-Benjamin Franklin Cash Register (registering)- still bank c. 20th century

Editor: Here we have what’s called -Benjamin Franklin Cash Register (registering)- still bank from around the 20th century. It is a mixed-media assemblage of metal and other elements, now residing here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. What immediately grabs me is how it marries a commercial object with art deco style. How would you interpret this unusual piece? Curator: This object speaks volumes about the democratization of design and its social context. We see the “Benjamin Franklin” name appropriated, suggesting trustworthiness and American values during a time of growing industrialization. It is referencing art-deco aesthetics popular at the time, thus elevating everyday objects with visual sophistication to appeal to a wider audience, turning something mundane into a collectable item. Why do you think such visual elevation mattered back then? Editor: Perhaps it was about instilling a sense of value, making saving feel sophisticated. I wonder, did the design serve to normalize and promote specific financial habits? Curator: Exactly! Objects like these actively participated in shaping consumer behavior. They aestheticized the act of saving money, contributing to a cultural emphasis on financial prudence. Moreover, placing it within decorative art demonstrates that visual appeal of mundane tasks was of high importance. Editor: So, it's not just a bank but a carefully designed cultural artifact meant to influence behavior, even convey certain value of design for all classes! I never thought of it that way. Curator: Precisely! It underscores how design elements have historically been used to normalize and even glamorize various societal functions. This still bank makes you reconsider how commercial items also take a role of influencing human conduct. Editor: That’s a fascinating lens to see it through, thanks! It’s changed my view entirely.