A Toy Salute to Uncle Sam

by Bob Brooke

Everyone has heard of Uncle Sam. And while this name may not roll off the tongues of most people today, it was very popular from the early 19^th century to the mid-20th century. But who was this character and where did he come from? And how did his image get on 19^th-century cast-iron banks?

Supposedly, the term Uncle Sam came from Samuel Wilson, a meat packer from Troy, New York who supplied barrels of beef and pork to the U.S. Army during the War of 1812. There was a requirement at the time for food purveyors to stamp their name and where the rations came from onto the food they were sending. Wilson labeled his packages "E.A – US."

During a routine check on Sam Wilson’s meat packing plant, government inspectors, along with a soldier named Pheodorus Bailey, spotted the stacks of crates marked "U.S." and wanted to know what it meant. A meat packer, either with a sense of humor, or not knowing the true meaning of the letters, informed the officials they must be the initials of his employer, "Uncle Sam."

The soldiers began referring to the grub as "Uncle Sam’s." The local newspaper picked up on the story, and Uncle Sam eventually gained widespread acceptance as the nickname for the U.S. Government.

Samuel Wilson was born on Sept. 13, 1766 in Massachusetts at a little place called Menotomy, which has since been renamed Arlington. He became a patriot very early on. When Sam was 8 years old, he became a drummer boy. A year later he warned everyone in the village that the Redcoats were coming by beating on his drum while on duty in Menotomy’s village green. By the time he had turned 14, Wilson joined the army and saw active service.

He was 23 in 1789 when he moved to Troy, New York, where he started a meat packaging company. He became well respected for his fair and honest ways and his business flourished. A friendly, happy and convivial man, he was soon affectionately referred to as "Uncle Sam" by the locals.

Samuel Wilson went on to become active in politics after the War of 1812 and led a full and happy life. He died On July 31, 1854 at age 87. He may have been forgotten in the rest of the country as the original Uncle Sam but not in Troy, N.Y. In 1931, the town erected a tombstone in Oakwood Cemetery which reads: "In loving memory of Uncle Sam, the name originating with Samuel Wilson."

There are two memorials to Uncle Sam, both of which commemorate the life of Samuel Wilson—the Uncle Sam Memorial Statue in Arlington, Massachusetts, his birthplace, and a memorial near his long-term residence in Riverfront Park, Troy, New York.

In September 1961, the U.S. Congress recognized Samuel Wilson as "the progenitor of America’s national symbol of Uncle Sam." He was buried next to his wife Betsey Mann in the Oakwood Cemetery in Troy, New York, the town that calls itself "The Home of Uncle Sam."

By 1820 New England newspapers began including illustrations of Uncle Sam. These early drawings show him as a clean-shaven man dressed in a black top hat and tails. The colorful image we know as Uncle Sam today came about over the years, with additions by various illustrators.

When Andrew Jackson was president, artists gave Uncle Sam red pants. The long beard sprouted during Abraham Lincoln's tenure, as a sort of homage to the president.

But it wasn’t until the late 19^th century that artists decided to dress the popular character patriotically. They added white stripes to his red pants and added stars and stripes to his top hat. His clothes started to resemble the National Flag, and soon he became a short, plump and flamboyantly dressed figure.

The noted cartoonist and illustrator, Frank H.T. Bellew was, at one time, thought to have created the first published form of Uncle Sam, but his rendition of the character didn’t appear in print until 1852.

In the late 1860s and 1870s, political cartoonist Thomas Nast, the same artist who created the image of Santa Claus, began popularizing the image of Uncle Sam. Nast continued to evolve the image, eventually giving Sam the white beard and stars-and-stripes suit that everyone associates with him today. He depicted Uncle Sam as very tall and thin with sunken cheeks. His drawings were the closest to Samuel Wilson, although Nast had modeled his version on Abraham Lincoln.

The most recognizable Uncle Sam and the one that has been most reproduced, is that of James Montgomery Flagg. He created his version as a self portrait. This is the famous dour faced, finger-pointing figure that appeared on World War I posters with the caption "I want you for U.S. Army." The poster sold 4 million copies during the First World War and another half million during World War II.

Uncle Sam didn’t get a standard appearance until the noted "recruitment" image of Uncle Sam, created by James Montgomery Flagg, inspired by a British recruitment poster showing Lord Kitchener in a similar pose. The immensely popular image first appeared on the cover of Leslie’s Weekly in July 1916 with the title "What Are You Doing for Preparedness?" It was this image more than any other that set the appearance of Uncle Sam—the elderly man with white hair and a goatee, wearing a white top hat with white stars on a blue band, a blue tail coat, and red and white striped trousers. In one year, from 1917 to 1918, over four million copies of the image were reproduced.

The U.S. Army used Flagg's image again during World War II, during which the German intelligence agency Abwehr codenamed the U.S. "Samland." The term also appeared in the lyrics of the song "The Yankee Doodle Boy", featured in the musical "Yankee Doodle Dandy" in 1942.

Uncle Sam Banks

But toy cast-iron banks depicting Uncle Sam are probably the most popular among collectors. Peter Adams Jr. and Charles G. Shepard created the first Uncle Sam bank. But it was the Shepard Hardware Company of Buffalo, New York that produced the first one in 1886. This particular cast-iron mechanical bank features an umbrella-carrying Uncle Sam standing on a decorated base holding a suitcase. By placing a coin in his hand and pressing the knob on the box, Uncle Sam lowers his arm and puts the money into the U.S Treasury bag. The beard on his lower jaw moves as if he’s talking.

At the time it appeared on the market, the bank showed Uncle Sam, who represented the U.S. Government, taking citizens' money.

Toy banks became popular in the United States during the 18th century after hard currency went into circulation. But it wasn’t until the early part of the 19th century that the first chartered savings bank in New York City opened its doors. Being thrifty soon became a popular trend, and people began using toy banks as a way to follow the encouraging words of Benjamin Franklin—"A penny saved is a penny earned."

If Uncle Sam’s beard moves as the coin in his spring-loaded hand drops into the U.S. Treasury bag at his feet, then the bank is authentic.

Many reproductions have been made since the first Uncle Sam bank. Those produced in the 1920s may still hold considerable value, but never as much as the original. The most recent large scale production of these banks occurred during the U.S. Bicentennial celebration in 1976. But manufacturers cut corners and didn’t make these banks from real cast iron, choosing to use a lighter, cheaper metal instead. These cheap knockoffs also had more details than the originals. While some look similar to the originals, most can be spotted by the addition of embellishments and added details.

If a bank is heavy, it’s probably an early reproduction. Also, if the paint is really bright, it most likely is a later reproduction. Some people have repainted originals, but this is a mistake and ruins their value. Some reproductions also have incorrect colors. The correct colors should be a blue full dress coat with red and white striped pants. On the bottom of the base should be the words, "PAT. JUNE 8, 1886". Most reproductions show the mark, "Made in Korea" or "Made in China." But some reproductions only have an eagle and banners on one side. On the original they appear on both sides. The beard moves on the originals but doesn’t move on many reproductions. A modern reproduction, made in Taiwan, sells for only about $15 to $25.

The value of these banks is always dependent on their condition, but many of the originals have little paint left on them. In good working condition and with all of its original paint, an 1886 bank could be worth $1,000 and as much $18,000.

PHOTO CAPTIONS: Top to Bottom

Toy banks depicting Uncle Sam are probably the most popular among collectors.

The most recent large scale production of Uncle Sam banks occurred during the U.S. Bicentennial celebration in 1976.

The most recognizable Uncle Sam and the one that has been most reproduced, is that of James Montgomery Flagg.

The Shepard Hardware Company of Buffalo, New York produced the first Uncle Sam bank in 1886.

In the late 1860s and 1870s, political cartoonist Thomas Nast, the same artist who created the image of Santa Claus, began popularizing the image of Uncle Sam.

Uncle Sam didn’t get a standard appearance until the noted "recruitment" image of Uncle Sam, created by James Montgomery Flagg