This first answered question relates to factors to take into consideration in determining the value, and thus the price, of an antique mechanical bank.
August 23, 2012 Question received about our Mule Entering Barn Bank which is priced at $4,500:
Hi, dont mean to be rude but is that price for real?? i have one of these and I'd sell it to you for half that if your interested?
Jim's Answer:
Thank
you for your email, interest, and mention that you have a Mule
Entering Barn bank for sale. I have also had examples which I have sold
for one half of this price (and still would if in inventory). I have
also had examples which I have sold for under one tenth or less of this
price (and still would if in inventory). Actually, I have even had
examples which were complete and working that I sold for as little as
$285. However, just like most items that people collect the precise
condition of the specific example is critical in formulating the price. Banks are just like coins and stamps as condition is paramount in determination of price. Some coins which are $100 in one condition are $100,000 in another condition.
Several examples of Mule Entering Barn which are in identical condition and/or slightly better than ours have sold privately in the range of $6,500 to $9,500 several times. That was a few years ago when the economy was stronger and at a point that we turned down $6,500. for this exact bank as it was not for sale at that time.
Actually, I know of one example of the Mule Entering Barn that is in a collection which a friend of mine paid $16,000 for and I have offered him a profit for it. That bank is in a crisp original box and has 99.99% paint. It pays to keep in mind with banks that the the first 90% of the paint is worth less than the last 10%, the first 97% is worth less than the last 3%, and the first 99% is worth less than the last 1%.
