Click this image for 1024 x 768 desktop wallpaper.Could this be the perfect package design? The novelty within is called The Bandit Box (1972) by Poynter Products Inc. (Makers of the Uncle Fester Mystery Light Bulb) I've never seen an image that single-handedly (get it?) sums up "Creepy yet Kooky" better than this.
What is the Bandit Box? A better question would be.. what isn't the Bandit Box? The answer: everything is not the Bandit Box except this novelty mechanized coin bank that contains a green plastic hand which grabs coins that are placed in the little holder.
(My Bandit Box was a recent Christmas gift from my good friend Todd... talk about great taste!)
Flashfink pointed out that it was originally sold as "The Thing" from the Addams Family. My guess is that it took on the generic incarnation after the television show was no longer in vogue...
As I studied the bank I happened to noticed a patent number, so just for kicks I plugged it into Google's new patent search feature and there it was...
So there's that for you.
Anyway, the box design is gorgeous and if it looks that good on my shelf then I figured it must look good on a computer desktop. So I turned the design into some super spooky wallpaper which you are highly encouraged to use. Just click on the image above for 1024 x 768 or the image below if you have a snazzy "Cinema" ratio monitor.
What is the Bandit Box? A better question would be.. what isn't the Bandit Box? The answer: everything is not the Bandit Box except this novelty mechanized coin bank that contains a green plastic hand which grabs coins that are placed in the little holder.
(My Bandit Box was a recent Christmas gift from my good friend Todd... talk about great taste!)Flashfink pointed out that it was originally sold as "The Thing" from the Addams Family. My guess is that it took on the generic incarnation after the television show was no longer in vogue...
As I studied the bank I happened to noticed a patent number, so just for kicks I plugged it into Google's new patent search feature and there it was...
So there's that for you.
Anyway, the box design is gorgeous and if it looks that good on my shelf then I figured it must look good on a computer desktop. So I turned the design into some super spooky wallpaper which you are highly encouraged to use. Just click on the image above for 1024 x 768 or the image below if you have a snazzy "Cinema" ratio monitor.
Click this image for 1680 x 1050 wallpaper.
Pardon the shameless plug Kirk - but you & Flip have infected - um, I mean, inspired my my son.
ReplyDeleteI vaguely remember seeing commercials for this when I was a kid. I could be wrong but I think it was also marketed as "The Thing."
ReplyDeleteAnd the box art does look good on my screen, and it will until next week when I replace it with one of iamchief's son's drawings.
Iamchief- That is wonderful! I'm truly honored. Your son did an amazing job.
ReplyDeleteThat merits a post of it's own which I will create as soon as I can.
flashfink- you're absolutely right. (I've even seen those before, yet somehow I forgot!) Anyway I went and changed up the post based on your comment. Thanks for the info!
Thank you both, kind gentlemen. Hope I havent' created a rival competition between Kirk & Aaron Job. :o)
ReplyDeleteBTW Kirk, when you get a moment, leave Aaron Job a comment on his "Flip" post - he'd be tickled. He's actually got another one I'll be posting later this week. I like it better (more true to the original Flip), but it's all crammed onto one page & hard to read. Be watching.
Ok...I'll admit...this is getting ridiculous...guess I need to remove my new bumper sticker:
MY SON'S BLOG IS BETTER THAN YOURS
My "Thing" bank was one of my most cherished posessions as a kid; I can still hear the sound it would make as the hand would strain to grab the coin. Awesome post!
ReplyDeletegreat blogs daveland!
ReplyDeleteThey reminded me that I almost remember reading somewhere that they sold this bank in front of the Haunted Mansion, though I may be confusing it with that wind-up tin haunted house bank.
My cousin had this bank. It scared the daylights out of me because the hand was so fast and the mechanism made such a loud noise. Much later (when I was about 10 or 11) I bought another similar bank that I'm sure many out there remember - the tin litho coffin - the hand would slide out from under a felt flap and pull the coin in (which you had to lay flat on a spot) and at the same time the mechanism would make the corpse's skull raise a little, as if to see what he's doing. I looooooved that bank. There have been a variety of these produced over the years and I sure Kirk probably has all of 'em in his collection! Some of them had wonderful graphics...
ReplyDeleteI've got another box for this with a patriotic color scheme pitched as an IRS-themed bank. I'll scan it for you at some point. It should be noted that Poynter also made the "Go-Go Girl" drink mixer (the one that's a"Little Annie Fanny" knock-off) and the first Pogo vinyls (that Walt Kelly HATED, though I think they look pI believe they're somehow related to the company that originated the Magic 8-Ball, though I forget how it all ties together.
ReplyDeleteflamen- I do indeed have that coffin bank (a later, cheaper version though) But I totally agree, it was one of the greatest toys of my childhood. I've got nothing but love for that stupid thing. It's actually on my list of future posts.
ReplyDeletedevlin- thanks for the great info.
I did not know that. I've been tempted to buy a go-go mixer more than once. Maybe it's time to start a Poynter collection!
I had one of these as a kid. I bought one of the new ones for my daughters, but they just aren't as creepy as the old ones. So much for progress.
ReplyDeleteBTW love your blog. Neato stuff!