Sold for A$170
Eagle & Eaglets Money Box, J & E Stevens, Cromwell, CT, USA. Patented by Charles M Henn of Chicago ILL, January 23, 1883.. Metalware. Money Box. Cast Iron, painted mechanical monye box. Base is 175 mm long. 1880s
Good. (N/A). This was apparently made by the J. & E. Stevens Company of Cromwell CT USA. It was patented by Charles M Henn of Chicago, Illinois, January 23, 1883. Place a coin in the eagle's beak, press the lever which is a snake, and the Eaglets rise from the nest actually crying for food. As the Eagle bends forward to feed them, the coin falls into the nest and disappears in the receptacle below. Condition looks good, all still functions mechanically. Not sure about the paint, any examples I can find pictures of have different colours, so I think this may be recently applied. The rear where the base goes over the upper part has some grinding that looks fresh, on close inspection you can just see this at the front as well. It looks like the top part has been ground to fit into the bottom plate. If this had have been done in the 1880s, I doubt it would still be shiny bare metal, so must have been more recent. A great item though which is one of the more elaborate money boxes that I have seen.. Estimate: $200-300
