According to Barbara Mauzy’s book “Pyrex: The Unauthorized Collector’s Guide,” this little piggy bank is made of Pyrex. However, a recent discovery by our friend, Eddie Richard, may point its origins to Port Allegany, Pennsylvania.
So here is our first little pig. He has a slot on top for coins and he is hollow. The words “piggy bank” are pressed on both sides. It appears to be two molds pushed together much like a glass block. Speaking of which, Mauzy identifies a small glass block bank with the words “Pittsburgh Corning” as made from Pyrex as well. More on that in a minute.
And then there were two little pigs! Our second little guy has his original tag and a hand written note. Finally, a first hand account dating these little guys to 1941! Are you keeping notes? this is important.
And the two little pigs loved each other so much that there was a third little pig! This one is identical in shape and size but bears the stamps “First National Bank” and “Port Allegany Penna.”
Thanks to Eddie’s reasearch we now know that these pigs originated in 1941 and most likely from Port Allegany, Pennsylvania. Remember that I mentioned just a minute ago that Mauzy documents a small glass block bank with the words “Pittsburgh Corning.” According to “Generations of Coring” by Davis Dyer, Pittsburgh Corning was a joint venture established in 1937 in… (drum roll) Port Allegany, Pennsylvania! How wonderful to see pieces of history coming together.
Dyer also goes on to comment that the plant in Port Allegany manufactured glass blocks out of Lumite. So while these banks are not Pyrex, they are certainly cute, collectible, and Corning!
