Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1914-06-26
USED BANKS FUNDS.
youngster Evidently Destined to
Be a Financier.
Had Early In Life Discovered . Meth
Cd Of Pooling the Examiners, But
Act Did Not Appeal to
He Father.

A Bronx man bought his little seven
year-old son toy bank about month
ago, the New York Evening Sun
states. It was called toy. but It had
a regular registration dial Every time
a penny was placed in q slot and
lever pulled down the amount showed
in record. The man understood that
the bank held three dollars in pennies
and then automatically came open.
Every night upon his arrival home
the Bronx man called for his sons
bank. Then he would give the boy a
few pennies to deposit and feel good
with himself to think how he was en-
couraging his son in thrift. The thing
went on this way for a couple Of
weeks. Then the Bronx man looked
at the dial. 1t showed GO cents. He
was surprised, because he was al
most certain that he had given his
little boy enough pennies to click the
recorder past the dollar mark.
For three or four nights when he
gave his son pennies he worked the
lever himself and watched the dial fin
gers turn round, Then followed sew
eral nights when he Just tossed the
little fellow the pennies and listened
for the bell to ring without looking at
the dial. When the month was very
nearly up he called for the bank
again. It indicated 1920. and again
he was greatly surprised. for he had
been sure the amount would be right
on the edge Of three dollars, or the
open sesame" sum. He sent hts boy
out for 80 cents worth of pennies, de-
termined to test the bank to the limit.
Penny after penny was placed in the
slot and the indicator rang true all
1.-The way up to the three-dollar mark.
But the bank did not pop open. The
man put in another penny and up
came the figure II I'm the cents place
on the dial. Still no open. Again pen-
ny after penny was placed in the slot
until the dial showed 1920 and not .
sign of Opening up" ,
I'll take that bank back where (
bought It," said the irritated Bronx
man. He hated to have his illustration
in thrift come down to such q ridicu-
lous ending. And downtown with him
in the morning he took the bank, The
man who sold 1t took it to one OF his
mechanics. Mr.. Mechanic peered at
it. pried a little with screwdriver
\ and then smiled.
HE did it all right and in the same
old way" he said.
did what?" asked the Bronx man.
ooh, the inquiring little chap has
found a way to wreck bank. First,
he borrowed enough pennies to run
the amount up to three dollars. so he
could take out his own deposits. The
bank automatically opened. He paid
back the borrow. Then he saw the
indicator would reveal his bank ma.
nipulation. So he began to pick and
experiment. He found way to insert
a penknife In the bank and move the
disks to which the numbers are at.
tached. The rest was easy. He could
set the dial as he wished. He was
afraid to leave 1t too low, as he no
ticed you watched It, So he took out
as he wanted and kept the dial where
he thought he had to. I'll open this
bank up. See. there's only II cents
although it reads 1920. Queer, too
you didn't notice the difference in the
weight. That's a smart boy. He'll be
q banker some day"
mot If I can head him off in time
beginning tonight" said the Bronx
man ominously. - -