Guided Missile Mechanical Bank
Artifact IDMO 2019.8.2
Object Type
Bank, Toy
Date
1957-1962
Maker
Astro Manufacturing Inc.
Medium
silver toned metal, plastic, rubber
DimensionsOverall H 13 in x W 3 1/2 in (33 cm x 8.9 cm )
Physical DescriptionMechanical Bank shaped like a missile made of a silver-toned base metal. A worn bank decal reading "COCOA BEACH STATE BANK/ COCOA BEA[C]H, FLORIDA/ Membe[r] D.I.C." is adherred on body; the missile has a red rubber tip.
Historical NoteThe Guided Missile Bank was patented in 1957 by two former Duro Mold employees, John and Steven Berzac, who started Astro Manufacturing Inc. The company marketed its space-themed products to banks with the slogan “Blast Off! To More Savings Accounts.” A gold-toned Guided Missile Bank was acquired by a White House staffer in Florida during one of the space launches and briefly spent time on the Oval Office desk, according to JFK’s secretary Evelyn Lincoln. That bank (without the rubber nose) can be seen on the bookcase of Lincoln’s office in a 1963 photo in the JFK Library archives. It also shows up in Caroline Kennedy’s White House bedroom.
Additional DetailsCustodial History NoteItem was donated to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum by a private citizenin 2019.
Credit LineJohn F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA: Gift of Raymond Reines
National Archives Catalog CollectionJohn F. Kennedy Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 1676934)
National Archives Catalog SeriesPost Presidential Collection (National Archives Identifier 1676966)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestrictedUse Restriction NoteReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.In Collection(s)
On view