Marx Playset 1964 (2 Viewers)

[modwalls]

I think my brother and I got this in 1961 or 2 for Christmas. I think $7.97 was week's profit back then for my folks.

Oh Yes, I think every kid who grew up on Marx playsets had the Battle of Blue and Gray. That is the classic, also the Fort Apache, and Battleground playsets. Of course I must not leave out The Alamo or Knights and Vikings, and Robin hood. I think the most of us age 65 to age 40 something were hooked by these playsets. That and the Wars that were going on, and that had been fought. We grew up with Combat, Rawhide, Wagon Train, and though Vietnam was being fought, Korea and WWII was still a major topic of discussion when family gatherings took place. I still look at those figs with a smile on my face, they just bring back such great times crawling around on the floor, or out in the yard.

 

[binder001]

NIce memories brought back by seeing the photos and ads. I remember seeing the Sears catalogs and the first pages I went to were the Marx playsets. I remember they had some playset that was about a double sized "Battleground Playset". I remembered the WW2 figures, the Civil War figures, some cowboys, some Marx spacemen, but it was years later that I heard about Robin Hood, The Untouchables and some of the other subjects. Marx was quite the toy producer, even by current standards.

As I moved from "toy" soldiers to models, the final service my older Marx figures served was to teach me to paint figures. I used many of them to practice my techniques. Speaking of platoons, one 40-man platoon that I created were all in USMC-inspired "duck hunter" camo suits. One day my mother asked if I would care to pass along the box of toy soldiers to a co-worker's son and I agreed, so off they went.

Some economic trivia for the younger folks. First when we talk about our history of 98-cent bags of figures, the starting wage was on the order of $0.75/hr (at least that was my first regular wage in 1967). I remember mowing lawns all afternoon to get money for soldiers or models. So a current bag of TSSD's represents actually less proportion of my hour's wages now than the Marx figures did in the 60's. Also, when I commented about the high cost of current playsets one must remember that "in the old days" Marx was selling their toy sets in the mass market. It was common for a boy to get a playset at Christmas or a birthday and almost EVERY male child had military toys of some sort. Now the playsets go to a limited number of aging collectors.

 

[gi546]

it would be nice if for this year marx would rerelease some of their classic playsets in the sears catalogs so that the younger generations can enjoy them, too.

 

[eborris]

i remember my dad told he had some of these sets.
he has only told me about his old fort apache(which he nno longer has)
but i'm sure he had some of the other ones too.
but that was like 40 years ago.i doubt he remembers all the detailss.
but anyway, i wished i grew up during the 50's-60's time period.
bags of soldiers for 98 cents, huge playsets for under $10.
oh how i envy you guys.

I just happen to know someone that has a few Fort Apache's with the Rin Tin Tin figures, if you're looking to buy one. Yes, that would be me.

 

[gi546]

I just happen to know someone that has a few Fort Apache's with the Rin Tin Tin figures, if you're looking to buy one. Yes, that would be me.

you can keep them.
but thanks for the offer though, its very appreciated.
i'm sure it'd be awkward to walk in on my dad playing with an old fort apache set, making *BANG**BANG* sounds.
but i would understand why he'd be doing it.

 

[Scott]

I watched a man carry out the Conte Beau Geste set boxes from The Hobby Bunker. I said "You have one lucky kid."

He said "It's for me" and smiled.

 

[rcleary171]

Regarding: Marx Battleground Play Set 4756

This was one of my favorite Christmas presents. At the time it seemed that I had hundreds of soldiers and accessories. Looking at the set now it seems much more sparce then I remembered. I wish I had the money to burn on one of these babies.

Check out the link below:

http://www.treefrogtreasures.com/forum/album.php?albumid=658

 

[jac28]

Battleground was a great set! As I mentioned earlier - I'm going to have to start building this set for my collection.. I'll build an early set with the tan guys..Although I have fond memories of when the German soldiers finally were produced..

Thx for sharing the pics...

Jim