CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Gary Thompson has an extensive collection of Lennox diecast banks which he collected during his career at the Marshalltown company.

Gary Thompson has been collecting Lennox diecast banks for decades.

However, he is looking to part with some of his collection on Aug. 29 at the downtown farmer’s market. All of the banks are from Thompson’s personal collection, including the very first diecast bank issued in 1983.

“I used to work at Lennox years ago and every year Lennox would come up with a diecast bank,” Thompson said.

The banks are all modeled after vehicles, gas pumps, buildings and bobbing heads.

“They were banks because they were considered adult collectables. They weren’t toys,” Thompson said. “They were pretty collectable back in the day.”

Thompson, who is also a Marshalltown City Council member, is older and his kids and grandkids all have their own picked out from the collection so he is looking to price them to sell.

“Back in the day the number one for old Lennox employees was pretty collectable and I think prices got as high as $400 for that one,” Thompson said. “But, prices have dropped. It’s not worth that anymore unless you found the right person.”

He stopped working for Lennox in 2003, which is when his collection ends.

“They still do it every year,” Thompson said. “Some are pretty detailed, they have opening hoods, opening doors.”

There are a lot interested collectors out there who may be interested in helping Thompson part with some of the diecast banks.

“There are some pretty near ones,” he said. “I was going to display them. When I worked at Lennox I had some in my office.”

At one point Thompson used one modeled like a truck to hold his business cards.

“We’re still little kids at heart,”he said. “It’s like reliving history.”

Collecting Lennox diecast banks is a popular pastime, with scores available on second hand selling websites.

“There’s a lot of history. Lennox started here in Marshalltown,” Thompson said. “I’ve saved a lot of stuff back that I’m keeping. These are things I’m no longer keeping.”

There weill not be early sales available, and he will only accept cash.

“They’re only worth what someone is willing to pay for them,” Thompson said. “I don’t want to bring them back home.”

——

Contact Thomas Nelson at 641-753-6611

or tnelson@timesrepublican.com