Marx Toy Museum
6.28.2008
Moundsville, WV - When you go to visit the Official Marx Toy Museum get ready for an education. This isn’t a museum that you got to just to look at toys, it’s one where you get to learn about them. You can’t play with them, but considering some of the toys can bring in as much as $14,000 on the collectors market I guess that makes sense. So basically it’s the opposite of every principal a child holds dear. Well, at least it’s a fun education.
When you first come to the museum you’ll be met by the owner, Francis Turner. He has a whole schpeal that lasts a good half hour and includes a little ten minute video that tells you the rise and fall of the Marx empire. I happened to show up at the same time as some other visitors so we got the tour all at the same time, but something tells me he’ll give his talk to as few as one visitors. He’s an expert on the Marx toys and Louis Marx himself. And with thousands of toys that span the 60 years of Marx rule, you can understand how he could get a little attached.
Once the tour is over the museum is free for you to wander about and enjoy the fascinating collection of toys that have gathered there. They’re all behind glass and chances are that if you grew up in the 50’s you played with a Marx toy. That was their golden age. I was born a few decades after the Marx heyday so the only toy I really remember having myself was a Big Wheel. Not having a nostalgic connection to the toys doesn’t make them any less awesome. My favorites are the tin toys. The best part about the tin toys is the fact that all do something. Climbing, rolling, jumping and jostling. Francis shows you some of the best and I think I have a vague recollection of seeing the tank he showed us when I was very, very small.
There are thousands of tiny plastic figurines which sold for 10¢. Entire play sets span several television shows, historical events and everyday life. Those are the kinds of toys Marx made. Most of the toys in the collection are boys toys, they’re also the one’s collectors are willing to pay more for. Francis thinks it’s because girls toys are things like stoves and washing machines and once girls grow up they get to play with the real thing. I think it ’cause boys never grow up. But that’s just me. Although I have to admit, he boys toys are a bit more awesome.
Aside from the cases and cases of toys the Marx Toy Museum also has a wild west area, featuring western toys, a 50’s diner/gift shoppe, and the prototype room. I loved the prototype room, and I’m fairly certain that it’s Francis’ favorite room too. Inside are rare pieces like the monster mansion and a large circus that never made it into production. There are the original carved figurines that were used to pull molds from and the molds themselves. And, my personal favorite, the original painted artwork for the package design. I gotta say, package design has always been hot!
Possibly the most interesting bit about the museum is that Francis never played with Marx toys as a kid. As awesome as Marx toys were, they still weren’t cheep so you had to decide where your priorities were and sometimes a dime for a toy could be used in many more productive ways. Francis didn’t begin falling in love with Marx toys until he started buying and selling them to turn a profit. In the end he had so many Marx toys he opened the museum. Francis is forever collecting the toys so if you have any Marx toys that you’re willing to part with he would be happy to take them off your hands. Of course it’s the profit that he generates from buying and selling items that truly fund the museum, so if you see something you take a shine to you can always ask.
