GUEST: This was my grandfather's bank, and there was a card in the box that said, "Happy New Year, 1911." And it's from northern Ohio, I know.
APPRAISER: Have you ever had it appraised?
GUEST: The only thing we did was take it to a blacksmith to see about getting it repaired since it's broken, and he was more interested in the box than in the figures. He said the box would probably be worth about $150. And that was about 20 years ago.
APPRAISER: Mechanical banks were very popular throughout the late 1800s. This particular bank was produced anywhere from the late 1870s into the 1890s. It was very susceptible to damage because of the sensitive gear mechanism on both figures. When the button was depressed, the two outside figures would swing around and attack the center player. It seems to be retaining a lot of its original paint. What's also very unusual is the presence of the original box. Do you have any idea of its value?
GUEST: $500?
APPRAISER: That would be very interesting. You might even want to add a zero and then double it and then add some.
GUEST: Oh, my...
APPRAISER: Yes, in its present condition, even with the damage, at auction, we'd be talking anywhere from $12,000 to $17,000, including the box.
GUEST: (laughing) oh my gosh.
APPRAISER: By itself, the box is $5,000.
GUEST: Oh, wow. My grandmother would be very happy. She never threw anything away. Oh, that's fantastic.
