Saturday 21 July 2012

Ceramic Monster Bank

The first issue of Monster Munchers Magazine promised super monster puzzles and offers on the back. One such offer was the Monster Bank Offer! The chance to own your very own Blue Monster Money bank! “All the monsters try hard to save their pennies. What could be nicer than saving up your pennies in a special Monster Bank? The Monsters are pleased to find that there is a bank modelled on their own Monstrous shape- plenty big enough to store all your pennies.
Made by Wade manufacturers of porcelain and earthenware he stands at just under 7” in height and 4” across. This idea by Monster Munch was undoubtedly inspired by the success of the Nat West Pigs (also produced by Wade) by Natwest Bank in 1983. In their promotion they encouraged youngsters to save their pennies with them by opening a new account with a minimum of £5 they would be awarded the baby pig (called Woody) then after a lot of saving up they would acquire the entire family consisting of five pigs. Sadly only one Monster was produced in this promotion however, and they have become just as collectable with Wade collectors as Monster Munchers such as myself. Back in the day all a Monster Muncher had to do was, “Get the signature of a parent or guardian and send an £8 cheque or postal order made payable to the Monster Munchers to the monsters at the address shown above” 

 © Arfon Jones 2012 All images are copyrighted throughout the world.

9 comments:

  1. That's a true thing of beauty, I think I'm in love...

    Got me pining for my Dusty Bin money bank, smashed in a house move, unfortunately. Odds of seeing one of those again? Not good!

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    1. I’ve seen a few knock off’s of Dusty Bin over the years. Was it one from the show or from their product line? I still have by Dusty Bin bedroom tidy/bedroom storage. Pleased you like this guy, I am rather pleased with him :)

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    2. It might've been from the show - it was before my time so I never saw it, but was always somehow aware of Dusty Bin. It was about 7" tall and very shiny!

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    3. Best way to find out.... anyone in the family ever a contestant on 321?

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  2. An uncle was on Barrymore's My Kind of Music, but that's as far as this family's TV career has ever gone (so far!).

    He DID win on the show, so there's that. A holiday to Florida I think.

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    1. Oh? It did happen then? I thought the UK’s plan to erase Barrymore from history had undone all the prizes and hotspots?

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    2. Seems so, yep! This was before all the anal-fisting accusations, obviously.

      Heard Barrymore was working in a garden centre in Essex nowadays, must be a strange thing to see.

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    3. Its funny since discussing this topic I have been sorting through some of my grandparent’s old VHS’ (looking through them in case they have something important on them worth saving) and I found an episode of ‘My Kind of People’ and an episode of ‘Strike it Lucky’ from 1991… he could do now wrong. How time have changed…

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