What is this thing?

Tyler S
by Tyler S
It had for my entire life. Now I am getting rid of stuff... and I found this thing in my closet. Its for coins to go in. It is very heavy. Well, I am selling my stuff... but I just wanted be sure, if this is worth a lot of money or not, because if it does worth a lot of money, I just have to safe it for the future.
  21 answers
  • 3po3 3po3 on Sep 26, 2012
    If you have reason to think it's a valuable antique, maybe take it to a dealer or appraiser in your area. They should be able to give you an estimate or idea about it.
  • Z Z on Sep 26, 2012
    I agree with Steven and by your comments and that it's heavy makes me think it is very old. Possibly made from cast iron. Is there any writing on it? If it's not a reproduction it could be well over a hundred years old. It appears to be an antique Mechanical bank from the late 1800's to early 1900's. I found some similar here..... http://www.mechanicalbanksonline.com/referenceguidetu.html
  • Z Z on Sep 26, 2012
    I found the value for some of this type here.... http://www.mechanicalbanksonline.com/trickdogbank.html ; And there's this one on ebay though according to what I saw at the last link they have priced low. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cast-Iron-Trick-Dog-Mechanical-Bank-Americana-Victorian-Toy-Near-Mint-Clown-/110831856961 ; It looks just like yours though.
  • Crystal - 29 Rue House Crystal - 29 Rue House on Sep 26, 2012
    I don't know if it is a good representation of price but check and see if ebay has any and what they're going for. Very cool!
  • Z Z on Sep 26, 2012
    Okay, did more research and it appears ones like yours are fairly common.... http://www.thefind.com/pets/info-trick-dog-mechanical-bank
  • Tyler S Tyler S on Sep 27, 2012
    Alright! That is actually pretty good price... looks expensive too!
  • Z Z on Sep 27, 2012
    Well it would have been nice if it would have been the ones that were in the hundreds to a thousand or more. You'll have to find the right buyer though. Do you ebay or etsy?
  • KMS Woodworks KMS Woodworks on Sep 27, 2012
    @Z we should call you Sherlock Holmes...that was some nice detective work.
  • Z Z on Sep 27, 2012
    Why thank you Kevin...@KMS Woodworks! Somehow in the far reaches of my mind I had a memory of mechanical "toys". Probably because of my obsession with Victorian homes. Toys from that era most likely happened into my research during the planning stages our home. I really don't know, for sure, where it came from. I don't remember actually learning about them. I don't watch antique shows. It was just "there".
  • Tyler S Tyler S on Sep 27, 2012
    @Z - You do know a lot about it, I tried looking on ebay... it doesn't really help, but those useful links, it does helps a lot.. I will try to find a dealer, and I will asked him, if I should save it for the future.. @KMS Woodworks - lol! You should! That is a great thing to call me! I like being call that! lol
  • 3po3 3po3 on Sep 27, 2012
    Becky, I'm also impressed with your detective work. Tyler, I think your best bet is a local dealer. Selling on eBay costs money, and you may not get lucky and find the right buyer (although you could set a minimum sale price to avoid giving it away for too little money).
  • Z Z on Sep 27, 2012
    Thanks Steve.
  • Leslie D Leslie D on Sep 27, 2012
    Sorry to report, Tyler, but yours is a reproduction, and it's missing the ring that the dog jumps through. My husband and I owned an antique shop a few years ago and these mechanical banks were widely reproduced when they became popular and valuable. Here is a real one, for comparison. You should be able to put a coin in the dog's mouth, then pull a lever, at which time the dog jumps through the hoop and deposits the coin into the barrel. Without the ring, a reproduction would sell for about $30, and real ones also come with a key. If it were real, it would be marked "Hubley", who was the manufacturer and would have been produced in the late 1800s. It would also be quality welds on the cast iron and carefully hand painted. Another variation was released in the 1920's and then widely reproduced in the 1980's in Taiwan. A real one is worth about $200.
  • Stella Ashley Stella Ashley on Dec 02, 2015
    Tyler: If it is for money to go in you could assume it is a bank. If it has moving parts that "throw" the money in it could be of value. I suggest you google AntiqueRoadshow.com, these guys should have a segment on mechanical banks. But, please don't throw it away until you find out what its value could be.
  • Sally Sally on Dec 18, 2015
    Antique or Repo, you don't see these banks very often. It would make a great conversation piece.
  • UpState UpState on Jan 17, 2016
    His name is Bumbo...a funny circus boy and his iron dog Spots. it's a bank. The originals were manufactured in Ohio. The reproductions were made in many, many places. There was supposed to be on old time movie made with Bubmo as the main character, but it was never made.
  • Dianajgilliam Dianajgilliam on Mar 03, 2016
    I have several of these banks. Cant seem to get rid of mine either.
  • LADYBUG LADYBUG on Jun 30, 2016
    Its a old fashioned piggy bank!😀
  • Maggie Garber Maggie Garber on Sep 20, 2016
    a mechanical bank, of course. They even make reproductions.
  • Suzanne Suzanne on Sep 20, 2016
    Don't throw it away. Look for antique dealer on line for priceing or try selling on e-bay.
  • T. Martinelli T. Martinelli on Sep 20, 2016
    I gave a lot of these banks,I love them