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Owl Turns Head Mechanical Bank By J + E Stevens

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Coin Banks

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Owl Turns Head Mechanical Bank By J & E Stevens, Co.

c. 1880, Mechanical Bank, Owl Turns Head, by J & E Stevens Co., Cromwell, Connecticut, Designed by James Bowen, Cast Iron with Original Paint, Choice Extremely Fine.
This authentic, 7.5" high original cast iron bank has most of its original paint, with replacement eyes, and is otherwise in excellent overall condition. The patent date, February 1875 appears on the base, along with the number "1880" (perhaps the actual date of manufacture. The coin is placed beside the owl's head and when a lever in the back is pushed, the head turns and the coin drops into the bank. This bank is in working order, lacking the key and has nice original paint. According to the Mechanical Bank Collector Society publication, several examples of this bank have sold into the $3,000 range.

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