AC Williams Black Americana Black Boy Toothpick Holder Cast Iron *SOLD*

Black Boy Toothpick holder cast iron

Our bank isn’t a bank, it is a toothpick holder.  Similar designs have a bank slot, others have a solid top, then this has an open top for holding toothpicks. This variation is more challenging to find.

The cast iron set of boy’s faces (one on each side) is in very good to excellent condition.  They harken from the early 1900’s and look very sharp, with well rendered teeth and facial features.

The cast iron is attributed to AC Williams and is a well formed casting.  Seams are tight and we do not see any cracks.

Color is gloss black with gold in he hat and collar area.  Teeth and eyes are painted white.  There appears to be a red fleck on the tongue for realism.

Approx 4” tall, 3” wide, and 3” deep, and it weighs about 1 1/2 lbs
This holder’s look was based on an anonymous 1800’s painting entitled” YOUNG BLACK BOY WITH TORN HAT “. The person was purportedly a Florida paperboy called Johnny Griffin.

A brief history of A.C. Williams Co. of Ravenna, Ohio:

The A. C. Williams Company was founded in business in Chagrin Falls, Ohio in 1844. It was founded by John Wesley Williams, the father of A. C. Williams. However there was a big fire at the company, and a decision was made to move to Ravenna. Ohio. Actual production started there in 1893.

Like the other famous cast iron companies of the time (Hubley, Dent, Kilgore, Arcade, Kenton), A.C. Williams manufactured cast iron cars and trucks.  From 1893 to 1923 they produced cast-iron horse-drawn rigs, autos, airplane, penny banks and tractor toys; the line included mostly miniatures distributed through Woolworth, Kresge`s, and other five-and-dime stores. They even produced some tin cars towards the end of the company’s relatively long history. Unfortunately, in 1938 they closed their toy production and continued in other ventures to this day.