In collecting mechanical banks one usually sets certain goals as one moves along. That is to say, it may be a certain bank or some related item that fits into the collecting of mechanical banks. The writer has always had a great interest in old catalogs showing mechanical banks as they are a great source of factual background information. The cream of old catalogs showing mechanical banks are those issued by the manufacturers themselves, and these are very hard to come by. So, in any case, over the years one of the writer’s goals was to find a Rex or Kyser & Rex Catalog. They were the Philadelphia concern which was active in the manufacture of mechanical banks in the 1890 period. They made some of the great mechanicals and stills and turned out a particularly well cast finely made product in cast iron. Their banks, as well as toys, were also particularly well painted and well designed. We could say there was more realism about their banks in general. For example, they made the highly desirable Apple Bank and it looks like a real apple setting on three leaves. It’s a fine smooth casting with excellent paint work.

Very recently the writer had the goal of a Rex catalog realized through the good help of Bob McCumber of Glastonbury, Conn. Bob is very active in the field of collecting and dealing in mechanical banks, as well as stills, and this activity led him into the Rex catalog, which he was kind enough to pass along to the writer.

It is simply a wonderful catalog and the first the writer has ever seen with the banks pictured in color. The catalog is dated June 1, 1889, and Figure 1, in reduced size, shows the cover which is self explanatory. Colors of the cover are blue and silver with black lettering.

Figure 1 shows pages 2 and 3 — page 2 is self explanatory, Preface "Note", of the Alfred C. Rex & Co. Catalog, while page 3 shows in brilliant color the rare and very desirable Motor Bank, one of the really great mechanical banks. This proves, of course, that Rex made the Motor Bank, and it is pictured in colors of green, red and yellow.

Figure 2 shows pages 4 and 5 — page 4 with one of the greatest and most desirable of all the mechanicals, the Merry-Go-Round Bank. In brilliant colors the bank is shown in blue, red, yellow and green. Here again this proves the Merry-Go-Round as a Rex product.

Page 5 pictures the Globe Savings Fund Bank in yellow, red and blue. This is one of the very fine handsome still banks in a building form. It has a combination front door lock which when opened rings a bell. It also allows a person to press a small lever and a secret drawer comes out. It’s a real nice good looking bank.

Page 6 shows the Organ Bank (Boy and Girl) in colors of browns, red and yellow — page 7, the Organ Bank (Monkey) in the same colors. Page 8, the Organ Bank (Miniature) also same coloring, red brown and yellow. Uncle Tom is pictured in brown on page 9.

There are a total of 34 pages to the catalog. Fine still banks are shown such as the Pug Dog and the Kneeling Camel — some fine safe type banks such as the series of the Roller Safe, Sport Safe, Young America, and so on. Some good toys are shown including the rare Aunt Dinah Chariot and the Monkey Chime.

We can only say the Rex catalog is a great find on the part of Bob McCumber and thus another one of the writer’s goals has been attained.

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