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Circa-1907 J & E Stevens Clown, Harlequin, and Columbine cast-iron mechanical bank, which sold for $14,080 at Alderfer Auction.

Mechanical banks by J & E Stevens hauled in serious cash at Alderfer

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HATFIELD, Penn. – Alderfer Auction’s February 13 sale of Mechanical Banks and Toys enjoyed some good results – topped by a version of J & E Stevens’ Clown, Harlequin, and Columbine cast-iron mechanical bank. The circa-1907 design by James H. Bowen is based on the Italian Commedia Dell’arte and features three of the stock characters. When a coin is placed in the slot, the clown and Harlequin swing around – a motion that sets the Columbine spinning. The bank exists in several castings, with the first castings being among the rarest examples of all mechanical banks. A near-mint example sold for $103,300 at Morphy Auctions in 2007. Alderfer’s example had been repainted but, against an estimate of $500-$800, sold at $14,080.

An earlier J & E Stevens issue is the Bread Winners Bank, designed by Charles A. Bailey and registered in May 1886. The theme is corruption: Place the coin in the end of the club, raise the hammer, press the button, and the figure of Labor strikes Monopoly, sending ‘the Rascals up’. A good example was estimated at $800-$1,200 and hammered for $8,960.

Full results for the Alderfer February 13 sale can be seen at Liveauctioneers.
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Circa-1907 J & E Stevens Clown, Harlequin, and Columbine cast-iron mechanical bank, which sold for $14,080 at Alderfer Auction.
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Circa-1886 J & E Stevens Bread Winners cast iron mechanical bank, which sold for $8,960 at Alderfer Auction.
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