Followers of Toys & Stuff know that we've been able to feature some of the original Marx tin-litho playset pieces. I don't own a complete original Marx set but do have the buildings and vehicles. Original figures for the set have simply become priced out of reach for many collectors and so we have to rely on other means to flesh out our sets. One way is to buy the sets made by Juguetes Dinamicos de Mexico, S.A.(translated: Dynamic Toys of Mexico). Sometimes these too can be pricey - this set selling for about $100 - but you do get a lot of pieces and the entire complement of figures that originally came with the Marx sets. Quite a few of the old Marx plastic toys are still being made in Mexico and they have become a great way to get that vintage Marx feel often times for a fraction of the cost of original Marx.
Normally when sets like this get blogged I'll do it in multiple parts spread out over several weeks. I believe it's time to try a different tact - covering the set in multiple parts on successive days. Let's start this off with the box, playmat, and set contents.
The set comes in this cardboard 'briefcase' similar to the carry-all sets produced by Marx, Ideal, and others.
Contents (all soft plastic except for playmat)
Garage Group, 12 pcs
(truck tooling modified to increase height vs. the originals):
Dump
truck, 1, black
Removable
snow plow (aka ramming blade), 1, black
Semi-tractor,
1, black
Compressor,
1, black
Jack Hammers,
3, black
Wheel
sets, 5, black
Distillery Group, 22
pcs:
8 Vats,
silver
Dolly
w/handle, 4pcs, blue/white
Barrels,
4, blue/white
Hand trucks,
2, blue/white
Lanterns,
2, blue/white
Sacks,
2, blue/white
Bank Group, 24 pcs:
Desks,
2, blue/white
Cashier
Cages, 2, blue/white
Safes,
2 blue/white
Filing
Cabinets, 2, blue/white
Swivel
type Office Chairs, 2, blue/white
Coat
Racks, 2, blue/white
Cashier/Checkout
Counters, 2, blue/white
Gas
Cans (stack), 2, blue/white
Gas
Cans (single), 6, blue/white
Saloon Group, 18 pcs
Banquette
Seating, 1, white
Ping
Pong Table, 1, green
Juke
Box, 1, blue
Bar, 1
red
Upright
Piano, 1, white
Large Round
Table (plain), 1, red
Small
Round Cocktail Table, 1, white
Dining
Table w/Place Settings, 2, blue/white
Barstools,
2, blue/white
Armchairs
(large), 2, red/yellow
Dining
Chairs, 4, blue/white
Large
Rectangular Table, 1, white (not shown on box photo)
Alley Group, 12 pcs:
Barricades,2
assemblies = 6pcs, blue/white
Street
Signs, 2, blue/white
Streetlamps
w/Callbox, 2, blue/white
Fire
Hydrants, 2, blue/white
Weapons Group, 10 pcs
Tommy
Guns, 4 blue/white
45mm
Pistols, 4, blue/white (I missing in my photos), blue/white
Violin
Cases, 2, blue/white
Gun
Moll, 4, orange (1), red (2), white (1)
Crook,
Hands in Air, 2, white
Gangster
Shot, pistol and Hat Falling, 2, red, light red
Gangster
Pulling Gun Out of Golf Club Bag, 3, red
Gangster
w/scarf over mouth Pointing Pistol, 2, white/orange
Gangster
w/Hands Hand-cuffed Behind Back, 1, white
Casualty
Lying on Ground, 1, gray
Cop
Firing Tommy Gun, 2, red
Fed w/Tommy
Gun at Waist Pointing Down, 1, white
Fed
w/Tommy Gun at Waist Aiming (or Firing), 2, light red,
Fed
w/Pistol, Crouching, 1, red
Fed
Running w/Axe, 1, light red
Fed
Reaching into Coat (for Badge? For Weapon? For Arrest Warrant?), 6, 3 red/3
light red/ 3
white
Fed
w/Pistols Pointing Downward, 3, white/red/orange
Fed w/no
hat or coat, Pistol Pointing Out and Left Arm Extended, 1, light red
Playmat, multi-fold cardboard, 34 5/8” x 30”
The playmat is cardboard and unfolds like a puzzle. The graphics give the viewer the appearance of looking straight down onto the scene as if the roofs were removed from the buildings.
All playmats tend to be problematic and this one is no exception. Being cardboard it is prone to warping from changes in humidity. Plastic mats have a hard time laying flat as the creases where they are folded tend to stick up. Like it Deine Frau Gattin Bettina :)
