VTG 1930s Dodge Gas Savings Oil Drum Bank Chrysler Corp Detroit Dealership Promo For Sale

Item Identification

• Object Type: Vintage Dealership Promotional Direct-Mail Coin Bank / Oil Drum Gas Savings Bank

• Sponsor / Manufacturer: Dodge Division, Chrysler Corporation (Detroit, Michigan) (crisp factory mailing label remnant: From DODGE DIVISION / Chrysler Corporation / DETROIT, MICH. with period postal permit Sec. 562 P.L.&R.)

• Era: Circa late 1930s to early 1940s (pre-WWII, c. 1936–1941)

• Design & Form: Styled to replicate a miniature red steel 55-gallon oil/gasoline drum, featuring printed hoop rings and a factory top coin drop slot

• Advertising Text:

  • Front: YOU CAN SAVE SIX-55 GAL. BARRELS OF GASOLINE EACH YEAR BECAUSE the New DODGE GIVES 3 TO 5 MORE MILES PER GALLON! * OWNERS REPORT

  • Side/Arrow: SEE INSIDE BARREL FOR FULL DETAILS

• Construction: Rigid spiral-wound cardboard/fiberboard canister with crimped tin top (coin slot) and friction-fit removable tin bottom plug cap

• Dimensions: Approximately 4 3/4 tall x 2 7/8" diameter

Rare Authentic Late 1930s / Early 1940s "The New Dodge" Gasoline Savings Oil Drum Coin Bank – Dealership Direct-Mail Promo – Chrysler Corporation, Detroit, Mich.

Up for sale is a scarce, authentic pre-WWII automotive promotional artifact: an original Dodge Division (Chrysler Corp.) direct-mail promotional oil drum coin bank!

Designed to resemble a red 55-gallon fuel drum, this clever showroom giveaway demonstrated tangible fuel economy to Depression-era motorists, declaring: "YOU CAN SAVE SIX-55 GAL. BARRELS OF GASOLINE EACH YEAR BECAUSE the New DODGE GIVES 3 TO 5 MORE MILES PER GALLON!"

Key Details & Features:

• Sponsor: Dodge Division – Chrysler Corporation, Detroit, Michigan.

• Era: Circa 1936–1941 (Pre-World War II).

• Design: Miniature 55-gallon barrel canister with coin drop slot on the top lid.

• Mailing Provenance: Retains the original factory paper mailing label on the reverse stamped: From DODGE DIVISION / Chrysler Corporation / DETROIT, MICH. alongside postal permit markings (Sec. 562).

• Construction: Heavy fiberboard canister with stamped tin ends and its original friction-fit bottom access plug intact.

• Dimensions: Measures approximately $4\frac{3}{4}"$ tall by $2\frac{7}{8}"$ diameter.

A must-have centerpiece for Dodge/Chrysler automobilia collectors, gas & oil enthusiasts, or vintage promotional still bank collections. Please inspect all high-resolution photos for exact condition.

Condition

Condition: Very Good vintage condition for an 80+ year-old cardboard promotional mailer. The cylindrical fiber tube is rigid and structurally sound with no crushing or soft spots. Bold red and white graphics remain legible with light surface scuffing and honest handling wear. The tin top and removable bottom cap exhibit natural age patina, oxidation, and spotting consistent with age. Retains its original factory bottom tin plug, which seats securely. The original address/mailer paper label on the reverse shows paper peeling/loss, but retains crisp "DODGE DIVISION Chrysler Corporation DETROIT, MICH." sender text. Interior is clean.

Keywords

• Dodge oil drum bank, vintage Dodge promo, Chrysler Corp Detroit, gas savings bank, automotive advertising bank, 1930s Dodge giveaway, prewar automobilia, gas and oil advertising, tin coin bank.