Great Toys from Louis Marx & Co.!

Louis Marx & Co. Has been long forgotten by the average person. Most people do remember some of the individual toys that Marx made, like the original Big Wheel and Rock'em Sock'em Robots, but not the company.

Wikipedia has a comprehensive history of the Marx company and its toys. Marx began in the 1920's and ended in 1978. Some of the toys that were handed down to me from my dad were Marx. Early on Marx mostly made tin toys and trains. Their logo had a railroad crossing sign as the X in Marx, so I guess in the beginning they specialized in model trains. Then in the 50's, 60's and 70's the were famous for their Johnny West and Best of the West action figures. I have a bunch of my Johnny West, Sheriff Garrett and Sam Cobra that I need to take pictures of for a future post. As for now, if you want to see some Best of The West toys, visit the Vintage Toy Room site.

One of my favorite toys as a kid was the Marx Dinosaur Mountain that is pictured at the left. I have better pictures of it that I will eventually highlight on my Toys2Remember website (When & if I ever get that built). This was the largest dinosaur set they released. I think it was one of the later sets, but it is pretty hard to find. The plastic mountains come apart in 4 pieces and there is a plastic "wood" bridge and vinyl mat to set it all on. Of course there are also a bunch of dinosaurs, cavemen and trees. I even used to play "Land of the Lost" with this by putting some of my other figures in this set to fight with the dinosaurs. What fun!

The pictures below are couple of the older O scale railroad pieces. We used to have a train, but I'm not sure what happened to it. It's too bad that Marx quit making toys because in my opinion, everything they had was great. Stay tuned for a post on Best of the West and one about some of the unusual games by Marx.

Have you seen any Marx exhibits at museums? My Stormcloud horse for my Chief Cherokee is in a traveling exhibit that began at the Indianapolis Children's Museum! There are also some museums dedicated exclusively to Marx. A good one with an online presence is the Marx Museum of Glendale West Virginia. Did you have any Marx toys? If so, what was your favorite? Do you still have it? If not, I bet you wish you did.

Marx definitely made some great Toys 2 Remember!

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If you have read anything in this post that interests you or helped you bring back memories, I would love to hear from you. Please comment or send me an email.

I have many other toys that I can write about and show pictures of. Please comment or email if you have a favorite toy form the 60's, 70's, or 80's that you would like me to post about. If your favorite toy is before the 60's or after the 80's, I will still give it a shot. I have many of my Dad's old toys, and I know about the more recent ones too.

This blog is for you. It's for everyone. Together, lets talk about the Toys 2 Remember! Thanks!!

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Comments

[Kim]

I have a Marx Series 300 Electronic Bowling Game that I cannot find online anywhere! I have been trying to research this item and can't locate any information whatsoever. It's a hologram bowling game that was purchased in the 80's. Anyone know anything about it?

[casey]

I have a Marx Series 300 Electronic Bowling Game. What did you need to know about it? I will try to help if possible.

[Joey]

I have one as well, I'm in the process of repairing it. What would you like to know?

[David Baryla]

I have one but its not functioning correctly between the first and second bowler or sometimes between the first and second ball. also the contact in the ball return just broke any ideas on how to get a new one, or a work around? do you know what each of the buttons do? any help would be great

thanks david

[LEO LAURION]

Hi,
I went online in hopes to find information on the Marx series 300 Electronic Bowling game and Voila, there you were remenissing about having one.
Well so do I.
It is in great condition---works 100% and I even have the instr. booklet #2575 with a serial # stamped on the front page( how's that for keeping it 32 years in our basement playroom.)
What I had planned to do was to offer it for sale on a Sunday morning Radio Flea Market. My problem is that I don't know what it's worth today.
Is this an item that you may know it's value and can share that with me?

Thanks, Leo

[biff jackson]

I bought one on e-bay for $130 a few years ago. the ball return connection was broken. I fixed the problem with a piece from the top of a tin can and electrical tape.

[karen]

I think I maybe looking for the marx series 300 bowling game and would be interested in purchasing it!!!! please contact me with a pic...karinagirl558@yahoo.com

[Brian Smith]

Hi. I have one I will sell for $100 if you are interested. Orig box and instructions and looks like new. Only the speaker sounds a little crackle.

[Jim Perrone]

I would like to buy your game please get back to me at jshark53@comcast.net

[william Sr]

I have one electronic Bowling game i am 47 now got it when i was about 14 I still play I wanted another but epay had one $150 with box and paperwork but i never have the cash to buy one as a spare too poor However I still have the Orignal but no box thats sad.

[william Sr]

Karen if you still have it forsale Ill take it for 100.00 But all i need is the box and paperwork
my email is rock50scollector @verizon.net

[dana hicks]

I would love to have that game again. The one Im talking about, you dont actually hit the pins, the ball rolls over silver staple looking things on the lane. But you are looking at a reflection of the pins up top inside the game. And the sound when you make a strike, is the lone ranger theme song.

[Jeff Fry]

Does Anyone have one of these for sale here in 2012? I had one and it got lost in transistion? I use to use pledge on the lane to simulate oil patterns and to this day when i smell lemon pledge it reminds me of this fun game and that part of my life. Someone just used pledge!

Email me back

[Tom Stone]

Hello,

Does anyone know what was used to reflect the image of the top pins so that it looks like pins that you are viewing on the lane. Whatever was used (a mirror or shiny mirror-like surface?) is no longer on my bowling Marx 300 Series unit. Any description or pictures would be most appreciated as I would like to replace my missing part if possible.

Thanks

Tom
email: tkstone@telus.net

[MIKE]

I WAS EMPLOYED AT MARX TOYS AS A REPAIRMAN OF THESE BOWLING GAMES. WHEN THEY INITIALLY BUILT THEM THEY USED A CHEAP CIRCUIT BOARD THAT DIDNT HAVE HEAT RESISTANCE FLUX ON THEM AND THEY MALFUNCTIONED AFTER THEY WERE PLUGGED IN AND THE UNIT HEATED UP. THEY WERE ALL RECALLED AND EITHER THE FLUX WAS REMOVED , OR THE BOARD WAS REPLACED IF DAMAGED WITH A NEW BOARD WITH OUT THE FLUX ISSUE. THEY WORKED GREAT AFTER THAT. I MUST HAVE BOWLED 10000 GAMES ON THESE MACHINES AT THE FACTORY IN GIRARD