Age 1960
Size H. 4.5x W. 5.25x D. 4.25"
Weight 1lbs 1.5oz
Maker U.S. Metal Toy Mfg Co.
Materials Tin Labels/Signatures US Metal
Finish Lithography
Stopper Tin
Provenance NJ Estate
Description The five banks are all modeled after buildings found in the Old West: Ranches, schoolhouses, churches, etc.
Condition Minor paint damage as well as some dulling of paint color.
History Tinplate was used in the manufacture of toys beginning in the mid-19th century. The toys were made from thin sheets of steel plated with tin, hence the name tinplate. They were a cheap and durable substitute for wooden toys. The toys were originally assembled and painted by hand. Spring activated tin toys originated in Germany in the 1850s. In the late 1880s offset lithography was used to print designs on tinplate. After the colorful designs were printed on the metal, they were formed by dies and assembled with small tabs. The lightweight of the toys allowed them to be shipped less expensively and easier than the heavier cast iron toys.