Marx Toys

Louis Marx and Company began producing toys and toy soldiers in the 1920s.  Over a period of more than 50 years, Marx produced the largest and most diverse collection of American made toy figures ever made.  The company created toys in almost every genre, including historical figures, toy soldiers, military vehicles, space toys, toy guns, Disney figures, and dollhouses.  Marx created figures in many sizes, from HO scale civil war figures to the popular 1960's 12 inch "Best of the West" and "Noble Knights" series.  Early Marx toys were largely tin and cast metal.  In the 1940s the company transitioned into creating mostly plastic toys, with the exception of their incredibly popular playsets, which included tin litho forts, castles, dollhouses, and other buildings with loads of plastic figures and accessories.  The detail and craftsmanship of these sets has made early Marx playsets some of the most collectible toys on the market today.  In 1972 Marx Toys was sold to the Quaker Oats company, ending one of the most productive and fascinating eras in the world of toys.  Marx figures are still being produced today,  with recent re-releases including "Johnny West" and the gold and silver knight from the "Noble Knights" series.  Bootleg figures are common as well.  Injection molded figures are easy to reproduce, and  are difficult to tell from the originals, so buyers beware!  

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