Other Big Toys!!!
With the holidays approaching,
there is also the idea of toys on the minds of many. When we have had the chance, actual literal
toys in the traditional sense are something we celebrate around here. That is especially true with classic toys. This year is the 110th birthday of
the innovator Louis Marx. He and his brother David were the founders of
Marx Toys back in 1919. Converting their
factories for military purposes during World War II, they helped to rebuild the
world as their company expanded overseas and they went back to their giant
status. They were the dominant toy
company in the world by the 1950s if there was no doubt about their success
before.
Even when the Baby Boom caused a toy boom in the
1950s, they we trailed by Lionel Trains a distant second, then remained
innovative and viable in the 1960s and 1970s.
In the face of competition from Matchbox (trying to expand beyond
diecast cars), Parker Brothers (trying to go beyond their board games
business), Aurora (trying to jump beyond slot cars), AHI, Mattel, Remco,
Kenner, Ideal, Lincoln International, Knickerbocker, Tomland, Fun World, Aviva,
Mortoys, LJN, Gabriel, Fairland, Miura, Horsman, Tara, Excel, Shindana,
Bradgate, Larami, Pressman, Tong, Fabian, Durham, Empire and Mego. By 1972, Quaker Oats added Marx to their
Fisher Price holdings to compete with General Mills’ ownership of Kenner. By 1978, the Marx name was succeeded by on
their products by new British owners and some molds to produce the classic toys
went to Aurora and competitor Mego in 1980.
Mego would be bankrupt a few years later, like most of the upstarts,
leading the toy business too consolidated for years.
However, the Marx legacy is a strong one, including
the battery-powered Big Loo, Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots, Big Wheels, The Green
Machine, Jonny West figures, plus licensing of amazing toys connected to Flash
Gordon, the 1960s Batman TV series, Girl From U.N.C.L.E., 1959 Ben Hur film playset, Dick Tracy strip,
Untouchables series, Daniel Boone series, Archie Comics
action figures, detailed Marvel Comics figurines and more. They had factories worldwide, by the biggest
of all factories was located in West Virginia.
Now, in Glen Dale, West Virginia, The Marx Toy Museum is open for
business and several of our writers recently visited the home of the most Marx
Toys in the world.
Like Dr. Who’s TARDIS, the inside is much larger
when you get inside than you could ever imagine from the outside and loaded
with classics, amazing pieces you will love and even a prototypes room of toys
that should have been made and sadly were not.
And that’s just the beginning of what they have to offer!
Find out more at the following link:
http://www.marxtoymuseum.com/main.htm
The entry cost is very reasonable and you can spend
a really fun afternoon there in what we feel is a once in a lifetime
opportunity to see not just Toy history, but American history in action. There is good parking and if you make it and
they ask where you heard about them, mention our site so we can see how many
people we convinced to check it out.
