cast iron collection box - Sunday School
Identifer
ASJ2025.12Physical Description
This money box would have been something of a novelty for the children. When a coin was placed in the slot, the mechanism was activated for the figure of a dark-coloured man with moustache carrying a club to rise up and wave the club. The main body of the collection box is in the shape of a small tower painted red with yellow doors. Children who attended Sunday School in the 1950s recall the figure being passed around for coins to be inserted towards missions. Identical examples of the item can be found online with original colouring, showing that the figure was not an African man as was sometimes thought, and examples are variously referred to as “Man in a Castle” and “Giant in a Castle” money box or money bank.
Made from cast iron by John Harper Co. in England, 1892.
Historical Details
The collection pot is one of several items in the History collection that are known to have been part of the equipment of the Sunday School, and likely remained in use for decades.Materials
Cast ironDating of Item
1892-1990Database Date: Faculty Date:
19 June 2025;