"Marx toy soldier sets and Christmas" Topic

As a boy growing up in Iowa, with no access to things such as toy stores this would be around the time of year that the Sears type Christmas catalogues would begin to appear in the mail.
This was the one and only time each year I had the chance to view and see the Marx toy soldier sets -- my brothers and I would pour over each set circling and marking numbers and initials by the most desired ones. Of course, each Christmas we would each get several sets -- I still can see the boxes as we tore off the paper to reveal the set we had so wished for – even smell the insides of the box's.
Even though it has been many years past since those days, the memories still warm my heart -- so much so that when the temperatures begin to drop and the holidays are upon us I have a strong connection between Christmas and Marx. In my mind they will always be connected, inseparable and joined.
For me to think about Christmas without thinking about Marx toy soldiers is impossible. Does anyone else share those thoughts and memories?

Regards
Russ Dunaway

"Several sets?!" ONE set. And it was the basic set. The kid two doors down got the deluxe. He didn't take good care of them, either. I remember THE year I got the deluxe set.

But there were a lot of us kids. And Dad must have spent a decent part of the night assembling those sheet metal buildings because everything was set up Christmas morning when I got up. Yeah, a lot of good memories of those Sears catalogs.

Because I had 9 brothers we were pretty much a Marx toy soldier warehouse. Each year there would be multiple new sets introduced into the home -- often we had repeats! Three Alamo set so imagine the size of our Alamo when we connected them all!!?? Of course back in those days that was pretty much the extent of any gifts for the entire year -- I know kids today would find that hard to believe, but it is fact!!

Regards
Russ Dunaway

You are not alone Old Glory.
One year my dream came true.
The "Guns of Navarone" playset.

I think that I played with them so much that I eroded the plastic on them.

Ft. Apache with Rin Tin Tin, Lt. Rip, and the kid--was it Rory? Sigh.

Wanted other sets, but that never happened. The American Civil War would have been particularly nice during the centennial of the war.

Grelber

I grew up in a four story tenement building in an Italian neighborhood in Chicago. Every Christmas my dad would get a second job during the holidays so he could get gifts for our family. Every year he would get me the latest Marx set which was so much fun opening up all the bags of figures, scenery and forts.
One Christmas they were all sold out of the latest set so on Christmas Eve he went to the store and convinced the owner to sell him the demo set that was in the store window all set up on a board. Mom wrapped it all in Christmas paper and sat it under the tree that night. What a surprise on Christmas morning when the entire Fort Apache set was opened and the figures were popped off the board and played with all day. I think the total cost was $5.00 USD but back then it was a lot of money.
What dad and mom wouldn't sacrifice to give us the best Christmas which still leaves me with happy memories that bring tears to my eyes.

Oh yes.pouring over the catalogs-Sears and Monkey Wards for hours. It was heavenly. By the time I came of age,the Marx sets were still around but not quite as big a deal-GI Joes were the thing. I did have the metal castle and knights and vikings set though.

Along with the Marx sets

My dad did a castle for in 54mm and populated it with MPC Germans and Americans – the second series with formed weapons versus the open hands

Also fondly remember the fireman set from mpc with all the tools, belts etc in white and red

Russ, Yes, fond memories indeed. I was one of the lucky ones who got a Marx set every Christmas.

First of all, Russ, thank you for bringing this up. I'd guess many boys who got into wargaming as men had similar experiences. My first memories actually aren't from Marx, but rather from a Medieval castle by father made me, out of wood, and the Britains plastic knights and Saracens that went with it. Along with them came a number of the gorgeous Timpo Swoppets knights in their glorious coloured plastic. It was a life-shaping experience, as strange as that may sound.

I also have lovely memories of the Marx sets and the Sears catalogues. A friend of mine had the Guns of Navarone set, and my, did we spend hours playing with that thing. Wonderful, wonderful (in the true sense of the word) memories. Great topic!

The Marx play sets were my Red Ryder BB gun…the best presents I ever received; or ever would receive.

Between my brothers and I we had multiple sets of Alamo, AWI, ACW, WW2, Fort apaches, Zorro, etc. The only set I was ever disappointed with was when I was a little older and had discovered the miracles of the female -- My grandma asked what I wanted for Christmas and I casually told her a Marx play set , not giving any specifics?? BIG MISTAKE !! She purchased "the cutest one of all" -- the Flintstones!!
Now as I was the baby of the family and my brothers had also discovered the wonder of the female -or had even flown the coop already this was the only set, and the last set we received. I still did the obligatory overjoyed act -never letting her know that they were not actually "army men!!"
All of these are still in the old homesteads basement as one of my brothers still reside there. I tried to get my son interested, but he was having none of it??
Anyway, the whole point of the post is still how when thoughts of the Christmas season travels through my mind Marx toy soldier are so interweaved that they cannot be separated. Marx is a Christmas word to me.

Regards
Russ Dunaway

The Marx play sets were my Red Ryder BB gun…the best presents I ever received; or ever would receive.

And you didn't shoot your eye out!!!

Ross…something you said made me think…"The smell of the insides of the box"…

Oddly enough as a kid I always "smelled the scent" of things when I opened them up, Wargames, Figures, and D&D modules. Odd but it was a good feeling.

I was only able to get Fort Apache.

Thank you for sharing.

Yes, I have those same memories. Zoro, the Blue and the Grey, Knights and Vikings, Sgt. Preston, WW II, the time they released the French, British and Russians along with the Americans and Germans.
How about Horrible Hamilton and the Blue Defenders? Big Caesar? Remco WW I planes and troops?

Yes indeed, great memories of both the catalogs and the Marx sets. Actually, I only got four of the Marx sets: two versions of Fort Apache, Zorro, and Robin Hood. But there was other great stuff. The Ideal Toy Company made a pirate ship (probably inspired by Disney's "Treasure Island," but without any overt branding. The same company also put out several fort sets, including knights, Mounties, American Revolution, Alamo, etc. The forts were extremely rudimentary, but came with decent accessories, and the figures were arguably the best sculpted toy figures ever produced in soft plastic, equally good in poses, proportions, and detail. The figures were bigger than Marx, maybe around 70mm.

I envied you guys :-(

Some years back I visited the Marx museum in Moundsville W.V.
It is actually in the old Marx factory. I entered that place in awe as if I was in the Vatican or somewhere?
I could not believe the sheer amount of sets on display there that I had no ldea they existed = Gunsmoke, the rifleman, rawhide, the untouchables, various fort sets I had never seen including a magnificent Boonsboro,etc.etc.etc.
Sadly, I think the museum has since closed.

Regards
Russ Dunawsy

I loved looking at the Sears catalogue. Had Guns of Navarone and ACW set. My sister was furious with me because I kept taking her doll house to give the Yanks and Rebs something to fight over.

One of my fondest Christmas memories was the year my father got me a stack of 1/72 Airfix sets. He taped them together and wrapped them as one big column. Probably the only thing other than underwear I got that year. My father was a gunnery sergeant in the Marine Corps so we didn't have much money.

Great thread Russ.

Memories! I got the Civil War set. Best Christmas ever. I always wanted the Alamo set in the worst way. Never got it. I used to look through the Sears catalog dreaming of getting toy soldier sets. I remember one particular year that they had a Crimean War Charge of the Light Brigade set that I wanted desperately. Don't remember who made it, but it was painted and in the Sears Catalog. I had forgotten about it until just now. Thanks for the memories Russ!

Yep, all the MARX sets and forts. And the Britains sets and castles !

Heck, I still have all those sets and more. There are thousands of Marx collectors out there. Start here:

marxwildwest.com

Playset magazine is devoted to Marx and other playsets:

playsetmagazine.com

Always wanted one but never had one. Neighbor kid had the Civil War set, I was green with envy but I got over it.

Fifth grade living in Charlotte, NC. No friends having just moved there over the summer. The Sears wish book had the Marx Civil War set in it. 54 Union, 63 Confederate soldiers. Had to have it. Got it. Enjoyed it for many years. Added other sets to it but never another period until I got into metal figs in my 30's.
Christmas has 2 special memories: Grandma joining us and Marx Civil War set, in that order.

I fondly remember my Marx sets also – Zorro, Capt. Gallant, Blue and Grey, Flinstones and others. I always wanted the Ben Hur, Vikings and Alamo, but somehow never had those. But loved looking at the Sears catalog with all the great images.

Great thread here, being in the U.K. it was the big box Airfix stuff I got at Christmas, my father usually ended up working on Christmas day so it would be all set up waiting for him to come home from work. No rest for him as I pestered him to start playing with the new set straight away!

I only had 3 sets. The original Alamo set with the metallic blue Mexicans.
My Dad worked in a Dept. store. At some point he got me the display board with the Air Force training center on it. When I was in Jr high school or near that time; I bought the Ben Hur set. I remember I was embarrassed because I am sure none of my friends still played with toy soldiers. I removed all the pcs little by little outside my house and brought them into my bedroom little by little. Threw away the box. There was a neighborhood kid that had many Marx sets. I was very jealous. I always wanted the Blue and the Gray set, the Zorro set, and the Rin Tin Tin Fort Apache. Oh, and the Captain Gallant set too. It is amazing to see just how many cool sets Marx made.

I enjoyed talking about this with you at Fall-In. It brought back good memories. The first set I had was the Guns of Navarone set. I took that everywhere. Played with it inside and outside. The sandbox was my favorite place to set it up. I always wanted more sets, but never received more.

For me,age five, the Disney Alamo:

And the Roy Rogers Western Town:

Some "colorful" figures in that one:

BTW: To avoid heart attack, don't look at the prices some of these sets are going for nowadays.

When I was seven years old I actually wrote a letter to Marx to complain.

All the really useful weapons for the Germans were all in ridiculous poses. The ghuy carrying the panzerschrek had it over his shoulder and the guy with the MG42 was a prone casulty!

As much as a seven year old would never have the germans win a game, why were all the good weapons in useless poses?

Strangely enough, they sent me another extra bag of german troops to make up for it.

I never did ask why they had one GI posing with his back all arched and his helmet flying off his head,,,.

Oh yes, that Alamo set brings back memories and the Roy Rogers Western town!!! We had a tiny black baby cat we called Tiny and I used to push it thru the doors to the Music Hall Saloon when I wanted a monster to eat the cowboys.

One Christmas they were all sold out of the latest set so on Christmas Eve he went to the store and convinced the owner to sell him the demo set that was in the store window all set up on a board.

My dad did the same thing! My Blue and Gray figures all have at least some damage to the base where they were stapled on to the board, but that turned out to be a good thing because it reduces their resale value and eliminates any temptation to sell these treasures.

Some of the figures have become brittle over the years, so that a distressing number of rifles, swords, and even arms are breaking off at the slightest touch. Are others seeing this happen?

I grew up in a big city, so never had the catalogue experience.

I did have Marx's plastic Fort Apache, with gray soldiers who could either ride horses or stand on their own, but I think it was a birthday present. I also had Marx (I think) pirates with their red pirate ship.

Some of the figures have become brittle over the years, so that a distressing number of rifles, swords, and even arms are breaking off at the slightest touch. Are others seeing this happen?:

Yes, for 2 reasons. First Marx experimented with various combinations of plastics. Some of them turned brittle over the years due to the composition.

Second, if you store plastic figures in a basement, attic or shed that experiences vast temperature swings, the figures will dry out and break. I'm talking 100 degrees in the summer and 0 degrees in the winter.

Marx demonstrator boards are HIGHLY sought after and bring prices in the thousands of dollars today.

I still have my original Giant Blue and Gray set from when I was a kid. I even have the box!!

I clearly recall making all the "sound effects" for the battle as My brothers and I played including horses, men screaming, rifle shots, cannon shots, orders being called out, etc.etc etc.
In 1967 just before shipping out for the Marines I quietly went into the basement and stood my wee little men up for the last time -- just set there and stared at them, but as I stood them up I made the same "sound effect" sounds,
Innocence lost I suppose?
Anyway, Merry Christmas and a great Thanksgiving all!!

Regards
Russ Dunaway

I remember the G. Fox store in Hartford, CT had a beautiful Alamo set but it cost $30 USD or $40 USD which back in the 50's was expensive so we never got it. It was the "one" that got away.

Jeff Caruso

Indeed, back in the 50s, early 60s Marx sets were costly by the standards -- we were upper lower class all the way down to middle lower class at times -- so this was why these were a
specific Christmas item -- which is why I so closely associated Marx with Christmas -- they are enter wined in my mind. I have no idea what they cost as in my finicial state back then I gladly crawled the highway ditchs of Iowa seeking pop bottles for the two cent deposits which would enable me to purchase baseball cards.
I am sure all my German/ Irish relatives would pool their resources to get my brothers and I these gifts.
My Mom was German and seemed perpetually angry, my Dad was Irish and was always drunk it seemed -- that being said I have none of the horror stories so often associated with the whole "drunken father" testimonies as my dad was a happy drunk -- in fact, on Friday night me and my brothers would lay in wait to shake him down when he came home -- sadly, often he had nothing to give and was always remorseful about that -- oh well -- he left half his left hand in Peleliu so I suppose "he gave at the office" so to speak. In the end we were a reasonable happy lot.

Regards
Russ Dunaway

Actually, it's not true that Marx sets were expensive. They were geared towards middle and lower class families at the time
Most sets were made with different figures counts. A small ACW set might have 25 figures per side for $4.95 USD while the Giant Blue and Gray had almost 200 figures and sold for 12.99.

Jeff, your memory is playing tricks on you. The most expensive Alamo set ever made cost $7.99 USD and came with 5 cannons.
This book has all the Sears catalog toy sections reprinted into one volume. It also shows prices.

link

As A child I was never aware of the prices? I do know that the minimum wage back then was around a 75 cents --$1USD an hour so a $5 USD or $10 USD toy for multiple boys was expensive in our home.

Regards
Russ Dunaway

As an FYI, just noticed that the Capt. Gallant molds have resurfaced and Classic Toy Soldiers has them now. These were like hens teeth :0

Those Capt. Gallant figures are not from the Marx molds. CTS made their own molds and the figures are different and slightly smaller.
The Capt Gallant mold has been lost for 50 years.

My biggest thrill was when I opened my first Christmas Club account. When it came due, I proudly collected my money and marched down to Woolworth's and purchased the Marx Civil War battle set. My younger brother and I were in seventh heaven. Someone mentioned the "smell" associated with the sets and I vaguely remember that. I also have a recollection that there was some form of brown paper packing. Great times!!

"Those Capt. Gallant figures are not from the Marx molds"

Thanks for the heads up :) Just saw B+W pics and they fooled me <sigh> I know a lot of the molds ended up in Mexico.