Posted 14 years ago
Heytbaker
(3 items)
I found this at a second hand store and am pretty happy about this. I know that banks use to use these as a sales gimmick to get someone to open an account and they date back to, I believe the 20's. I do not know the truth to this but what I have been told is that the customer would fill this and when it was full they would take it to the bank, the bank would unlock it and then the customer would deposit all or some of the money in the book. I have tried to research this particular one and have had no success. I have seen similar savings books but none with the Boy Scouts info.
On the bottom of the book it is stamped BANKERS UTILITY CO SAN FRANCISCO USA PATENTED JULY, 3 1923
The material wrapping the box is a heavy canvas type material and I am not sure if the metal is Brass or copper. One of the really neat things about this is the one way slot that is built into this. The way this was designed makes it literally impossible to pull anything through the slot in the opposite direction. As you can see in the 4th photo the hanging teeth were bent in towards each other.
I would love to get some feedback on this item. if you know anything about this item please, I would love to hear.
Thank you for looking.
One other thing... I would love to know the possible value of this. Thanks
Again.
I am 65 yrs. old and received one of this type of banks when I was 5 yrs. mine was advertising bank of America. We in school were given a bank account and small envelopes to take money to the bank. My bank opened from the top. Great find!
my great uncle Greer Butler was president of Bankers Utilities Co. San Francisco.I have an article posted in The California Banker April 1932,with pictures of Butler and the building in San Francisco. He also was a pilot ,the book banks have airplanes on them