Busy York Bank Adds New Convenience
York County Heritage Trust photo cataloger Paul Wolfgang called this photograph to my attention, pointing out that this was a pre-ATM banking convenience. Looks a bit unwieldy now, doesn’t it? People were busy 60 years ago too, so at least you wouldn’t have to wait for a teller to make your deposit. .
The diligent gentleman using the modern convenience in May 1950 was Mahlon N. Haines, well-known York County businessman and philanthropist. He is remembered for his “Haines the Shoe Wizard” chain of stores and for building the shoe house in Hellam Township and also establishing Wizard Ranch, also in Hellam Township, for the Boy Scouts.
The sign on the top says:
“SAVE TIME – FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE.
If our tellers are busy and you do not care to wait, place your deposit in an envelope, seal and drop in the vault. It will be verified by our tellers and a receipt will be mailed to you.
The York National Bank and Trust Co.”
It looks like the bank was buzzing with business, full of hatted men. I wonder if the deposit machine, basically a safe fitted with a mechanism to open and close an opening in the top, was made locally by York Safe and Lock.
