Marx Put-to-gether Cowboys Precursor to Britains Swoppets, several companies tried to make figures that could be change. Marx did with two sets of figures. One was guards men the other was cowboys. We did an overview of the Marx cowboys recently, John Scebetta has come back with some more interesting information and photos.
Marx Put-to-gether Cowboys Precursor to Britains Swoppets Information
So I was reading your Sept. 2017 ‘Comment Time’ and I saw the photo and the discussions on the Marx put-to-gether COWBOYS. Noticed the speculation on how and when they were sold. I felt I had to share with our fellow collectors as I have a boxed set, along with the instruction sheet that came with the set. See the attached photos, I hope you can post these on your site for other collectors to see? I also have some ‘loose’ figures I’ve picked up over time so I took a photo of the three color variations in the one pose to show these color variations.
Marx Put-to-gether Cowboys Precursor to Britains Swoppets Figures
Of note is the boxed set of figures do not appear to have been played with much, if at all; their colors are still quite bright and they are in real fine shape. Some of the loose figures I have the arms do not stay up and some even have the little plug broken off, a few have some small cracks in the torsos where the arms attach. Probably played with a lot by kids and worn out.
They are pretty cool figures and you don’t see them very often. I did happen to see a set of the four poses in Chicago last month, at a table downstairs just around the corner from Rick Eber and Francis Turner’s tables. I didn’t pick them up as they were a little pricey for me.
Speaking of Francis, I have asked him if he can perhaps tell us when Marx ordered this mold, and when the mold was delivered. Francis has books of mold information and he may be able to let us know.
Marx Put-to-gether Cowboys Precursor to Britains Swoppets Update
John heard back from Francis Turner of the Marx Museum. Francis said that the mold was delivered to Marx November 6,1953. The mold was done by Ferriot Brothers and costed $4000.00. That is the equivalant in today’s money $36,973.63
At OTSN John Stengel Jr had a set of 4 in red in a plastic case, he wanted something like $200.00 for them, but he did manage to find a couple extra in blue and yellow that I took a picture of and submitted for a posting here. I think John was starting to sell off some of his fathers private collection. In fact when he sold me the one put together figure he gave me another and said it was a gift from his dad.
I personally think they look much better than your average Swoppet type figure, perhaps because the guns and hat are molded to the hand, they remind me more of an Ausley type figure rather than a Swoppet.
Thank you for very interesting post John Scebetta!!!!
Well base in what i find out before thanks to folks here that summit info and this post i can say that Marx did the first real swapped or moveable/interchangeable parts figures (not swoppet as is a word made out by Britain-Herald).
Marx in essence surpass and are real swapped compared to Britain-Herald as way more pieces can be swapped.Yet Britain did the mass production of the type figure more available in a decade later While Marx did not .
What happen is MARX in 1950s was already a mass producer of figures in plastic and toys way much larger than Britain and had more factories around as well sale way more .
So in Marx mentality a mold of that price (at today’s conversion as state above of close to 37 000) for only 4-6 figures is way above almost double of today production mold of near 20.000 for a EXF mold of 8 multi pieces figures and way much that what any mold of 8 to 16 poses MARX sets figures were back then.That made they (Marx) think was not profitable to produce such figures sets when they can do much more playful poses figures larger sets and include in playset x childrens and sill sale then more cheaper.
Conclusion the cost versus profits and sale price was way too high compare with same time era others sets much larger less costly and lower sale price x market to move fast and export abroad as well as MARX wax doing .So they cancel the continuing of this line right away.
In the Other Hand Britain went to release the first Herald (I will call then swivel-SWAPPED) set not swapped as first were very limited two pieces or else separated by 1956-patent register and 1958 first mass production was first very limited compared to any other Marx toys in the world .Also the line was sold at high price as top line toys not quite affordable to every kid /parents .BRITAIN packing and toy soldiers sets were and are always top line detail quality figures sold above economic margin standard of their time at stores.
So base in less production and limited sale target view they could move ahead and produce them x their specific target buyers-client or else.
In the other hand and also BEFORE Britain IT WAS “GAMA” from Spain as I say before the first releasing and with patent data 6-22-1954 of swivel swapped torso figures sets .Gama making much more sets such Africans,pygmies,indians(varies tribes), Canadians,mexican ,gladiators ,etc.Again very limited national production and today high priced figures set x collectionist .But again limited for Spain-Portugal and France market primarily.Making then obscure to much of us till resent when all this had come to light thanks to Books ,information and Patent data research exposed .
So Both Marx and Gama come first than Herald in making figures swivel -swapped in multi pieces plastic than Herald patent 1956 and production first set 1958.
Britain did approach a better area target market and made much profit out of it plus expand the line x exports later making them internationally recognized all over and as symbol of Swappet-swoppet figures worldwide.
Last to say from my view both Herald and Gama use the paint as part of touch in their style figures while MARX did what TIMPO will do much later ,true multi pieces separated colored molded already to be assembled or swap pieces figures.Two concept of swappet figures in my opinion.So i will approach-mention that MARX concept as to be more comparable with TIMPO than Herald in way production and design and those of GAMA and Herald more alike in design.
Last to least …the MARX concept may had been precursor to action figures as well if look closely in way pieces attached and made .
My thoughts.
Best.
I’ve seen the red, blue and yellow variations, but the brown and gray are nice new options to me. Were other colors made?
Do you sell the Marx put together cowboys, or do you know where I could purchase them?? When were these cowboys first made?
Hi Tim
You will have to go to Ebay. The figures were made in the 1950s.