Automatic Surprise Money Box Mechanical Bank

Stephen A. Steckbeck was born in 1931, at the depth of the Great Depression.  About this time, mechanical banks were near the end of their production era, since there were few pennies to save.

At the age of seven, Steve viewed his first collection of mechanical banks.  This stirred a desire and passion to own some of these wonderful "toys" for himself someday.

In 1954, after his marriage to Marilyn, the couple purchased their first mechanical bank at an antique fair and were on their way as collectors.  In those early years of collecting, as is the case with most beginning hobbyists, they formed the core of their collection with common specimens. When they saw the Wally Tudor Collection in the mid 1960s, they became inspired to expand their collection.