Clown Cast Iron bank 19th Century

Cast iron clown banks—ranging from rare 19th-century mechanical antiques to modern heavy-metal reproductions—are popular collectibles in early Americana and novelty savings banks. Key Types and Historical Designs • Clown on Globe Bank: Patented on May 20, 1890 (Patent No. 428,450) by James H. Bowen and manufactured by the J. & E. Stevens Co. in Cromwell, Connecticut. Operating a lever and a spring mechanism causes the clown to spin or go upside down using centrifugal force.