The Guessing Banker - Design Prototype

The Guessing Banker - Design Prototype
Patent Model Patent Number 191,065 assigned to E. J. McLoughlin on May 22, 1877. From the Archives of Edwin Mosler, From the Collection of Frank Kidd. Here again, we find another important toy bank artifact from the archives of Ed Mosler. In this case, we are looking at the complex patent model for the bank that has come to be known as the Guessing Bank - Male Figure. Notice all the fascinating shortcuts that McLoughlin has made in order to present his design to the U. S. Patent Office. Rather than carve or mold the parts required for his design, he has cleverly purchased previously manufactured parts and assembled them according to the intended purposes of his patent. Essentially, we are confronted by the base for the Independence Hall Tower Bank coupled with a figural match holder of a man seated backwards on his chair at the top. As an interesting historical side note, both of these utilitarian objects were made circa 1875, just two years before the design of this prototype. Of course, McLoughlin has needed to add the pseudo-clock motif that represents the betting numbers and some other labeling which identifies the bank's name and the payout method for successful gamblers. McLoughlin's design work provides us with a useful eye-opening glimpse into the mind of a toy inventor and the methods by which he is permitted to legally develop his design for patent consideration. Ed Mosler loved this piece of treasure, as has Frank Kidd.