Marx Plastic figures in Russia has been a question on many collectors’ minds for years. since their appearance in the late 70’s. Collector have wondered how these figures showed up in Russia. We have got a partial answer recently from the catalog of Ark Models a company in Russia which is presently selling the Marx figures.
In their catalog description Ark models gave the history of the molds. In the description of the figures they noted that the figure molds were purchased by the Soviet government. Ark Models then said the molds were run in 1977 by the Donetsk Toy Factory. This company ran the molds for about 20 years before discontinuing the figures. Ark Models acquired the molds and retooled them so they could offer the figures today.
Ark Models has Marx six inch figures and 60mm figures. In the six inch range they have Vikings, World War II Russians, cavemen and American pioneers. the figures are sold in groups of two of the same type such as Two Vikings, etc. The 60mm figure range has knights, Vikings, Romans, pirates, Cowboys and Indians. the figures were from the Marx Warriors of the World. while the knights were suppose to be part of the Marx Warriors of the World Range they were never issued. Some of the knight’s poses could have been copied for 25mm knights used in the miniature playset that Marx did. Some samples or prototypes have shown up of the Marx Warrior of the World knights.
When the knights showed up from Russia in the United States in 1980’s or 90’s collectors were glad to get a representation of these figures for their collection. The only figures still missing from the original purchase by Russia are the Marx 60mm Egyptians which was also offered back in the 1980’s. The original Marx Egyptian set had a very limited distribution and is highly sought after by Marx Warriors of the World Collectors.
The 60mm figures are sold boxed. The boxes are have great designs. The pirates are sold as Caribbean pirates. It is nice to see these figures back for collectors and the general population.
Seen x years around but hard to get in the US, the early and latest. Interesting fact is the former Soviet Union got interested in the purchase. I also have several Vikings,Indians and pirates only cloned 60 mm poses (done with new mold) of same figures from Rumania and Bulgaria in late 80’s.You can see the minor difference in faces and shield, but more important the bottom base mold entrances and scape lanes that tell you a different mold was created. Wonder how it was done? I had compare to all original Germany made, Hong Kong WOW Marx line molds and not match so far.
Last I notice the 4 sailors set was sold in the 80’s in Russia/UK and Europe too ,but not reissue later as Egyptians.
Interesting. I went on the Ark website and there were pictures of the 6 inch figures but no photos of the contents of the box sets.
Paul, you forgot Pirate set.
Also long time Indians set have only 7 figures, because 8th cavity (kneeling wounded indian) was damaged. This figure was extremely rare in USSR and, before internet era, was near mythical 🙂
Now ARK restore this part of mould and issue full set of 8 figures.
Same thing with Knights set. Which originally contain 8 poses, but two cavities was damaged and unfortunatelly not restored yet. So ARK Knights set still have only 6 poses.
Denitz
Thanks for the correction. I was trying to read my notes and missed it. Very interesting on the Indian poses. I will have to check my knights.
My early odd knights sets are 6 too in black color, I got them in mid 90’s .
Wonder what were the other poses if ever done. Sailors sets were 4 only, I heard a comment once that original 8 poses was done but I never heard any after at all!!.The Americans for Mexico/America war were only 4 poses too but Mexican were 8 ,so again I will like to know what happen with standard Marx 8 poses mold in this line on those sets
Erwin
The Americans that were done for the Mexican War were done in the 1950’s. The Mexicans for Mexican War were done in 1960’s for Warriors of the world line so they did 8 poses. why Marx only did four poses of them and 1812 sailors is mystery.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Russian-Marx-recast-Cowboys-Set-in-the-box-1-32-scale-/252174706116?hash=item3ab6c8a5c4:g:aFUAAOSwiwVWS2TP Interesting to compare the german-made, painted cowboys just sold on the Stadstuff ebay site to the ones made in Russia today. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Marx-60mm-Cowboys-made-in-Germany-Set-of-Two-/371447929250?nma=true&si=W61jJ2%252FBaGYccLJkc38nrdkrqWI%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
I wish they would recast those 4 sailor poses. I’d probably get 3 sets, as long as they weren’t asking ridiculous prices.
Greg I got twice the later odd sailors sets in not high price from Europe in unpainted version, one rare problem I notice that only those figures were done in a very fragile plastic type, not hard plastic but definitely not typical Marx one,two figure got arm broken easy x some reason in just shipping and not reason, after a wile playing around I found one almost snapping off and material cracking. I had not check them later but now are inside home all wrap around.I will love to get more but that stop me back them one got those. Also I like to know if other 4 poses were done ever x same set.
Erwin
If you can find the 1812 sailors they are cheaper in Europe. I still remember one PW show one shelf of dealers stand was Cherilea Executioner Set which he want 90 pounds a figure. right below that were Marx 1812 sailors, which took every one. Problem is the 1812 sailors are very fragile and break. I have to hand carry them back from the UK if found.
ADMIN.That is where I got from in 1995/1996. Now they are indeed very fragile as I explain before. I wonder why!?; if these were done later recast or some old stock .I got one set in silver other in metallic odd dark royal blue. Both same material. Much later I try buy an apparently vintage set in silver ;when got them three figures come all broken .I send then back to seller.
Interesting on the American 4 poses infantry that were done in complete wrong uniform by the way.
The Mexicans were done in Alamo style uniform not for 1848 war but the poses were nice and great. I used for long as Spaniards and Portuguese Napoleonic infantry.
Greg
Are you talking the 1812 Sailors?
Two missing poses from Knight set :
http://toysoldiers.spb.ru/refs/USSR/DZI/dzi-archer.jpg
http://toysoldiers.spb.ru/refs/USSR/DZI/dzi-magister.jpg
Current price over $150 per figure in very good condition (w/o lance)
Thank you!! Denitz.Interesting one has same color as recast I have of other 6 poses set, other colors is not common at all! Other rare feature is the separated weapon/tournament spear, that as far I know if first time I see in the WOW series or intended poses figures. The archer looks very well done pose and armor too.
That archer pose is fantastic! Hopefully the mold can be restored. That archer would fit in perfectly with the Ex. Force 100 Yrs War sets.
I agree Tom as it match armor and size too with EF. Hope they fix this too.
General question to all.
As I never got the 6″ ,this pose(archer) was done in that large set or not!?
Also these poses were very similar to small Giant sets knights or not?
Looking on E Bay I noticed the Pirate set has a pose that wasn’t in the recasts available in the USA. The Pirate with a peg leg and holding a Cutlass overhead.
Tom; the pirates sets reissues from Russia come from a different(early mold) that was sent to Germany first under Marx, then sold to Russian after back and for.
The reissues you had seen around in US come from the Marx mold sent to Mexico that has that pose damage and never repaired. Pirates sets as well few others 60 mm were done in two or more molds, Some(the less) later send to Mexico and once a wile pop up as reissued from Mexico resold in US .Others were sent to Germany ,UK and HK ,from there they split and many end in former Soviet Union, now recast as these; others to HK and else
Has anyone downsized the Marx 6 inch Cowboys to 56-58mm size? They are really good sculpts. I like the shot falling back, Winchester shooter, ready to draw and hand faning pistol poses best. Maybe Ark should consider downsizing their Marx 6 inch figures to TSSD size. I think they would be good sellers.
Some of the poses were reissues by Italian company together with Indians and Japanese/Gi’s and Germans as far I know in the 70/75 mm scale.
Rubestein cowboys are almost cloned from Marx poses too I guess!!
I have the cowboy falling back in like a 50mm dude.
That most be a Rubenstein pose that were direct copies of marx 6″.I think molds were done in UK
Rubenstein cowboys and indians recast were carry last time by ATS and I think Kent had them too.
The scaled down copies of the Marx 6 inch Cowboys and Indians were sold in the US
in bagged sets in Five and Dime stores. I’m not sure that they were real Rubinsteins. The scale is very close to the Fort Apache 54 mm figures, which are on the smaller side of 54 mm.
The Indians came in an “orangish” color, that is close to the Marx orange Fort Apache Indians. I think that they came in yellow and green also.
Pink too, I think.
I know that the Cowboys were dark blue, among other colors.
They came in different plastics, too. Some are in a richer color, while others are almost translucent.
I know that I bothered to sort colors, so that I could mix the orange Indians in with the Marx FA Indians. They work perfectly together. I also seem to recall that the Cowboys
matched the later Marx darker blue Pioneers and 7 th Cavalry.
Good useful figures.
Joe Baker has a picture of the orange colored Indians here :
http://www.playsetaddict.com/Carry%20All%20Fort%20Apache.html
Scroll down a few pix and you’ll see the 6 poses with some Cavalry conversions.
There are a few other pix where they appear and you can see how they blend right in.
You can also see that they are in scale with the Marx Indians.
I know I bought a bag each of the Rubenstein/Marx(?) poses of cowboys and Indians around 1978 at Rose’s. The cowboy figures came in a butterscotch that matched my Marx “Red River Gang” playset and the Indians matched my Carryall Ft Apache Indians. The scales were the same on all counts. They remain blended today.
Wayne
The figures were made by Cane of Italy. They copied a number of Marx poses. I am not sure if the Rubenstein cowboys and Indians were from Cane as well. Perhaps can tell us if he has the header card.
I bought some Marx Reissued pirates in black at the Indy toy show about 12 years ago and some in a purplish rose/burgundy shade on ebay about 8 years ago. They were 54mm as opposed to the 60mm recasts out of mexico. They had all the poses including the sword overhead with crutch pose. I understand these 54mm with all poses came out of the Ukraine. I have recently seen these pirates in black reappear in artwork boxes out of Russia recently on ebay.
Eddie there is a reason on that and was exposed in a work published by admi about Marx figures made in Germany.
MARX produced the one early 60 mm scale pirate set, wile another odd 56/57 not quite 54 mm(please look closely) of same poses later used in WOW was done too. That second mold ,also call second series was used to produce the painted made in Germany pirates of Marx. Later the mold was the one bought and acquired by former Soviet Union and produced in Ukraine . I had exact same figures as you. It is base in that mold that HK cloned later bagged appear .Look at following link.
http://den71is.ru/charmore_eng.html
I assumed the Russian Marx pirates were 60mm. That is interesting if they are 54mm and match well with Ideal pirates.
A factory in England made roughly 54mm copies of the Marx six inch knights, cowboys and Indians where they were used as cereal premiums. The three sets were sold in header card bags in Italy where Italian Company Cane also made 70mm copies of the knights which they also sold in carded bags. Here in the US Woolworths sold at least the Indians in large count header card bags. At some point (1975-85 time period) American promotions company Rubenstein got remnants from the factory and sold the figures in small header card bags in the US. Unfortunately when Tim Geppert did his otherwise fine plastic figure guide he guessed the manufacture when he did not know for certain who made a number of figures and in this case called the figures Rubenstein and the name stuck. He also called T.Cohn figures by their marketing slogan SUPERIOR and that unfortubately stuck as well. A year or so ago I went through his guides and made a corrected of manufacturers list. If interested I will try to find it and post it here.
in 2000 Rubebstein got more premium remnants from the UK, Mexico and the US and sold them in small header card bags as well.
Kent
Woolworths also carried the cowboys from Italy done by Cane.
If you want to send that list I will make it a separate page.