Louis Marx Toys
Sep 16, 2015 | by Becky Oeltjenbruns
1948 Hudson fire car
This week’s post is inspired by the yellow school bus that arrives every morning by my home, reminding me about the exuberance of youth. Seeing all those happy faces scurrying off to start a new day filled with learning adventures reminds me of my own school days.
Unfortunately you can’t bottle up and save that time of life, but toys are a great substitute! I can say collecting toys is a very rewarding hobby. No matter how old I get, checking out toys from my childhood (or the childhood of my parents’ or grandparents’) is a great way to bring an instant smile to my face. The toy company I researched this week has a great back story to boot. Hope you enjoy & please add your comments below!
In the early 1900s Ferdinand Strauss (of the Ferdinand Strauss Toy Company) hired a young teenager by the name of Louis Marx. His role: errand boy. Louis, however, was not your typical entry level employee. Within a few months he became one of the youngest salesmen to join the ranks at Strauss Toys. Fast forward a couple years and by 1917, he was running the entire factory. When I think about what I was accomplishing when I was 21, well, let’s just say Louis is inspiring.
With this new role, came further responsibilities. Louis understood the market and saw the need for Strauss to refocus their efforts on toy production rather than retail sales. Ferdinand didn’t agree and they parted ways. But Louis’ toy story did not end there – he and his brother David opened up shop in NYC. This partnership was incredibly successful and by the ripe age of 26 Marx was a millionaire. His recipe of efficiency and design was popular with manufacturers and consumers alike. In fact, by the Art Deco age Louis Marx toys was number one in the world.
The big wheel!
What is Louis Marx known for? The yo-yo for one (which hails from the glorious city of Philadelphia), the Big Wheel, train sets, Rock ’em Sock ’em Robots, tanks, and cars. Collectors love the keywind systems and vehicles with these systems are the most valuable. The feature image for this post is an example of one of their keywind cars. Most of his toys were marked on the underside and you’ll find a link to the Marx logo here.
Louis’ success forged ahead for decades. His talent as a designer and businessman kept his toy company on the cutting edge of what the consumer craved. By the early 1970s, the company was sold as he felt it was time for a younger designer to take the helm.
What I love about this toy company isn’t just the toys – I mean, who doesn’t love Rock ’em Sock ’em Robots – but the true joy for me is found in knowing the story behind the company. The legacy of Louis Marx reminds me to be pioneering and brave. And it also inspires me to branch out into other collecting categories, to see what other amazing iconic success stories I can uncover…
Big thanks to Antiques Roadshow 20th Century Collectibles, Wikipedia, and the people who post their images to the public domain.
For our readers: Did you have a big wheel? What’s your favorite childhood toy?