THE PINK PANTHER Bubble Gum Bank, 1974
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:4362056 |
Up for auction is a scarce Vintage 1974 PINK PANTHER Gumball Bank. The bank is made of strong plastic and is in excellent shape. It appears to have been gently handled. When originally purchased, the bank would have come with a package containing around 16 rainbow colored bubble gum balls . . . but these are no longer present. The bank itself stands about 8 inches tall with about 4 inches for both depth and breadth. Pink Panther's head and shoulders hold the gum balls . . . the... front part of his face is clear plastic so you can see the gumballs behind his painted on features (eyes, nose, whiskers) . . . the back part of his face is light pink while the base is dark pink. The mechanism appears to still be in working order but I did not test it so I am selling it as a memorabilia piece "as is". The box is in better than average shape and still holds its shape well. There are no major tears or marks but there is corner and edge wear. The box measures approximately 10 inches by 6 inches by 4.5 inches and has fantastic graphics showing both the cartoon version of the Pink Panther and the gum ball bank version of the Pink Panther. The maker is Tarco (The Tarrson Company) who made a number of gumball machines for children; most of them plain-globed plastic gumball machines but others with globes based on characters like Porky Pig and Yogi Bear. The gumballs used in these little machines by Tarco were usually interchangeable. If you remember these early gumball banks, Tarco advertised them under the term "Bank-O-Matics". To quote from one of their early print media ads: "ALWAYS A FAVORITE TOY! Tarco Bank-O-Matic . . . Makes Saving So Much Fun. Loved through many years by children everywhere. A fascinating toy – an ideal gift. Looks, works like a real gum machine. Of colorful sanitary plastic with shatterproof globe. Ask for Tarco Bank-O-Matic today a the toy and Candy Counters . . . a product SIDNEY A. TARRSON CO.” In some of the older banks the plastic globe becomes cloudy over time; this Pink Panther globe shows no cloudiness.
