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How to Collect Antique Mechanical Banks

Many collectors of antique toys also collect antique mechanical banks. These treasures of the past with their whimsical animation are in high demand. The simple actions they perform, such as a mother eagle feeding her eaglets or a little girl jumping rope, still seem magical as a coin disappears into the bank.

Instructions

- 1
  Purchase an antique mechanical bank price guide such as "The Official Price Guide to Mechanical Banks" by Dan Morphy.
- 2
  Check out the online reference guide for mechanical banks at Mechanical Banks Online. You'll find photographs, manufacturers and dates.
- 3
  Join the Mechanical Bank Collectors of America online to share your experiences with people that have similar interests.
- 4
  Educate yourself on the ways to distinguish between an original bank and a reproduction by checking "Toy Bank Reproductions and Fakes" by Bob McCumber and reading articles on the subject on websites, such as Mechanical Bank Collectors of America.
- 5
  Learn more about antique mechanical banks by reading articles and books about them. Antiques and the Arts and Mechanical Bank Collectors of America websites both have excellent articles and information.

Antiques