-Football Bank- mechanical bank c. 1895

"Football Bank" is a cast iron mechanical bank made around 1895 by John Harper & Company, Ltd. The bank is designed to resemble a scene from the popular sport of American football, with a player kicking a football toward a "bank" or goal. The player's kicking motion is a lever that activates the bank's mechanism. This whimsical depiction of the sport captured the imagination of children during the Victorian Era and became a sought-after collectible item for generations to come. The intricate details and colorful paint on this bank demonstrate the quality of John Harper & Company's work.