For sale is a 1940s LITHOGRAPHED MECHANICAL MONKEY BANK from the J. Chein & Company, New York City, New York. When a coin is dropped into the slot, the monkey tips his hat. This bank works and has its bottom hatch which is often missing. The bank is in excellent all original condition with no breaks, restorations, repairs, or touch ups. The toy measures about 5 1/4 inches tall. A top notch collectible toy bank.
In 1903, Julius Chein founded the J. Chein & Company. In 1907, Chein moved to its full production plant to Harrison, New Jersey. The company specialized in tin mechanical toys, banks, drums, and tea sets. Chein’s tin toys were mostly lithographed. During the 1920’s and early 1930’s, Chein produced a popular line of toys under the “Hercules” name, rather than their own name. Chein`s line of comic and circus tin toys received wide acceptance in the 1930’s and leading up to World War II. In the 1970’s Chein became known as Chein Industries, Inc. In 1979, toy manufacturing was phased out entirely.
