Childhood Fun
Emerging after the Civil War, mechanical banks were among the first toys designed to delight children while promoting the value of saving money. With themes rooted in everyday life, their charm endures—captivating collectors and still inspiring young savers today.
Mechanical Banks: Teaching Kids to Save Through Play and Wonder
Mechanical banks are in fact one of the first toys that were developed after the Civil War for children. Beyond being a source of wonder and fun, they were also there to teach a valuable lesson by encouraging children to save their money. Remember, a penny was worth a lot of money in the 19th Century. The themes represented were what children were familiar with and saw in their everyday lives. The sense of childhood wonder is ever present throughout the history of mechanical banks and as the older ones have become collectibles mainly prized by adults, they are still being made today for today’s children.