Sunday, October 7, 2012

Vintage Napco Rotary Telephone Bank Circa 1940s-1950s


This is my delightful and unusual ceramic telephone bank! What a special find!  I've seen them on line selling for $50.00 +.


Made in 1940-1950 by Napco Ceramic, this bank is in the shape of the old fashioned rotary dial telephone with delicate roses. It is very fancy, girly, and shabby chic.

There is a clear crystal where each number would go, amber crystals in the center of the bells, and in the middle of the dial are six clear and one amber crystal. . On the back is the slot for dropping in your coin and on the bottom, it is numbered IL1945. 


 Napco , or National Potteries Corporation, began production in 1938 and their products were extremely popular in the late '50s and early '60s. Napco produced figurines, collectibles, decorative glass and porcelain ceramics. Napco is still one of the most famous names for porcelain ceramics, antique pottery, vintage products and other collectibles. As collectors' items, it is important to identify NAPCO Ceramics by their marks and numbers.

 National Potteries corporation started in 1939 in Cleveland, Ohio. Napco started as a manufacturer of floral containers but later concentrated on importing glassware, pottery, and ceramic items from Japan. Japanese ceramic imports peaked from 1956 to the early 1960s.