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Lot # 275: Vintage Reproduction Cast Iron Mechanical "Football Bank"

Category: Football

Starting Bid: $200.00

Bids: 0 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "2024 Winter Pop-Up",
which ran from 1/14/2024 7:00 PM to
1/28/2024 10:00 PM



Displayed is a charming cast iron, colorful vintage reproduction of a mechanical football bank. The bank has a football player about to kick a "football" - not included - into a target, an approximately 1x2" rectangle, the bank. Most likely, a coin was placed in front of the kicker and the coin became "the football." The player's right leg was at one-time spring-loaded so that when the lever behind the player was pressed, the player's right leg would propel the coin towards the target, simulating an extra point attempt. The lever can be pressed down, but it no longer activates the player's leg to kick a coin towards the target area. In an interesting touch showing the cyclical nature of hair styles, the player's hair is parted in the middle, a style popular over a century ago and now once again growing trendy, such as with rising Baltimore Orioles catching star Adley Rutschman. The hand-painted item has a great vintage feel to it. "FOOTBALL BANK" is in gold painted, raised letters on the green swarth of football field. The bank weighs 49.25 ounces, and it has base dimensions of 3.1x9.25". It stands 4.1" high. The football bank is definitely repainted/restored, but we believe this to be a well-made reproduction of an original. On the underside of the base is "John harper (sic) 1895" in raised cast letters and numerals. There are some very small areas of paint loss, some very minor chipping, and some small scratches, but overall, the football bank has great eye appeal, and it fondly recalls football's very early days.

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