Auction details
Steckbeck Mechanical Banks by Morphy Auctions
9:00 AM PT - Oct 27th, 2007
offered by
Dan Morphy Auctions LLC
2000 N. Reading Road
Denver, PA 17517
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Morphy Auctions
Proudly Presents |
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The
Exceptional |
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Mechanical Bank Collection |
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of |
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Stephen & Marilyn Steckbeck |
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Lot 129 - Ding Dong
Bell Mechanical Bank with Box Tin and Wood
Weeden Mfg. Co., New Bedford, MA
Circa: 1888
Wind the mechanism on the back of the bank and place a coin in the slot. The boy on the fence begins to wave his hat as the other one swings the bell. Simultaneously, the boy at the well pulls the cat out of the well. Just before the mechanism stops, he drops the cat back into the well.Touch-up to figure's arm
Provenance: Weeder, Edwin Mosler, Donal Markey
One of four examples known.
Near Mint Plus
$70,000 - $85,000 |
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The Stephen & Marilyn Steckbeck
Mechanical Bank Collection
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. |
| From the 1970s through the 1990s, Steve and Marilyn's collection flourished as great collections were sold, including those of Edwin Mosler, Leon Perelman, F.H.
Griffith, L.C. Hegarty and others. These opportunities provided the Steckbecks a chance to acquire some of the rarest and best examples known.
In May 2006, an article in Wealth magazine named Steve a consummate collector. Steve was asked to share his experience in collecting and describe how to build a fine collection. His advice was to set realistic goals, research, study, network with dealers and collectors; become an expert. Steve said that since he started collecting seriously, he has averaged at least one hour every day on building, researching and refining the collection.
The Steckbeck collection is regarded as one of the world's
finest and most complete assemblages of mechanical banks.
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Condition report
Near Mint Plus
Images
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