Details
Description
Aesthetic Assessment: This piece is a stellar example of early 20th-century industrial design operating as desktop sculpture. The rich, deep …
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Aesthetic Assessment: This piece is a stellar example of early 20th-century industrial design operating as desktop sculpture. The rich, deep bronze-copper wash offers a beautifully warm tone that catches light beautifully, making it an excellent shelf accessory for masculine offices, libraries, or mid-century modern curio vignettes.
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Curator's Note: A delightful intersection of American industrial muscle and marketing genius, this 1930 Arcade cast iron promotional bank replicates the grand 'Mighty Monarch of the Air' console radios of the Great Depression era. Retaining its exceptionally scarce original graphic box, this artifact serves as both a high-end historical conversation piece and an elegant decorative accent. Its rich patina and compact architectural profile offer striking visual interest when styled atop stacked antique books or nestled within tailored library shelving.
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This is an exceptionally rare, museum-grade example of the 1930 Majestic Radio Cast Iron Still Bank, manufactured by the Arcade Manufacturing Company as an official promotional piece for the Grigsby-Grunow Co. of Chicago. Modeled exquisitely after a high-end Art Deco Majestic console tube radio cabinet, the front facade features the iconic script "Majestic" logo cast directly into the lower apron, flanked by beautifully rendered cabriole legs, a faux speaker grille, and dial detailing.
What elevates this specific piece to elite collector status is the inclusion of its ultra-rare original cardboard graphic display box. The crisp cardboard container features rich typography and illustrations, including the slogans "Join the Majestic Savings Club," "Pay As You Play Your Majestic," and an image of the Majestic Eagle logo declaring an "Authorized Dealer" window. It retains its internal mini paper coin envelope, original assembly bolt, and the correct stamped iron key.
The back door panel is stamped sheet metal featuring a smooth coin slot. This bank was distributed by local radio dealerships to encourage families to drop in dimes or quarters to save up for their full-sized "Mighty Monarch of the Air" living room console. It has been sourced from the prestigious Peirce Collection.
Item Specifications
Item Name: Majestic Radio Promotional Still Penny Bank
Manufacturer (Bank Casting): Arcade Manufacturing Co.
Advertising Client: Grigsby-Grunow Co. (Chicago, IL)
Origin: Freeport / Chicago, Illinois, USA
Age: Circa 1930
Material: Cast Iron (Cabinet Frame) & Stamped Sheet Steel (Back Door Panel)
Finish: Original copper-bronze wash/plating with dark highlights
Dimensions: 4 ½" H x 3" W x 2" D
Weight: 1 lb 1.2 oz
Provenance: From the prestigious Peirce Collection.
Internal Foundry Marks: Impressed model number "831" visible on the lower inside crossbar.
Reference
Book Title: The Penny Bank Book: Collecting Still Banks
Author: Andy Moore & Susan Moore
Publisher: Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
Reference: Listing entry for Arcade "Majestic" Radio, Bank No. 831.
Authenticity Assessment
Examination of the casting confirms authenticity based on classic Arcade Manufacturing parameters. The internal frame displays the correct, clean-struck foundry model number 831 cast into the horizontal lower bar. The casting seams are exceptionally tight, flat, and flush with minimal flash line trace, separating it completely from rough modern reproductions. The heavy 1 lb 1.2 oz weight perfectly matches historical foundry standards for this specific architectural dimensions block. Furthermore, the crispness of the raised script "Majestic" font on the lower frame demonstrates the precision of an original production mold.
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- Dimensions
- 3ʺW × 2ʺD × 4.5ʺH
- Styles
- Mid-Century Modern
- Period
- 1930s
- Country of Origin
- United States
- Item Type
- Vintage, Antique or Pre-owned
- Materials
- Cast Iron
- Condition
- Good Condition, Original Condition Unaltered, Some Imperfections
- Color
- Copper
- Condition Notes
- Condition Report Cast Iron Body: Outstanding antique condition. The frame retains its deep, uncleaned, original dry copper-bronze plated surface with … moreCondition Report Cast Iron Body: Outstanding antique condition. The frame retains its deep, uncleaned, original dry copper-bronze plated surface with exquisite dark highlights. No cracks, chips, welds, or hidden repairs are present. Back Panel & Hardware: The original steel backing plate shows an honest, untouched uniform brown patina/surface oxidation consistent with age. Includes the correct original slotted mounting screw and key. Original Cardboard Box: Excellent structural condition for its age. All graphic panels are clean, legible, and vibrant with light edge wear, superficial handling scuffs, and minor softening near the top opening flap. Missing no major tabs or structural panels. less
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