"Stump Speaker" Mechanical Bank, ca. 1886 Appraised Value:
$8,000 - $12,000 IMAGE: 1 of 2 Appraisal Video: (2:52) Toys &
Games Noel Barrett Antiques & Auctions Ltd. GUEST: This bank was
actually purchased by my husband's grandfather at the turn of
the century, and my husband's grandfather gave it to my father-
in-law, his son, when he was born. And tragically, the
grandfather committed suicide during the 1930 stock market
crash... APPRAISER: Oh, my God. GUEST: and this became very
sentimental to my father-in-law and then when he passed away, my
husband got it, and it will also go to our son as well.
APPRAISER: Well, it's a sad story, but it certainly explains why
this was treasured and why the condition is so extraordinary.
It's called a Stump Speaker bank. It's made by a company called
the Shepard Hardware Company. And the bank dates from circa
1885. That was the period when there was a lot of ferment in the
country about blacks voting and whether to allow them to vote.
There was constant turmoil about this i