Marx Trains & Toys:

A Brief History

        Louis Marx in TIME 1955 -  Famous Logo

  Born in 1896, Louis Marx was always interested in toys. He started working at the Strauss toy company in 1911 and incorporated his own toy company in 1919. Starting with nothing, he purchased obsolete toy dies from Strauss. Marx revived the old designs and began a successful future in the world of toys.

  The toy and train industry would soon be rocked like it had never been before. Louis would be to the toy and train industry, what Henry Ford was to the Automobile industry. Marx would fill the spot where Lionel and Flyer and others could never compete. Marx would make profits during the great depression, when others were failing. Why? Low pricing, high quality construction, mass marketing and high production. This would send Marx over the top as the world's largest toy and train manufacturer in the 1950's. The Marx company would grow to supply up to a quarter of all the toys made in the USA. Marx was happy supplying the economical end of the market. The toy business had made him a multi-millionaire and he could have effectively operated in the high end market at any time if he had so wanted, but this was not the special niche he so enjoyed. Marx train designs would be instep with the times, with quality and reliably second to none. Marx would produce the best toy train ever possible for the lowest cost to the consumer.

 Marx would go on to have three major production plants in the USA. Two would be in Pennsylvania and one in West Virginia. At one time Glen Dale employees numbered near 2000 and processed six rail cars of steel per day. The main corporate office would be in New York. All of the American mainland HO and O scale production would come out of the Girard plant of Pennsylvania. The same general location where the early Joyline trains had come from.

 Marx would market its products to dime stores and the old department store giants: Sears, Montgomery Wards, Spiegel's and Penney's. These retail giants would then promote the toys in their big Christmas catalogs. Some toys were sold as accessories and add ons in dime stores; such as: Woolworths and stores like Western Auto, Firestone, Grants and Walgreens. Marx was frugal with advertising and was proud of saving a buck. The early Marx toy and train history was not documented in yearly catalogs like some of the other major train manufacturers. Time to time, they did however produce a "Timely Table"(a brochure) which would show the Marx train line and accessories. Marx collectors must rely on Christmas and sale catalogs from early retailers to get a large amount of their information.

PREWAR SERIES:

The first Marx train sets produced were the Joy Line or aka Joyline series, each car being about 4 inches long. Produced from 1927-35, they were made at the Girard Model Works, but marketed by the Marx Brothers; Louis and David. These are considered as the beginning of Marx Trains.

 Also around the same time a plant in Dudley, England would be set up to produce a British version of Marx trains, with beginnings from the Joy Line design.

                 Joy Line Series

 Look at the 1935:  Early Joyline Type and Easter Train

 One must also remember that beginning in the mid 1920's-30's, besides boxed train sets; Marx began a production of a large array of tin and train related toys of all types: Trolleys and Handcars, as well as Floor trains, Tabletop trains, and Ride-on trains and numerous toys.

 The Classic Design Begins

Introduced around 1934, the Marx Toy Company started the seemingly endless run of the American Classic  6 Inch Tin  lithographed toy trains. Early models used two color lithography on the body as well as on the base. The Six Inch design is one that proved to be a favorite for all times, withstanding four decades of production.

The first Loco used was the Commodore Vanderbilt with early swing pin (ESP). Cars used the earlier style Joy Line loop couplers, and two color lithography. Engines were made in a mechanical style first and then an electrical style in 1935. A clockwork set sold for as little as 98 cents!

        Swing pin with Joy Line coupler

Engines, couplers, frames, and litho changed, but since Marx was the last US train manufacturer to change completely over to plastic (1973); this 6 inch tin series continued all the way into the 1970's and are probably the most widely recognized of Marx trains.

CLICK & TAKE A LOOK AT THE MARX TIN STEAM ENGINES

 Most common of Marx couplers are tongue and slot (TSC), which Marx started using about 1936, as well as new one color bases. Some couplers were riveted to the car bases for electrics and some sliding in the bases used for windups. But Marx also came up their own early version of automatic type couplers (EAC) on its six inch eight wheeled cars around 1937. The Marx six inch base design would also see its final engineering change.

                   Four Wheeled Six Inch Tin Series- Black Bases

   A New Streamlined Design for the Times

The popular Articulated Streamliner passenger, M10000 series also came out in 1934, and proved a success. At less than $2 for a large mechanical train it well outsold other manufacturers. Marx even included a commemorative coin in some boxed sets.  

Also as well, the M10005 Streamline unit emerged in 1936. Passenger sets with a variety of named lithographed cars could make one large set. The ever expanding line would make 1937 another successful year for the m10005 streamline train.

                        M10,000 Union Pacific

                         M10,005 City of Denver

1937-38 saw the beginning of the Articulated Mercury Streamliner passenger trains and Mercury freight trains. An interesting coupling system, whistling engine, and lighted cars made these sets popular!

Click here to See the Mercury Trains

The famous Marx Canadian Pacific  power unit also made its debut around this time. Debuting in Canada in 1936 to go along with the first run of the Canadian Pacific’s newly designed passenger trains. 

This semi-streamlined style engine was quite popular and widely used by the Marx Toy Company. Production of this type set approached half a million units! The CP passenger cars are quite popular with collectors!

Click Here to See Marx Canadian Pacific Style Trains Info

 The tin SCALE series begins:

                  999 Loco with Scale Cars

       See the Diecast Scale 999 Loco

 1941 would have a new design, the scale series. They would be new larger metal freight cars, about 8 inches long and have eight 3/16 style wheels, but would still run on O track. This line was scaled in proportion to a more actual train size. The first diecast engine, the 999, would appear at this time. But soon after, due to WWII, all toy and train production would have to stop for a time.

I have heard that Marx was producing hand grenade parts during the war and after the war, in the Marx recycling tradition, the left over parts were used to create a Marx toy cannon!

        See the Marx Army Trains

POSTWAR SERIES:

The eight wheeled Scale line continued after the war. But Marx would now introduce another similar sized 7 inch scale type line, with 4 wheel design, to compete with other low dollar market trains in the 1950's, such as Hafner and Unique Art. Marx even pioneered an early plastic set in 1949 that was similar to a Schilling set.

1949  also finds the beginning of Marx's largest diecast engine ever, the 333. It adorned a new 4-6-2 wheel arrangement, and it was soon to be Marx's first smoking locomotive. Large beautiful modern passenger cars would finally grace the Marx consist, with people visible inside and vista domes.

1949-1958 333 & 1829 Grand King of the Rails -Steam Engine > click here !   

         Seven Inch Scale Style

 Six inch tin continues, but the eight wheel version is dropped. Punched frame tab couplers replace twisted tab and slot after the war (1946) and plastic couplers are seen on the six inch tin in 1953. The m10005 also returns for a limited run.

The early 50's saw large diesel units from Flyer, Unique, and Lionel and Marx was no exception. They had their large #21 tin version up and running as well. Marx was coming on stronger and more realistic than ever, while still maintaining their toy like charm that made Marx so appealing to the eye!

   Large 21 SF Diesels and High Truck Scale Cars 

1950-1951 Marx produces its version of the popular Disney train. Still a favorite today. Made in Marx's 7 inch scale, it would use a mechanical engine and cars that were decorated with Disney characters.

  Also produced around 1952 were a smaller sized Marx EMD F-3 tin lithographed diesel with roadnames of Southern Pacific #6000 and  Baltimore and Ohio #62. Mostly equipped as electric versions, some mechanical versions were also available. Mid fifties saw the Fairbanks Morse styled Monon #81, Seaboard #4000 and Kansas City Southern #54 establish their production run all the way into the early 60's.

See anothers eBay guide on Lithograped diesels:

   Plastic Production Period:

The last design modeled began around 1952 would be a full line of O scale (1/64 plastic that ran on 027 track) and a HO plastic series, with quite realistic details. Engines as well as freight cars would be plastic. However passenger cars would never become completely plastic. Plastics would dominate the rails into the mid 1970's. Christmas catalogs would be filled with Marx! Sometimes you could get a playset trainset combo in the same box!

   See the MARX HO Series Right HERE

Large diesels and small switchers, mechanical steamers and electric steamers were part of the product line. Four wheel with simulated trucks, eight wheel and eight wheel deluxe would be the basic line up for freight cars. Periods between the design changes would see transitional sets emerge, with some leftover parts being used on newer designs and vise-versa. Sometimes tin and plastic were combined in the same set !

CLICK HERE to see the 1950's-1970s  400 Series of Steamers

E-7 Diesels filled many large set boxes from 1952 into the late 1970's. Santa Fe was the earliest plastic diesel while New York Central, Rock Island, Western Pacific, New Haven, Union Pacific, Penn Central, and Allstate would soon fill more households with loads of diesel fun.

See Postwar E7 Diesels by another author:

        Large Allstate / Sears Plastic Set of 1958

View Here: The Marx Plastic Era GE Diesels

>>>With diesels such as the Cape Canaveral Express trainset/ playset and colorful Missouri Pacific displayed !

1955 Marx introduces a new larger diecast steamer, the 666. with 2-4-2. 1959 will get the sister steamer the 1666, now cast in plastic, with smoking versions available.

See anothers guide to the 666-1666:

Click to see some: Marx Plastic Era Set Boxes

  1954 Colber accessories decides to leave the market, when American Flyer no longer uses them. Marx will pick the line and add more accessories in 1955.

  And around 1956 Marx would purchase the Hafner - Wyandotte train tooling and move it to it's Mexico based plant to produce inexpensive trains for the Mexican market.

 1959-1960 Saw the introduction on TV influenced sets, such as a frontier wood burning locomotive with tender, baggage and passenger cars. Being a mix of tin and plastic, it was known as the William Crooks or AKA the Wells Fargo playset.

The Space Age will also influence new playsets and train sets. Rocket launchers and missile carriers will appear in such train sets as the famed Cape Canaveral Sets, New Haven, Allstate and Santa Fe. Marx would also produce new olive drab sets completely dedicated to a military theme.

  Marx's largest retailer, Sears, would also get trains sets themed entirely to them. Marx would produce the Allstate line of plastic trains. Diesel, as well as steam sets, would honor the Sears company. The Orange Allstate E7 diesel set (pictured above) and the Blue Alco S-3 switcher sets are highly prized by collectors.

  Marx was ingenious when it came to combining sets and recycling parts and materials. Nothing was wasted at the Marx plants. Plastic and tin were recycled when possible. If parts from one toy or set could be slightly modified and used in another type of set or toy, Marx would do it!

  As early as 1935, Marx  made scores of accessory items to compliment his train lines. Economically priced and fitting in size, you probably will find some of them used with Lionel or American Flyer trains. Towers, lights, crossing arms, grades, tunnels, dump bins, buildings, depots, terminals, workers, passengers, loading docks, loading equipment; you name it, Marx made it!

 Trains were made in England, Germany, Mexico, South America, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong and Japan, that usually displayed the MarX CIRCLE X trademark.

 The Marx Toy Company made a full line of all kinds of toys. Selling toys from 1919 until 1980. Marx was one of the earliest toy companies to experiment with plastics. They invented the PLAYSET around 1949- 1950. They made toys engineered with high quality standards and sold at an economical price, so everyone could own one. Most Marx toys still are in working condition today ! They were toys for the working class of the world; the affordable alternative solution to building your own toy railroad empire!

 Louis Marx was the Toy King  for many years and was a deserving candidate to be the First Toy Manufacturer elected to the Toy Hall of Fame. His ideas of mass production and low pricing earned a plaque that defines him as "The Henry Ford of the Toy Industry".

He sold off the toy company to Quaker Oats/ Fisher-Price in 1972 and retired from the USA toy business. Quaker Oats sold off the Marx division in 1975 to British maker Dunbee-Combex. The US Marx warehouses and storage rooms were auctioned in 1978. Dunbee-Combex-Marx ended production in 1980.

Kids & adults alike really appreciated his toy line. And a great deal of thanks really deserves to go out to the men and women that worked at all the Marx facilities, who actually made this great toy era possible! Thank you! 

MODERN SERIES:

The Marx brand train was reintroduced  in 1992. They produced a tin scale series and a six inch line, based on old Marx designs. Modern Marx only made trains complementing the previous line, not reproducing it. The old Canadian Pacific engine design was modified and used extensively, with impressive results. In 2004 the Ameritrains brand took over the New Marx brand trains. You can get more info and view a few of them, by clicking below.      

     NEW MARX HENRY DREYFUS Twentieth Century Limited

See: Modern Marx Trains

Florida's American Plastics company purchased the Marx train and toy assets, molds, and dies from Dunbee-Combex-Marx in 1982. Marx's old train prototypes and excess toys and some tooling were auctioned off. K-line (now Lionel) has been producing Marx O style plastic trains for years. Model Power has done the HO trains. Plastimarx or Mexican Marx continued manufacturing after 1978. American Plastics gained the intellectual rights to Marx in 1988 and in the 1990's have remolded some of the old Marx toys and introduced new ones.

Value and Pricing:

The better the condition, the more the train is worth. Rarity and Boxes add much to the value of a train. Marx items also have sentimental value. Here is the typical grading system as shone on eBay:

C-10 Mint: All original, brand new, unused and unmarred.

C-9 Factory New : all original, unused, may have factory rubs and slight evidence of handling, shipping and having been factory test run.

C-8 Like New: Complete and original. No rust, no missing parts, may show signs of display and age, minimal track time.

C-7 Excellent: All original tiny scratches and paint/litho scuffs, no rust and no missing parts. No distortion of  parts.

C-6 Very Good: Minor scratches and paint nicks, minor spots of surface corrosion, no major dents. Some minor parts may be replaced.

C-5 Good: Shows play wear and usage, scratches with minor paint/litho loss. Small dents, light surface rust.

C-4 Fair: Scratched. Worn paint/litho, dented or missing parts, surface rust. Highly used.

C-3 Poor: Requires major repair. Heavily scratched, major rust, missing parts. Restoration recommended.

C-2 Restoration item: Restoration needed.

C-1 Junk, good for parts only: Junk, usable for parts.

Availability:

Many new and used Marx trains and Accessories are right here on eBay. Just type in Marx trains and click search or click below. Your Marx train treasure awaits you. Best of luck!

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