L245 RARE MARX TIN LITHO 1948 INDY 500 MECH SPEED RACER

Pricing & History

Sold for
Start Free Trial or Sign In to see what it's worth.
Sold Date
Source eBay

LOT # 245 Detailed Photos Estate Road Show L245 RARE MARX TIN LITHO 1948 INDY 500 MECH SPEED RACER Item Description We proudly offer this Large & RARE all original, 1948 Louis Marx tin litho wind up #27 Indianapolis 500 Winner bullet shaped open racer, with the fancy lithograph grill, and some of the most beautiful highlights we have seen in a long time. This is a classic & Valuable Marx racer. Research consulted: Greenbergs Guide To Marx Toys Volumes I & II AND Marx Toys Robots, Space, Comic, Disney, & TV Characters / both by Maxine A. Pinsky; Marx Toys Sampler A History & Price Guide / by Michelle L. Smith; O Briens Collecting Toy Cars & Trucks / both edited by Karen O Brien. Louis Marx was born in Brooklyn on 08 / 11 / 1896, NY to Jacob and Clara Lou Marx, and after graduating from Ft. Hamilton High School in 1911, became an Office boy for Ferdinand Strauss mechanical toy manufacturer in 1912. By 1916, Louis Marx became manager of Strauss' New Jersey plant, but was soon fired for urging volume manufacturing /sales. After a short stint in the Army, he returned to civilian life as a salesman for Vermont Wood Products Co. gaining experience in wood toys. Louis Marx and Co., Inc. was established in 1919 with brother David; and as middlemen they worked on sales commission. With a wealth of experience in hand, Marx marketed toys from other factories; Strauss, C.G. Wood, Girard, Carter. At last in 1921 Louis rented factory space from Carter toys in Erie, PA (formerly associated with Strauss), and began to make toys in that year. Late in 1921 Louis was able to purchase Strauss with old dies for the Alabama minstrel dancer, and Zippo climbing monkey. By the end of 1922, Louis Marx had already sold over 8 million of each toy and had become a millionaire, and in 1928 produced an innovative new Yo-Yo which achieved an all-time record sales of over 100 million units, being distributed through Sears. From the golden age of the tin lithotype toys during the 1930s through the latter synthetic Linemar collaboration with the Japanese in the 1950s and 1960s, Marx Toys established a quality and innovation standard that will maintain them as one of the prime collectibles for generations to come. 1972 saw the end of the Louis Marx era, as the company was purchased by the Quaker Oats Co. of Stamford, Conn. Over the years, Marx used Marx, Marline, Joy Line, and Lumar as trade names. Retail Value Estimate: $350-$400 Condition: EXC cond, Functional, very minor rust & wear, C8+ Weight: 10oz Measurements (LxWxH): 11.75 inches x 4.5 inches x 2.5 inches Estate Road Show Sunday 1pm CST, this link will allow you to watch this live auction lot by lot , similar to the eBay Live prior to 2008. If you need help please contact us at or . Show your support for the return of live auctions to eBay, use Timed-Snipe-Live, save 25% off shipping when you use it. Just remind us later and ask for manual invoice. Send your comments via FaceBook (link below) or email us -- do you want more live auctions on eBay? Also simulcast on ArtFact & AuctionZip LIVE on Sunday. LIVE NR ESTATE AUCTION: You can attend this live auction in person (3450 HW72, Killen AL) and place your bids on eBay using Timed-Snipe-Live. Winner on eBay is winner - not a normal live auction where the hammer is under the control of an auctioneer. Free brunch, no buyers premium, view lots in person, avoid shipping costs! Previews of smalls in Killen AL open 9-4pm daily and 9-12 on Sunday. This live auction is also being simulcasted on AuctionZip LIVE - ArtFact and FaceBook. PROVENANCE: Items in this auction are from a Road Show Picker trip to Columbia SC (Hill Estate) - from buildings full of history untouched for decades. We have just started to uncover the treasures .. watch our Youtubes, tell us what to bring to auction! This is only event #1. SHIPPING: Remember, we can load up a 18x18x12 box with several lots and ship under $14 to most places, ask for manual invoice. ... read more

Items in the Price Guide are obtained exclusively from licensors and partners solely for our members’ research needs.

Flag item for content or copyright

If this item contains incorrect or inappropriate information please contact us here to flag it for review.

If you are the originator/copyright holder of this photo/item and would prefer it be excluded from our community, contact us here for removal.