The Tabby Mechanical Bank, produced circa 1880s, is one of the most elusive 19th‑century cast‑iron banks to find in excellent original paint. This charming and slightly whimsical design features a cat perched atop a large egg from which a chick is emerging. Depending on one’s sense of humor, the bank depicts either a very tiny cat or a very oversized egg—a playful visual twist that has made this model a collector favorite for more than a century.
When a coin is dropped into the slot on the tabby’s back, the chick nods, completing the mechanical action. The bank was originally offered with red, yellow, or blue bases, and this example features a superior red base, far nicer than the one illustrated on page 306 of Dan Morphy’s Official Guide to Mechanical Banks (Random House, 2007).
Although officially listed as being of unknown manufacture, most respected mechanical‑bank scholars attribute the Tabby Bank to Kyser & Rex of Philadelphia, one of the premier makers of 19th‑century mechanical banks. High‑grade examples are extremely difficult to locate, and it has taken us twenty years to acquire one in this level of preservation.
This bank is in exceptional condition, with no chips, cracks, repairs, or replacements, and retains beautiful original paint with the expected light, even wear of age. A truly outstanding example that will delight both advanced collectors and those seeking a standout piece of Victorian‑era American cast‑iron ingenuity.
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