The Classic Cragston Mystery Bank
For the next two weeks, I'll be writing for you in my hometown, trying to purge the old house in which my grandmother lived of the many things that have accumulated over the years. I lived in the house here for some of my childhood years. Since I was a monster fan since as far back as I can remember, I'm going to feature
some of the old school items I still possess.
The Cragstan Mystery Bank now sells for between $50 and $150. Back then, it was a one dollar, windup toy in which a bony green hand emerges through a door from a creepy tin house/lair to slowly cover the coin you've placed, well, where the welcome mat would be. Then, the hand, somewhat like The Thing from The Addams Family TV show, greedily pulls the coin into the house. I always wondered what the demon inside the little house was like, what the personality behind the hand was like: grimly miserly, perhaps, a bitter, haunted being who was destitute in this life, and wants to be rich in the dark beyond. Yet there's nowhere to spend money, there. And some kid kept taking the money after the hand accumulates a few bucks.
That is without a doubt, one of the coolest collectibles I have seen. What was your first impression when you saw the hand come out to snatch up your coin?
Horror collectibles - they empty your pockets quickly, but man, are they ever worth it. Every time I get to show off my collection to someone, it puts a smile on my face to see their reactions. Usually it's one of those "this dude is messed up in the head" looks. Love it!
the first time i saw the mystery bank work, i jumped back a little because i was startled: it comes out slow, but grabs that thing like a pickpocket!
Thanks for the memories! Best of luck with the bittersweetness of the next two weeks. *And wow! You had the bank box too! No telling what other treasures await. Maybe you'll even find some things you wrote as a child.
wow, that the hand is a great collectible. it would also make a good low budhet cheesey horror film.
horror collectibles do burn a hole in your pocket (esipcally mine, the new cult classics set is out), but they are fun to get. i love the looks of people faces when they see all the dvds, figures, t-shirts, and posters, ect.
They surely had some crazy stuff back from the '60s...I remember seeing a set of dolls by Ideal that were patterned after "The Munsters", but very baby doll-like.
http://thegalleryofmonstertoys.com/60swing/idealminimonstersbox.html
(I like the vamp and victim silhouette on the vamp girl's dress...cyoot.)
However, best I have is a custom Dracula doll-
http://www.setsunakou.com/ufo/vanhelsing.html
Heck, a whole line of chibi monster dollies would go over so well today...they'd be like "Living Dead Dolls", only meant for all ages...
thanks, joanna, for the insight and links, and everybody for the comments. maybe i'll make the monster collectible a fairly regular post.