-Tammany Bank- or -Little Fat Man- mechanical bank c. 1873

This cast iron mechanical bank, nicknamed "Tammany Bank" or "Little Fat Man", was likely created around 1873. The bank depicts a man in a suit and vest, sitting in a chair with a coin slot on the back. This piece represents a humorous caricature, typical of this period, capturing the public's perception of Tammany Hall, a political machine in New York City known for its corruption. The bank is a reminder of a time when American political cartoons frequently used visual satire to challenge authority and provoke thought.