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This Plan-It mechanical bank was created by Astro Manufacturing Inc., a company formed by two brothers, John and Steven Berzac, who left Duro Manufacturing, a maker of mechanical banks, in 1957. The novelty shape of this simple mechanical bank had a large Sun sphere in the center that served as the repository for the coins. Around the sphere, a metal disc featured the orbits of the (then nine) planets, with each planet represented by a colored half-sphere. Turning the ring deposited the coin in the bank.

Created to be distributed as a premium by local commercial banks, the Plan-It included a place for a small metal plate that could advertise the gifting institution. The name of the bank played off of the product's intention: to encourage saving.

Raymond Reines donated this bank to the Museum in 2011.

Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.

Object Details
Date 1962 Country of Origin United States of America Type MEMORABILIA Manufacturer Astro Manufacturing Inc.
Dimensions 3-D: 22.9 × 22.9 × 12.7cm, 0.7kg (9 × 9 × 5 in., 1.6lb.)
Materials Plastic
Metal
Coating
Inventory Number A20110033000 Credit Line Gift of Raymond R. Reines. Dedicated to the Berzac Family, in honor of Team NASA. Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
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