Little girls who are sugar and spice and everything nice are well represented in some of the mechanical banks. As a matter of fact several fine banks were intentionally made to have more appeal to girls rather than boys. Examples are The Old Woman In The Shoe, Red Riding Hood, Girl Skipping Rope, Girl In Victorian Chair, and the Speaking Dog Bank. Another example of this group, the Perfection Registering Bank, is our choice as No. 77 in the numerical classification of the mechanical banks.

The Perfection Registering Bank is as the name implies a registering bank, and therefore, can also be classed in with the registering banks. However, it is definitely a mechanical bank since the figure of the girl moves down the track as coins are inserted and the operating lever pressed.

The exact date or period of manufacture of the bank is not known and the base plate only shows the terminology "Patent Applied For." To the best of the writer’s knowledge no patent papers have ever been found. However, it is the writer’s opinion that it is definitely a product of the well known bank designer, C.F. Bailey, and was manufactured by the J. & E. Stevens Company of Cromwell, Conn. As can be seen in the picture the bank is a fine example of Bailey’s artistry in using flowers, animals, and figures in the general design. This is typical of Bailey’s work and many of his banks show this extra care and detail in their makeup. This, of course, required more time and effort in making the original pattern, however, the end result was a more interesting, attractive, detailed mechanical bank.

The bank shown is in fine original condition with excellent paint, and as a matter of fact could be called mint condition. It is in the extensive collection of Mr. L.C. Hegarty and was originally in the collection of the late Dr. Arthur E. Corby. The bank is attractively decorated in an all over light tan color, all figures and decorations are highlighted in gold. The figure of the soldier is completely gold and the girl has blond hair, a red belt, and a brown smock. There is red highlighting on the end of the bank facing the girl. The numbered section along the back of the bank where the amount of the deposit is shown is a dark blue-black paper printed with gold numbers and lines. The name of the bank is also printed in gold on this paper section. The newsboy embossed on the front has a newspaper under his left arm titled "Sun." On the right end of the bank there is a large embossed cat’s head and this complete end opens for the removal of coins. The birds, flowers, and other decorations are shown in the picture.

To operate the bank a dime is inserted in the provided slot located in the front top edge of the left end section of the bank. A lever located in this same end section is then pressed. In so doing the girl moves forward and the pointer in her right hand indicates the amount now in the bank. It might be well to point out that the operating lever is inside the protruding curved-out section on the left end of the bank as shown in the picture. It is of interest to note that the lever makes no contact with the operating mechanism until the insertion of a coin.

The Perfection Registering Bank is a difficult item to add to a collection as it was apparently never made in any great quantities. This, plus the fact, that it is a very attractive bank appearance-wise makes it a nice addition to a collection of mechanical banks.

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