Mechanical bank:Boy Robbing Birds Nest

See what happens when you do something wrong? This poor fellow fell right out of the tree. Maybe robbing that bird's nest was not such a bright idea after all! Known variously as "Tree Bank" and "Robber Bank," this cast-iron, mechanical bank was produced by J. & E. Stevens in 1906. At a time when parents expected their children's toys to impart stern moral lessons, this bank did double duty, teaching kids to save while suggesting they control their baser impulses. A common moral lesson in 19th-century Sunday schools, the "Boy Robbing Bird's Nest" message fit well with contemporary concerns about cruelty to animals. Place a coin in a slot under the branch carrying both the boy and the nest. Press the lever on the other side, and both boy and branch go tumbling to the ground, demonstrating the dangers of mischievous behavior while knocking the coin into the bank at the same time. The flowers and birds on this bank reflect Bailey's characteristic eye for detail.