Home > Dan Morphy Auctions LLC > Steckbeck Mechanical Banks by Morphy Auctions > Lot 481


Auction details

8:00 AM PT - Oct 27th, 2007

offered by
Dan Morphy Auctions LLC

 

2000 N. Reading Road
Denver, PA 17517
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Lot 481
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Wishbone Mechanical Bank Lead

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Morphy Auctions Proudly Presents 

 

The Exceptional

  Mechanical Bank Collection

of

Stephen & Marilyn Steckbeck

 
 
Lot 481 - Wishbone Mechanical Bank Lead
Place a coin on the holder at the bottom of the wishbone and push lever. Both figures fall back as the wishbone breaks in half causing the coin to fall into the slot in the woman’s dress.
Never a production item.
This bank was purchased from Margaret Hunter in 1969. This example is pictured in Bill Norman’s Mechanical Bank Book.
Near Mint
$70,000 - $90,000

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.

Condition report

Near Mint

Images

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