fine condition, that brought $ 2,040. This is not an easy bank to find, as the catalog notes there are “probably fewer than 20 known examples.”

The Hippo bank, probably the scarcest and most desirable of the banks produced by Ober Mfg Co., Chagrin Falls, Ohio, brought $ 5,700, within estimate. This pristine plus example was from the Tim Steckbeck Collection.

Around 1930 Kenton Hardware produced this Pickwick Nite Coach, 11 inches long, light green with yellow trim and hub caps, cast iron, that sold within estimate for $ 4,800. It was in pristine plus condition, “a magnificent specimen of this rare toy.”

Selling for $ 5,400, exceeding the $ 3,500 high estimate, was this Whites Moving Van by Arcade, Freeport, Ill., circa 1935, measuring 13¼ inches. The body is pale yellow with red trim, including the hub caps.

Finishing at $ 1,800, just shy of five times the high estimate, was this Wallis tractor, American, circa 1925, 4¾ inches long, cast iron, in green with red wheels.

Selling for just over the high estimate at $ 9,600 was lot 816, Boys Stealing Watermelons, by Kyser & Rex Company, Philadelphia, ex collection of Donal Markey.

German penny and novelty toys filled a page and a half of the catalog, including lot 893, Equestrian Penny toy by J. Meier, circa 1915, that almost doubled its high estimate to bring $ 2,160.

Baseball Ten Pins, wood and lithographed paper, circa late 1880s, brought $ 15,600, just under the low estimate.

“If you are going to own a sled, then this should be the one,” Rick Opfer said as he offered lot 1007 from the front of the gallery. Wood painted red with iron runners, the sled was decorated with a hand painted spread-winged eagle clasping an olive branch in the middle, dated 1871, and Victor spelled out on the side. It had a high estimate of $ 7,500 and brought $ 10,800.

‘This is one of the finest and brightest known specimen of this scarce bank,” the catalog noted about lot 1108, the large Statue of Liberty in lime green and gold. By Kenton Hardware, it exceeded high estimate, realizing $ 6,600.

Andy Gump on a Barrel, Kirsch Corporation, New York, circa 1925, is a very rare bank and the catalog states that “we have only heard of one other example.” In pristine plus condition, lead, it sold for $ 6,000, twice the high estimate.

A Fighter Plane weathervane, American, circa 1930, 30 inches long with a 32-inch wingspan, mounted on a modern base, went just over the high estimate at $ 7,800. It is of wood with metal elements, excellent paint and patina, and was found on Cape Cod.

Ray Haradin, left, one of the RSL trio, with Doug Rait, the auctioneer who called the sale on Friday. Doug, who lives in Kansas, is also a bank collector.

Richard “Rick” Opfer of Timonium, Md., a regular at RSL Auctions, was on hand to call the Saturday portion of the two-day sale. Here he holds the Saddle Horse still bank, which appears small compared to its image on the TV screen, that was sold for $ 40,800, the second highest price ever paid for a still bank at auction.

The Weiss twins, Steven on the left and Leon, were more than pleased with the results of the October 14–15 auction.