Banks for the memory!

Over the weekend of June 2-3, the RSL Auction Company offered the collections of two legendary pioneers of the antique toy and bank hobby: Tom Sage Senior and Dr Gregory Zemenick, widely known in the trade as Dr Z.

The Saturday session began with no fewer than 175 cast-iron mechanical banks from the Sage collection. Then, following a short intermission, the spotlight was on Dr Z’s 300 lot assemblage of mechanical, clockwork and early American tin toys; in addition were antique tobacciana and cast-iron novelties. Sunday’s session opened with 130 lots of highly important German hand-painted tin toys and Lehmann wind-up toys, many of them boxed, all gathered from a fine private collection. Dr Z’s wonderful cast-iron still banks were auctioned later.

Whilst cast-iron banks are virtually unknown as a collectable area within Europe, in the US it’s a very different story indeed – and such is the interest that huge sums can change hands for particular examples. Many are three dimensional comments on American social history and, as such, evoke great feelings of nostalgia. Amongst the choicer items that were due to go under the hammer was a Mikado bank, estimated at US$120,000-160,000, and one of perhaps ten known to exist. Also featuring were a circa 1907 J. & E. Stevens Clown, Harlequin & Columbine bank (in all original condition), estimated at US$90,000-120,000; five colour variations of the “Mammy” bank in virtually pristine condition; a superb Squirrel on a Stump mechanical example and a near-mint Two Frogs bank. A Kyser & Rex Merry-Go-Round bank was purchased at a small estate auction in New Jersey many years back by the vendor and this was expected to fetch an eye-watering US$80,000-100,000. And for those with a belligerent bent, how about an excellent Confederate version of the Artillery bank?

On the tinplate and toy front, the highlight was arguably a George Brown non-clockwork Monitor ship that was tagged at US$15,000-20,000. Of the 67 German made Lehmanns set to cross the auction block, an amazing 50 retained their original boxes. Mint and boxed treasures included a coveted Boxer Rebellion (US$18,000-25,000); a Lo & Li (US$7,500-9,500); and a Ski Rolf, put at US$6,000-8,000. Gunthermann tinplate was also represented: an extraordinary, articulated, Little Red Riding Hood and Wolf was expected to make US$7,500-9,500 while an equally flawless example of The Maypole Dancers (the only example RSL Auction’s owners have ever seen) could go to US$7,000-9,000.