The history of Marx & Co, and playsets from Scoop: " Louis Marx & Company was an American toy manufacturer from 1919 to 1978. Founded in New York City by Louis Marx and his brother David Marx, the company grew to become the largest toy manufacturer in the world by the 1950s. The success of the company was due in large part to their basic policies, which were “Give the customer more toy for less money” and “Quality is not negotiable”. Marx's toys included tinplate buildings, mechanical toys, toy guns, action figures, dolls, doll houses, toy cars and trains, and of course the very popular Marx Playsets. All the Marx boxes were imprinted with the slogan, “One of the many Marx toys, have you all of them?”" Read the rest...
March 7, 2008
Have You All of Them? - Marx history
Auction Prices: Flintstones Bedrock Express
This Flintstones Bedrock Express Playset was purchased for $550.00. It is one of the most perfectly realized playsets available. As the box says, “Handcar, Plastic Scenic, track, houses, the works!” from Scoop
Blue & Gray Set: Price keeps going up!
This is a nice story, from Ebay (as the price goes beyond $1300!): "This is my original Set, It is displayed on a replica of the Montgomery Ward Store display in 1961. 25% of the set was missing from my son playing with it as a youth. It took 6 months & hundreds of resurch hours to bring this set back to its glorious, original state." EVERYTHING" is original and complete, all 330 pieces."
March 6, 2008
Auction Prices
From Morphy Auctions: "The power of postwar playthings in the current marketplace was driven home repeatedly with the prices paid for boxed playsets. A Marx Untouchables playset based on the popular TV G-man show brought $2,475 (estimate $200-300), a Sears-issued Battleground Europe playset with World War II theme made $2,750 (estimate $1,000-1,500); and a Marx Rifleman Ranch, based on the Chuck Connors TV series, achieved $3,575 (estimate $700-1,000). The big winner, however, was a Marx Johnny Ringo Western Frontier playset. In spite of its lacking several accessory pieces, the rare set estimated at $2,000-3,000 ignited a bidding war, finishing at an unbelievable $6,500."
Playset: Fighting Knights Carry-All
Click the text for the link to thortrains.com and the great pics for this set. And for accessories for this set, click here.
Book: Marx Western Playsets
Marx Western Playsets - The Authorized Guide
Written by Jay Horowitz, while he was the owner of Marx Toys, Inc.
This unique 192 page hard covered book reveals for the first time the true factory records and information about those famous Marx Playsets loved by generations of American children. Relive the rermarkable artistry of the figures, details, superior quality, and real play value. Who in America would not recognize western sets such as the famous Fort Apache. This book includes:
Never-before-published original Marx photos;
Factory Specification Sheets
Product Glossies
Color photos
Introduction by Charles Marx
History of Louis Marx & Co., Inc.
Background on Louis Marx and brother David
Index of Marx Western Playsets
How to Manufacture a Playset
Glossary of Plastic Manufacturing Terms
Other interesting information taken from the Marx Archives.
And here is a listing of other places to buy it
March 4, 2008
Closeup: Anvil on Log
This anvil was used in a variety of Marx playsets, including the Alamo, Fort Apache, and Ranch sets. Recasts (re-issues or duplicates) are floating around, and it is very difficult to distinguish the originals from the recast, unless they are in "un-Marx" colors.
You can buy this one for $3.00 here....
March 3, 2008
INSTRUCTION SHEETS
Not only does their purchase go towards the collectors' goal of putting all the pieces of a set together, but their contents listings prove critical for collectors and researchers to help document the released accessories that came with certain sets. It can be potentially confusing to create a definitive contents list of sets due to the release of special editions, different colors or revised molds used in different years.
Closeup: Viking
MARX DOLLHOUSE - Low Rancher with Lift-off Roof.
Picture from the Kruger Toy & Train Museum. Marx #5025 made from 1960's - 1971.
The great thing about this house was that the roof lifted off to reveal interior rooms, which each had doors connecting to other rooms. This was very different than the standard dollhouse of an open back and no doors. I really like what looks like tiny Jonathan Adler sculptures on the fireplace.
CAPE CANAVERAL - 2007 Value
| Category | Toy |
| Pattern or Item | Playset |
| Description | Cape Canaveral, Box, Marx, Box, 14 X 24 In. |
| Year | 2007 |
| Price | $170.00 |
SUPER CIRCUS - 2007 Value
Kovel's online version of their antique & collectible magazine, appraised the following:
| Category | Toy |
| Pattern or Item | Playset |
| Description | Super Circus, Tin, Plastic Box, Marx, Box, 12 X 28 In. |
| Year | 2007 |
| Price | $195.00 |
ATOMIC CAPE CANAVERAL - record included
Here's from a posting on a Remco (other toy & playset maker) forum:
"A record included with Marx's Atomic Cape Canaveral sets the mood with a narrator reading instructions for Junior Missile Officers. Eventually, he announces "This is a live launch. All unauthorized personnel will now leave the ready room and lift-off area." In the background at Central Control actual technicians can be heard "Roger Wilco-ing" each other amid beeps and effects. This is followed by a countdown, blastoff, and tracking officer who states "The missile is on course. The satellite is in orbit." If all that doesn't get you ready to spring off a dozen rockets and saucers, you must be from another planet!"
FARM SET - cows
ROBIN HOOD Richard Green Special Edition - on Ebay
VIDEO on Playsets - 1
Description - The "Peacetime" play sets of the 1950s are the theme in this continuing series of videos for toy collectors and everyone who has a fondness to recapture the halcyon days of yore.Highlights include: Louis Marx Service stations (lots of swell fifties autos!) Atomic Cape Canaveral Strategic Air Command (SAC) base Operation X-500 Rocket Base ( a deluxe reading set very rare as it was only sold in grocery stores) Turnpike Toll Booth Alaska play sets commemorating Alaska becoming a state in 1958. Plus visit Kane County Toy Show which is one of the largest in the world and tour this fascinating and huge exhibit gaining insight into the heart of buying and selling in today's collector market.A very special visit to the Louis Marx landfill the legendary "Elephant's Graveyard" of unfinished toys. This volume runs 46 minutes. Hosted by Rusty Kern.
One place to buy it is here....
CAPE CANAVERAL & Space Ranger
Marx Space Ranger
"Send this plastic rocket ship into 6-foot orbit. You're at the remote controls as metal bar swings it forward, into reverse. It blows up a flying saucer, rescues a man, sends a secret message. Accessories - exploding flying saucer, nose cone, space car, 3 rockets, 6 astronauts, 6 moonmen etc." - from 1962 Sears Catalog
Marx Atomic Cape Canaveral Missile Base
This is one of the most popular of the Marx Playsets. This baby came with a tin litho building, space record, fencing, four-stage rocket, bomarc rocket, somarc missle and launcher, scientists gantry and launch pad, flying saucer, searchlight, radar antenna, space capsule, flying saucer and launcher, helicopter, fuel truck, missle trailer, dome, fuel tanks, scientists, NASA ticket, missle men and more!
Excerpt from an article on Space Toys by Don Thompson at Big Red Toy Box
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