posted on December 18, 2000 07:34:17 PM
Is there a relatively easy way to tell the authenticity of what appears to be an antique/vintage cast iron bank? I've recently come upon a Disney "Minnie Mouse" cast iron bank that looks as if it might be an original, but with so many repros out there I wouldn't want to stake much on it at this point! Thanks for your help...
posted on December 18, 2000 07:39:27 PM
I'm no cast-iron expert, in part because I understand that repros of certain items are more common that the originals, and it's a tough category. Even tho the repro may be fairly old, it's still a repro.
One tell-tale sign is the smoothness of the casting. Truly vintage cast iron pieces are well made and the casting of the iron is smooth. More recent cast iron (last 30 years or so?) tends to be very rough to the feel.
posted on December 18, 2000 07:45:21 PM
Kathyg--thanks! Definitely rough to the feel...didn't think about it, but I have seen some originals and their feel/texture is quite a bit different!
posted on December 18, 2000 09:48:31 PM
A couple of other telltale signs. The seams on old cast iron banks (and toys) are snug; newer versions are cheaply made and often have gaps where the seams don't fit well together. Newer banks are held together with phillips head screws; old ones have standard screws.
Some repops have become collectible in their own right, Tree of Knowledge banks particularly.
posted on December 19, 2000 04:46:19 AM
Also, if it is a newer repro, if you can see inside the bank, it will be shiny and new looking even though the outside is "aged". I agree though that it is a difficult category and I would not like to try to tell some of the better fakes from the older banks.
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posted on December 19, 2000 05:12:21 AM
The repros are usually made by making a duplicate casting of an original bank. Because of the process, the duplicates are slightly smaller than the originals.
Inside the bank, the duplicates are usually rougher (look "grainier" than the originals because the quality of the molds is not as high and the casting conditions are not as well controlled. Old, unrusted cast iron is dark grey ... new cast iron is a lighter grey.
And vintage cast iron has a very distinct feel to it that decades of handling produces ... the artificially aged stuff often shows wear in spots that would not normally have wear, and the texture of the worn spots is not as satin-smooth as the wear produced by handling.
Be careful with banks that are completely rusted INSIDE ... that's one way forgers cover up the shiny new metal.
posted on December 19, 2000 08:58:48 AM
Thanks for all the helpful responses. Looks like a repro to me! And yes, some type of permanent forum for this type of stuff would be great!
than the originals because the quality of the molds is not as high and the casting conditions are not as well controlled. Old, unrusted cast iron is dark grey ... new cast iron is a lighter grey.