Post Office Savings box, and Savings Book
The money box is manufactured to look like a book - it is rectangular in shape with a brass central section and opens with an key on the right narrow face. On the bottom is a circular hole for paper money, and a coin slot which is lined with a pair of fine teeth on each side which prevents coins from spilling out if tipped upside down (and being emptied by self). These money boxes came in a variety of colours, red, blue, green and gold. There is a description of how it was intended to be used on the back cover of the savings book.

The money box was taken to the local Post office when full, and the teller had a key to open the money box, count the money and with an ink dip pen the amount was handwritten into the passbook as a deposit. The new balance of the account was calculated, entered and then stamped with the teller’s official stamp (which was very heavy and the process was quite noisy, which added to the drama of the whole procedure).

The Post Office Savings Bank was an important service offered by the local post office from the 1860s. In many small towns and isolated rural communities it was one of the only financial services available. Due to legislation which restricted the rights of other savings banks, by the mid-1950s the Post Office Savings Bank controlled around 80% of the personal savings market. In addition, the Post Office encouraged savings by offering a savings service to school children, many who had these money boxes.