Can someone tell me about this piece..

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Posted By: Paul Grubor

Thanks,

Paul

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Posted By: Rhys

Reproduction of an 1880's or 1890's mechanical baseball bank. Worth about $100 or maybe even a bit more as a display piece.

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Posted By: Butch & Co.

Hi Paul, Rhys is correct. The original version is the well-known and highly desirable Darktown Battery, manufactured in the 1880s by The J & E Stevens Co. Genuine examples of that bank in decent, working condition have averaged around $2700. at auction over the past ten or twelve years, ranging from about $1500. up to $4400.

What you've got there looks like a very nice example of the retitled and, er, whitened, repro version offered as a premium in the 1950s or '60s by The Book of Knowledge. We'd say Rhys' price estimate might be just a shade generous but certainly in the ballpark.

Butch et al
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/baseballgames/
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edited to add:
You're getting good info on the main Cards forum, and on further review they may well be right about your piece being a more recent knock-off of the Book of Knowledge version.
Also, we'd missed the $13K sale of Darktown on the Heritage auction last fall.

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Posted By: Ben

I saw this thread and thought some of you could offer advice regarding the piece below. Is it an original or a later generation? I am interested in selling it and would like to know approximate value. Thanks!