1945 Starkie aluminium Black Man money box made in England

Vintage 1945 version by Starkie
cast aluminium body
  JOLLY
BLACK MAN
moneybox
Place coin in to the hand,
rotate the ear
(or press the lever behind the shoulder),
the hand then comes to mouth and eyes rotate,
and moneybox swallows the coin.


Approx. 15 1/2 centimeters height & 13 centimeters at the widest



















Heavy wear on outside,
including age tarnish and some surface and pain corrosion.
Moving parts (mechanics) in good working condition

The bank was patented in 1920 by Robert Eastwood Starkie of Burnley, England (British Pat No 152,588). All known banks were made of Aluminum. In 1945, a patent was issued to Robert Patterson Starkie for a similar bank. This is the bank that is most often seen in Antique and Collectible circles and is often mistaken for the Bank from 1920, even by major auction houses. At first glance from the front, the banks look identical. However, there are at least 8 differences:
1) Bank from 1920: Ears are located closer to the eyes. A "V" shaped section from the back half of the casting fits into a "V" groove in the front half. Later 1945 Version: Ears are located in the middle of the castings.
2) Bank from 1920: Back has the inscription: "Starkie's Pat No 152,588" Later 1945 Version: Blank back.
3) Bank from 1920: Base plate has circular holes and is unmarked. Later 1945 Version: Base plate has square waffle type holes and is inscribed: "Reg. No 844,290 Starkie's Pat No 32,537 Patented in Foreign Countries"
4) Bank from 1920: Holes in the back of the head. Later 1945 version: No holes in the back of the head.
5) Bank from 1920: Moving the ears cannot make the arm move up. Later 1945 Version: Moving the ears makes the arm move up.
6) Bank from 1920: Bow tie and ears are larger that the Later 1945 Version.
7) Bank from 1920: Thumb is part of one casting of hand. Later 1945 Version: Thumb is separate casting from hand.
8) Bank from 1920: Right arm is raised up a bit from the elbow. Later 1945 Version: Right arm is not raised up from the elbow.

So...you can see that identifying the 2 Starkie's banks is easy, but, as a practice not done in the antique world.

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