National Museum of Play Online Collections

Tammany Hall Bank

mechanical bank

1875

In 1869 the J. & E. Stevens Company of Cromwell, Connecticut, produced its first cast-iron mechanical bank. The toy manufacturer quickly became known for innovative bank designs, as well as its still banks cast of metal in the shape of animals, buildings, or other figures. This J. & E. Stevens mechanical bank features a heavy-set man sitting in a chair marked "Tammany Bank." Placing a coin in the man's right hand causes it to fall into a slot behind his left arm, and the man bows his head as if in thanks. The bank offers a commentary on New York City's corrupt political organization Tammany Hall.

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