Anyone know how old a "Little Joker Bank" is (PICS ADDED)??

[Gribnitz]

Anyone know how old a "Little Joker Bank" is (PICS ADDED)??

Just my luck, I found one and it was empty, but I thought it was a lipstick tube or match holder when I found it. I will have to search the area pretty hard and see if anything fell out. It looks like it holds dimes, made of brass with a coin meter on one side ($1-$10 with a spring to load the coins in), and says little joker bank, patent applied for, new york on the other side. Just wondering if anyone ever heard of one and if it is something modern or may have had silver in it.

 

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[Nana40]

Re: Anyone know how old a "Little Joker Bank" is ??

Grib! No picture? Would love to see that bank.

 

[TreasureTales]

Re: Anyone know how old a "Little Joker Bank" is ??

A picture would definitely help with the ID, plus we like to see stuff. You know what they say, "a picture is worth a thousand words." Sounds like a great little bank.

 

[Gribnitz]

Re: Anyone know how old a "Little Joker Bank" is (PICS ADDED)??

I didn't get much besides a few bullets and the little 'lipstick tube' bank, so I didn't take any pictures. I'll take one and post it up in a bit. Sure would have been nice to have found it full of silver dimes.

(edit)
Here it is. Its $1-$5 tube, so I assume dimes. The other side says "little joker bank" with patent applied for, but its real faint and I can't get a picture. Any ideas ?

Here are all the finds. Few .58's, a 46 wheat, brass rivet with leather, and some unknown bullets. I assume the top row is old, but they show rifling marks. The far right one has the 'nipple' where it was crammed down the barrel of a musket.

 

[TreasureTales]

Re: Anyone know how old a "Little Joker Bank" is ??

Sure would have been nice to have found it full of silver dimes.

Well, yes it would have been nice. HOWEVER, you found a great, little bank and that is really cool! I am anxiously awaiting some pix of it.

 

[tsgman]

Re: Anyone know how old a "Little Joker Bank" is (PICS ADDED)??

Nice finds Grib, wish I could help on the coin holder, but I don't know. Tsgman

 

[TreasureTales]

Re: Anyone know how old a "Little Joker Bank" is (PICS ADDED)??

Is there a slot on the bank so that a dime could be slipped inside to verify it's a dime bank? If you have a roll of dimes handy, how does it compare to the length of the bank?

Thanks for the pix!!!

 

[Gribnitz]

Re: Anyone know how old a "Little Joker Bank" is (PICS ADDED)??

Is there a slot on the bank so that a dime could be slipped inside to verify it's a dime bank? If you have a roll of dimes handy, how does it compare to the length of the bank?

Thanks for the pix!!!

No, that little plug on the bottom used to unscrew (now it falls off). You load up the dimes and the little holes on the side show how many are in the tube. I tried googling the thing, but didn't get any hits.

 

[PBK]

Re: Anyone know how old a "Little Joker Bank" is (PICS ADDED)??

Not listed as a "Little Joker," but here's a similar one offered in a 1929 Johnson Smith novelty catalog. However, banks of the same design were made long after that.

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[Gribnitz]

Re: Anyone know how old a "Little Joker Bank" is (PICS ADDED)??

Thanks PBK! At least that puts it in the 'silver' period. I figured it would have to be a bit older being made of brass instead of aluminum or stainless steel. It looks just like that.

 

[TreasureTales]

Re: Anyone know how old a "Little Joker Bank" is (PICS ADDED)??

There has got to be silver where that bank was found. A see a return trip in your future! LOL

 

[PBK]

Re: Anyone know how old a "Little Joker Bank" is (PICS ADDED)??

It may have been made by the B & R Mfg. Co. of New York City. Here are two B & R varieties:

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