I don't have a photo handy, but there are a few of these on Ebay most days. It's a tin cube from the 60s, maybe...not sure. You put a coin in a slot then a hand reaches out and grabs it. I just bought one in the box and was wondering if anyone knows when they were sold. There seem to be too many of them to have been pre 1970....or 1980 for that matter. If it works, it should be very cool.
i have one mint in the box. they are from the 60's and run through the mid 70's....blue box with draculas bank lettering in dripping blood font.......
Original box and later box.
(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g107/backlotcharlie/71eaf51d-4389-46f0-946c-b9ded32ac9bb_zps07682049.jpg) (http://s54.photobucket.com/user/backlotcharlie/media/71eaf51d-4389-46f0-946c-b9ded32ac9bb_zps07682049.jpg.html)
Monster Bob! witch is which?
The top one has to be the older.....it's much cooler.
Yes...top one is older.
Looks very similar to Addams Family "Thing" bank.
Quote from: Frankenmarx on June 04, 2013, 05:22:29 PM
The top one has to be the older.....it's much cooler.
That '60s stuff just had the cool, classy look going. Funny how the coolness degraded as time passed. By the time the '90s rolled around some of the monster item packaging looked pretty pisspoor. The '60s were when the magic happened.
Why would they change such a cool design?
Probably something to do with profit....the old process for making/printing the boxes may have cost more per unit.
Quote from: Frankenmarx on June 06, 2013, 09:04:20 AM
Probably something to do with profit....the old process for making/printing the boxes may have cost more per unit.
Good guess. If so, another example of the Greed Monster souring things. :(
That is one cool bank!! How do I miss these things on ebay.
I am on ebay every day. Guess I need to look a bit harder:)
They are usually miss-listed.
What searches should I be using? I just usually go to Toys and Hobbies and then Monsters.
I got this today, and it is pretty cool, actually. It's the newer box version. You have to be on your guard. The hand reaches out slowly, but when it retracts ....SNAP! It happens super fast. I amused myself far too long with it before working on that Yeti box.
Quote from: Frankenmarx on June 04, 2013, 05:22:29 PM
The top one has to be the older.....it's much cooler.
Definitely. ;D
If you really want to save some dough...there's always
(http://farm1.staticflickr.com/64/168843255_2b8c1e8f23.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/duane-the-bathtub/168843255/)
Bloody Eyesockets! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/duane-the-bathtub/168843255/#) by packy120353 (http://www.flickr.com/people/duane-the-bathtub/), on Flickr
Quote from: Monster Bob on June 04, 2013, 01:28:49 PM
Original box and later box.
(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g107/backlotcharlie/71eaf51d-4389-46f0-946c-b9ded32ac9bb_zps07682049.jpg) (http://s54.photobucket.com/user/backlotcharlie/media/71eaf51d-4389-46f0-946c-b9ded32ac9bb_zps07682049.jpg.html)
I know this is an older thread. I've been looking for the 1st generation box. Anyone seen one around..?
Quote from: SWretired on August 06, 2019, 06:21:38 PM
I know this is an older thread. I've been looking for the 1st generation box. Anyone seen one around..?
I have not. However there are other UMA'ers who can help you.
Welcome to the UMA, SWretired ! :)
Thanks..!
Quote from: Monster Bob on June 04, 2013, 01:28:49 PM
Original box and later box.
(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g107/backlotcharlie/71eaf51d-4389-46f0-946c-b9ded32ac9bb_zps07682049.jpg) (http://s54.photobucket.com/user/backlotcharlie/media/71eaf51d-4389-46f0-946c-b9ded32ac9bb_zps07682049.jpg.html)
Did these both pre-date The Thing from the Addams Family?
(https://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/Addams%20The%20Thing_zps1r8bmm0h.jpeg)
???
Quote from: horrorhunter on June 04, 2013, 08:35:36 PMThat '60s stuff just had the cool, classy look going. Funny how the coolness degraded as time passed. By the time the '90s rolled around some of the monster item packaging looked pretty pisspoor. The '60s were when the magic happened.
Truth!
8)
Quote from: Hepcat on August 07, 2019, 09:38:20 AM
Did these both pre-date The Thing from the Addams Family?
(https://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/Addams%20The%20Thing_zps1r8bmm0h.jpeg)
???
When I went to Japan's patent site, the patent number for Dracula's Bank shows a date of late 1962 to early 1963.
Don Poynter invented his "Little Black Box" in 1959. ABC wanted to use his Black Box in their new show "The Addams Family" in 1964. But Don said he had a newer version, they marketed it as "The Thing", and Poynter Products paid Filmways Productions royalties on each Thing sold. They sold 14 million of them.
It's hard to say if Dracula's Bank actually predated The Thing, with such limited information on Dracula's Bank. I would guess the bottom box came out much later than the The Thing did. The top box seems around the same time as Thing.
So evidently once the popularity of the Addams Family TV show faded later in the sixties, The Thing was rebranded by Poynter Products as the Bandit Box to avoid having to pay royalties. It's the Bandit Box I remember seeing on store shelves circa 1970:
(https://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%203/General%20Album%203001/Bandit%20Box_zpsh23dw8br.jpg)
I've had one in my collection since 1990 or so. It's on the extreme left of my toy and miscellaneous junk cabinet:
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/Halloween%202013%20%20Deuce%20Styx%20Cowboy%20Cake/DSCN3162_zps73be4eb4.jpg)
Here's a Bandit Box in action:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4tvji4Uwoo# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4tvji4Uwoo#)
cl:)
Quote from: Hepcat on August 08, 2019, 08:24:10 AM
So evidently once the popularity of the Addams Family TV show faded later in the sixties, The Thing was rebranded by Poynter as the Bandit Box to avoid having to pay royalties.
That's it exactly.
The current version is "The Black Box money trap" It's sold on Amazon and other outlets for around $17. It functions exactly the same as the original "Thing", but its about 2/3 the size. Many reviewers claim it stops working in a short time. Removing the cover will show one gear on the motor shaft, that easily slides off. The solution is to put a drop of glue on the shaft. Not sure why Poynter Products didn't do this.
I tried to post a picture of one of my "Things" and the "Black Box" side by side, but I don't see the attachment function for uploading files. I read through the help section, and it said the attachment function needs to be enabled. Maybe as a new member, it's not available to me yet..?
Quote from: SWretired on August 08, 2019, 11:41:52 AMI tried to post a picture of one of my "Things" and the "Black Box" side by side, but I don't see the attachment function for uploading files. I read through the help section, and it said the attachment function needs to be enabled. Maybe as a new member, it's not available to me yet..?
The attachment function has never been enabled for anyone on this board. You have to use an external image hosting service such as Photobucket, ImageShack or Flicker and then employ the [IMG] tags to post a picture.
Quote from: Hepcat on August 08, 2019, 02:48:18 PM
The attachment function has never been enabled for anyone on this board. You have to use an external image hosting service such as Photobucket, ImageShack or Flicker and then employ the [IMG] tags to post a picture.
Oh, ok thanks.
Quote from: SWretired on August 06, 2019, 06:21:38 PMI know this is an older thread. I've been looking for the 1st generation box. Anyone seen one around..?
It only took me five years, lol..but I finally got a great condition 1st generation "Dracula's Bank" box. Talk about hard to find...geez.
Quote from: SWretired on October 05, 2024, 08:18:29 PMIt only took me five years
Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet. :)
Quote from: Hepcat on August 08, 2019, 08:24:10 AMSo evidently once the popularity of the Addams Family TV show faded later in the sixties, The Thing was rebranded by Poynter Products as the Bandit Box to avoid having to pay royalties. It's the Bandit Box I remember seeing on store shelves circa 1970:
(https://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%203/General%20Album%203001/Bandit%20Box_zpsh23dw8br.jpg)
I've had one in my collection since 1990 or so. It's on the extreme left of my toy and miscellaneous junk cabinet:
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/Halloween%202013%20%20Deuce%20Styx%20Cowboy%20Cake/DSCN3162_zps73be4eb4.jpg)
Here's a Bandit Box in action:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4tvji4Uwoo# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4tvji4Uwoo#)
cl:)
your collection looks great
Welcome to the UMA, Imper! :)