Building Maker: A.C. Rehberger

Edifice aficionados generally agree that one company stands out as a premier maker of finely-crafted souvenir buildings. The A.C. Rehberger Company, later known as A.C.R. Limited, was founded in 1912 by Alfred C. Rehberger. The metal building replicas are very sought after by building collectors and coin bank collectors for the attention to detail and quality casting. In the early part of the 20th Century, the A.C. Rehberger Company was one of only two firms in the U.S. which specialized in hand-molded, handcrafted metal sculptural figurines. Cast in lead or zinc and plated in silver, brass or copper, the miniatures produced varied. Over 3000 different paperweights, bookends, desk sets, ashtrays, nameplates, sports trophies and collectors' items were created by Rehberger - including the first Oscar statuette in the 1920s. During the 1930s, the firm became known for its metal coin banks and miniature buildings produced as giveaway promotions for banks and financial institutions. Among the most popular building replica this company made include the Beaux Arts Dollar Savings Bank in Pittsburgh and the Syracuse Savings Bank which I have written about before. Most Rehberger coin banks are identified with the name stamped into the bottom metal trap, but a few versions have a paper label attached (which is sometimes missing). In the 1970s, the company was purchased by Avram Roitman, who served as company president. The Art Institute of Chicago acquired a set of Rehberger souvenir buildings and company documents which are now called the “Miniature Building Collection, 1920-2002.” Business records, account files, contracts, brochures, as well as over forty building models and molds are included in the archive. According to the records, The Adler Planetarium and the Fort Dearborn were replicas made by Rehberger. Could these be unmarked Rehberger buildings in our collections?

Souvenir Buildings as Advertisement

In my humble opinion, it is an astute business leader indeed who commissions a company advertisement in the shape of a building. Think about it…clients are given a well-made replica of a landmark and what do they do? They display it proudly on their desks as a reminder to them and to others who visit their office. I’ve collected photos and information of some advertisement building replicas with photos and info below. If you know of others, send me some photos and I’ll add it to this grouping. 

The Grue Guild Watches store display is a building replica made of metal. The engraved text reads, “Display feature wrist watch on regular velvet box pad here” and “display copy-card pocket watch and regular velvet box pad here.” The metal display is a replica of the Gruen office & factory. The Gruen Watch Company was formerly one of the largest watch manufacturers in the United States. It was in business from about 1894 to 1958 and was based in Cincinnati, Ohio.

In the 1930’s & 40’s, Patent and Trademark Attorney A. Clarence O'Brien advertised his services via two finely made metal paperweights of the U.S. Capitol dome and the Supreme Court building. Both were produced by the A.C. Rehberger Company. According to the capital replica's base, O’Brien had an office “opposite the U.S. Patent office in Washington, D.C.” The Supreme Court replica advertised an office address in New York’s Woolworth Building. While the originals are difficult to find, these replicas were recast in the 1990’s from Rehberger molds, but have a different finish. 

I’ve seen two different versions of a replica of Egypt’s Sphinx, which was also made by Rehberger, that are promotional advertisements. One advertises ‘Miller, Franklin, Basset and Company New York,’ which was an accounting and engineering firm in New York City. The company may have used the Sphinx due to the ancient engineering feat it took to build the structure and the money it took to construct. I’ve also seen references to this company with ‘Sphinx Talks,’ which may be a publication. Another version is nearly identical except for the writing on the base. “Ask the Spinks” C.C. Spink & Son St. Louis, Mo.” is clearly a play on words of the two similar names. C.C. Spink & Son were magazine and book publishers including an early Sporting News.  

A small replica of Charminar has words on its base, which read, “The Vazir Sultan Tobacco Company Limited Silver Jubilee 1930-1955.” 

A brass replica of the Statue of Liberty has on its base, “Liberty National Life Insurance Company. Frank P. Samford, President. September 1958.” 

A Metal replica of the Washington Monument has words on its base, which read, “First in building usefulness McGrath Sand and Gravel Lincoln Illinois.”

Pittsburgh’s Dollar Savings Bank

This bank is one of just a few souvenir building replicas with the distinction of being reproduced by two different companies. Both A.C. Rehberger and Banthrico produced coin bank replicas of the Dollar Savings Bank. They look very similar, but until you pick them both up and compare them side by side do you notice the differences. The A.C. Rehberger version has much finer detail and it has the slot (for coins) and the hole (for bills) on top. Also a bit heavier, the Reheberger has raised letters, whereas the Banthrico version’s letters are recessed. Rehberger version’s top reads, “This is your bank,” while the Banthrico has no words on its top. Along both bases is written: “The Dollar Savings Bank. Pittsburgh, PA. Organized in 1855. 330-344 Fourth Avenue.” On one side is: “The only mutual savings bank in Pittsburgh.and the other side reads: “A safe place for your savings.” Of course, the easiest way to tell the difference is the makers make and trap on the bottom. Architect Isaac H. Hobbes designed the real Dollar Savings Bank building which opened in March, 1871. This Connecticut brownstone hall housed the first mutual bank in Pittsburgh. Its most striking features are the Baroque facade composition of colossal Composite columns and Max Kohler's docile, life-sized lions at the front steps. The Dollar Bank building on Fourth Avenue is one of the very few original buildings in Pittsburgh's old financial district that's still used as a bank and it is now on the National Register of Historic Places. The Bank’s Trustees meant the new structure to last and to stand for something. They placed the stone lions at its gates as symbols of guardianship of the people's money. They thought of the lofty columns as bespeaking the institution's high aims. They began talking about the design it in 1860; and, before they were through, few business structures had received so much thought. Ah, those were the days when banks demonstrated their longevity and strength through sold columns and stable, long-lasting architecture. These days, financial institutions seem more interested in making a quick buck through risky schemes.

Supreme Court Souvenirs

Dixie Trainer encouraged Rehberger to produce a very limited amount of Supreme Court replicas from the original mold in the 1990's. That replica building stands 1.5" tall and the base is 3.5 x 4.25 inches. One of these Rehberger recasts sold on ebay for $262. A few years ago, resin replicas of the highest court in the land were available in the gift shop. However, the last time I was there, no souvenir building in any material were available. The real Supreme Court Building, constructed between 1932 and 1935, was designed by noted architect Cass Gilbert, who is best known as the architect for the Woolworth Building in New York. The classical Corinthian architectural style was selected because it best harmonized with nearby congressional buildings. The building was designed on a scale in keeping with the importance and dignity of the Court and the Judiciary as a coequal, independent branch of the United States Government, and as a symbol of "the national ideal of justice in the highest sphere of activity." Sixteen marble columns at the main west entrance support the portico and on the architrave above is incised, "Equal Justice Under Law." Capping the entrance is the pediment filled with a sculpture group by Robert Aitken, representing Liberty Enthroned Guarded by Order and Authority. I’ve written before about the court’s gift shop and original architectural model.

Cottage Replica Banks

Cottages. To some, that word conjures visions of ginger bread, Hansel & Gretel or Hobbit dwellings from Lord of the Rings. Building Collector reader Bob E. has a sub collection of miniature metal cottage houses as part of his larger collection of miniature skyscrapers and stadiums. He wrote some information about the charming little homes to share with all of you.

“Most people think of their cottages about this time of year and I have been too. Sorry to say, my cottages are the souvenir kind. I have been picking up those little American Art Works and Rehberger cottages whenever I can find them -- within a reasonable price. These appear to be the first souvenir buildings that were mass-produced and then customized for the buyer with the addition of a nameplate at the time of purchase. With the advent of these, businesses with less means could hand out a quality give-a-way to keep their name in front of the public. The United States has been an ad man’s dream since its inception, and for me this represents a milestone in that part of our "culture." Mass-producing individuality had arrived. The range and variety of the businesses that used these is what keeps me interested. I have 23 of them at present. Unlike the financial institutions that dominated the larger true to life models of other buildings, these were handed out by lumber yards, appliance stores, contractors, insurance companies, and of course banks. Most are coin banks but I have some that are paperweights as well. There are 11 States and 2 countries represented on that shelf. I have one from South America that appears to be a Rehberger copy. It is very well cast and the detail is what you would expect, however, the walls are very thick and the metal seems to have a much higher lead content. It appears there never was a trap on the bottom. On the roof is the legend, "Ahorre para construir su hogar." Or as we say "save for to build your home." So far, I have found three styles of the houses and many finish variations. I know there are also plastic and tin versions out there, but I will stick the cast metal for now. Other than the little bit of fact and lot of conjecture above, I really do not know much about these charming little banks. If anyone has any fun facts to know and tell, I would be very glad to learn more about them.’ – Bob E.

Mid-Century Modern Bank Building Replicas

Coin banks, made mostly by the company Banthrico, could be categorized into architectural styles. The following list of building replica still banks are considered mid-century modern - a style that emphasized large and ample windows, open floor plans, and flat planes with changes in elevation. This style emerged about 1945 and continued to the 1960s. 

Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (not Banthrico)

Colorado Federal Savings Bank ( more info here )

Norwood Savings and Loan Association in Ohio

Northwest Federal Bank 

Newport Balboa Savings and Load Association 

Thunderbird Bank (made by Rehberger) 

Central Bank of Tampa

Midland Savings and Loan Association 

Joplin Bank

Mid Kansas Federal Savings Bank

United Savings and Loan

Lawn Savings Bank

First State Bank

Citizens National Bank in Chicago 

East Alton Savings & Loan

First Federal Savings & Loan in Greenville, South Carolina 

Salem Federal Savings & Loan in Oregon 

Southwestern Savings & Loan

The First Liberty National Bank

The Great Northern Building and Loan 

St. Paul Federal Savings Bank

Wilmington Mutual Savings & Loan

State Bank of Clearing

Ford City Bank

Clyde Savings Bank

Brookfield Federal Savings Bank of Connecticut

International Building Credit Union Center in Madison Wisconsin

National Bank of Albany Park

First National Bank in Wamego, Kansas

Leon Federal Savings & Loan Association (made by Rehberger)  

Chemung Canal Savings Bank

Dade Federal Savings Bank