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Money Box

1953-1958 (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This object was acquired for the V&A Museum of Childhood's exhibition Space Age, exploration, design and popular culture, which opened on 22nd November 2007. Objects were selected to fit into the following themes, In the Home, Fashion, Exploration, Technology and Fantasy.

During the run up to the 'Space age', all things space were very popular with children particularly in the United States. This money box was one of a series made for the Strato bank and were probably given as gifts to encourage children to save. Very much like the well known NatWest Bank Piggy bank series that was very popular with children in 1980s Britain.


Object details

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
Diecast
Brief description
Diecast rocket money box made for Strato Bank by Astro MFG in the USA ca 1955.
Physical description
The rocket sits in a horizontal position held on top of a base. The rocket faces a planet with a lunar detailed surface. There is a mechanism on top of the rocket with a red tab that can be drawn back. This is where the pennies are placed and when fired they fire directly into the slot in the planet opposite. The moneyboxes surface is green all over.
Dimensions
  • Length: 21cm
Production typeMass produced
Object history
Aquired at Christie's Fine Toys auction on 5/01/2007 for exhibition Space age: exploartion, design and popular culture.
Production
Made for Strato Bank
Summary
This object was acquired for the V&A Museum of Childhood's exhibition Space Age, exploration, design and popular culture, which opened on 22nd November 2007. Objects were selected to fit into the following themes, In the Home, Fashion, Exploration, Technology and Fantasy.

During the run up to the 'Space age', all things space were very popular with children particularly in the United States. This money box was one of a series made for the Strato bank and were probably given as gifts to encourage children to save. Very much like the well known NatWest Bank Piggy bank series that was very popular with children in 1980s Britain.
Associated objects
Collection
Accession number
B.4-2007

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Record createdNovember 6, 2008
Record URL
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