Money boxes have nostalgic appeal

Press, 25 July 1989, Page 10

Money boxes have nostalgic appeal

Collecting

with

i Myrtle Duff

It is often said that “Money is the root of all evil,” but it is difficult to imagine life without it. Carrying around goods to exchange for our daily necessities would be a little cumbersome, though I believe there are some areas in the world where a modified barter system still prevails.

Primitive societies made use of a variety of things as a means of exchange, including beads, stones, blankets, cattle, tobacco, hides, and shells. Until the beginning of this century, in at least one South Pacific island,

money called “fei” was still in use.

It consisted of stone wheels ranging in size from ten centimetres to more than a metre in diameter. The stones remained at a permanent location but ownership changed from time to time.

The Babylonians and Egyptians used metal bars as a means of exchange, later followed by the much more convenient coins. In more modern times these were supplemented by bank notes and cheques. It seems possible now that even these may be made redundant by the use of computers and plastic cards. Will future collectors eagerly seek our old, out-dated plastic cards?

With the use of school banking accounts children seem to be discarding their money-boxes at an early age. Many of us will have fond memories of these boxes, made to safeguard the weekly pocket

money and occasional monetary gifts from aunts and grandparents. They now offer a fascinating category for collectors. I think some savings banks still offer a plastic version of the traditional “piggy” bank to encourage their younger customers., There are original “piggies” awaiting discovery by a growing number of collectors in this field.

A Prattware money-box in the form of a Gothic cottage would be a rare item in New Zealand. One was sold recently in Britain for approximately $13,000. It was made in about 1800 and stood about 18 centimetres high. Another pottery moneybox produced in Yorkshire in 1838 was in the form of a clock tower flanked by a young couple with two Staffordshire type dogs at their feet. This piece was valued at approximately $2500. A cast iron money-box in the form of a gollywog sold recently for $3OO.

Cast iron money-boxes are reasonably numerous and offer an interesting selection. Recent weather has not encouraged shopping expeditions, but a keen collector will find many old money boxes available in a number of Christchurch shops. You will probably discover at least one box worthy of adding to an existing collection or an interesting example to begin with. The money-boxes illus- . trated are all from a large and varied stock of such things at “Portobello” in Colombo Street, Sydenham. They include a “Greedy Nigger,” a cast iron representation of a cheerful black man colourfully attired, one hand outstretched to receive a coin which he will then toss into his mouth when motivated by a lever in his back.

These were probably the most popular of all money boxes, at least in Christchurch where they were made by H. C.

Urlwin and Company, a local firm in production here for 60 years until about 18 years ago. This firm also produced another extremely popular money-box. It was in the form of a large, bronze coloured plastic penny, its two sides clipped together in a way which enabled the box to be opened easily by parents but not by tiny fingers.

More than 20,000 of these were sold so there should be some to be found by collectors. Other examples illustrated include another box of local interest. It is a large plastic bird perched above a round cardboard box which once contained some Aulsebrooks chocolates, and still emits a faint chocolate fragrance.

Another in the form of a bank safe is shown open to reveal its mechanism. There is a box in the form of a house, and another masquerading as a large celluloid dog. A rosy “Big Apple” box brought back memories to me. I once owned one of these, and can well recall the ease with which

money could be retrieved through its rather wide slot with the aid of a table knife. Marks on this particular apple revealed that its previous owner had made the same discovery.

Perhaps there is too much importance placed on money today, but these cheerful reminders of days when its worth was appreciated but not overemphasised make an interesting collection.