Data Source

National Air and Space Museum

Summary

This Guided Missile mechanical bank is the first model created by Astro Manufacturing Inc., a company created by two brothers, John and Steven Berzac, who left Duro Manufacturing, another mechanical bank maker, in 1957. The basic rocket shape contained a spring-loaded mechanism that could shoot a coin into a slot on the underside of the rocket's nose. A plug at the bottom of the rocket could be removed to retrieve the coins.

Created to be distributed as a premium by local commercial banks, the Guided Missile included an adhesive sticker that advertised the gifting institution. The sticker created by the American Trust Company of Hannibal, Missouri played off of the bank's shape, suggesting the bank would help "Rocket Your Savings Up."

Raymond Reines donated this bank to the Museum in 2011.

Manufacturer

Astro Manufacturing Inc.

Date

1957

Credit Line

Gift of Raymond R. Reines. Dedicated to the Berzac Family, in honor of Team NASA.

Materials

Unknown Metal

Plastic

Coating

Dimensions

Overall: 33 × 7 × 7cm, 0.5kg (1 ft. 1 in. × 2 3/4 in. × 2 3/4 in., 1.2lb.)

Type

MEMORABILIA

See more items in

National Air and Space Museum Collection

Inventory Number

A20110031000

Country of Origin

United States of America

Restrictions & Rights

Do not reproduce without permission from the Smithsonian Institution, National Air and Space Museum