I recently saw some Marx figures up for grabs, but they were beige and black in colour, also looked quite new and a little too shiny. I thought they may be recasts, but the dealer was adamant that they were original.
Does anybody know what colours the Marx monsters came in? ( I thought only blue and orange originally) Also, what's a fair average price for a Marx monster? These were quite expensive; I've seen them on ebay go for $10-$20. I have always wanted a set, but don't want to get burned with recasts!
Many thanks,
Chris.
Yes, only teal blue and orange were original.
Prices can vary some depending on condition, etc. Seems like the blue usually go for a little more. The Creature is a little harder to find and goes for more. The Phantom usually has a broken mask, so the ones with intact masks are the hardest to find.
Thanks Bobby,
I thought so, but that seller almost convinced me otherwise! Much appreciated!
I'm also curious about the recasts. Some of them (such as the glow series) seem to be licensed because they retain the Universal Picture stamp while removing the Marx copyright. What's puzzling, though, is that the quality of the reproduction on these, especially the texture of the clothing, is quite poor. On the other hand, the black ones (which claim no pedigree at all) are almost as finely cast as the originals. Maybe I'm naïve but I would have expected the licensed ones to be better than the outright bootlegs... but they're not.
The Uncle Milton versions have no Marx info and have the less detail. My guess is they used a crummy mold or just recast existing figures.
I have heard that some of the Mexican re-casts came directly from old Marx molds. I don't know if there is truth to that, but I have noticed that some of these Mexican ones do seem to be more detailed than some of the licensed ones, like the Uncle Milton glow versions. Of course, it is harder to see the detail with the glow plastic, so who knows?
All of them were made to be inexpensive. I doubt Uncle Milton or any of the others who have repopped these have given even a moment's consideration to the quality of the mold or the amount of detail compared to the originals.
Poseablemonster, there are a variety of colored re-pops from Mexico that hit ebay all the time. Purple, green, I think I even saw yellow.
The monster studio figures have a severe lack of detailed when compared to Marx and the Mexican boots.
Quote from: Anton Phibes on October 02, 2008, 02:53:20 PM
Poseablemonster, there are a variety of colored re-pops from Mexico that hit ebay all the time. Purple, green, I think I even saw yellow.
Yes, I bet I've seen them in at least a dozen colors over the years.
There is some discussion and photos here on the marx and the varoius colors.
BK
http://www.universalmonsterarmy.com/forum/index.php?topic=1070.0 (http://www.universalmonsterarmy.com/forum/index.php?topic=1070.0)
Maybe it's just the lighting, the background color or that horrible matching blue border but the 2 blues look a little off to be originals in my opinion! I didn't really notice this when I first watched the auction but upon looking at the auction at close it caught my eye.....not to mention the closing price.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=250322248615
Seller states these are original Marx from when he was a kid;
(http://i10.ebayimg.com/06/i/001/1a/99/f75d_1.JPG)
And here are a few pictures (Do we really need them?) of other originals for comparison;
(http://i15.ebayimg.com/01/i/000/fd/f6/ff6e_1.JPG)(http://i2.ebayimg.com/01/i/001/0b/a3/1eba_1.JPG)(http://i20.ebayimg.com/03/i/000/f5/be/9fa4_1.JPG)
Man that's an awful lot to pay for those figures. With shipping that's almost $30 a piece!! :o
Here are 14 different colored Creatures:
(http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/6178/creatures01ty6.jpg)
(http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/7711/creatures02pa3.jpg)
(http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/8579/creatures03sl9.jpg)
(http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/8510/creatures04id6.jpg)
(http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/4827/creatures05er5.jpg)
Awesome Creature line up! Hmmmm, seems I've seen a similar image before!?!?!
Can't recall who's Creature collection this was:
(http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh10/zombiehorror01/marxcreatures.jpg)
Looks like purple and Bronze (or is that one painted?) can now be added to the Marx color list.
Teal
Orange
Tan
Cream
Glow
Red
Blue
Black
Brick Red
Light Green
Lime
Burgandy Red
Dark Green
Purple
I would love for the UMA (Ok, specifically me!) to get a good hook up from South of the border on those Mexican Marx Monster reissues.
Not sure who's collection that photo is.
The colors I have are, in order:
GLOW
CREAM
TAN
LIME GREEN
TEAL
DARK BLUE
PURPLE
BRIGHT ORANGE
DARK ORANGE
RED
BRICK RED
BLACK
and the last one is painted BRONZE and mounted on a base. From Mexico obviously.
I've seen other color variations available from Mexico but just haven't picked them up. For awhile there I was trying to get as many different ones that I could find.
I actually have a ton of the different figures from Mexico in the LIME GREEN and the CREAM, or was it TAN? The problem is they are packed away somewhere in a big box. When I ever come across them I plan to offer them up here for sale.
Just found this over on e-bay
(http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/5497/glowcreatchkf1.jpg)
The seller says it's smaller and has painted eyes. The glow plastic is different also.
Quote from: zombiehorror on November 15, 2008, 08:04:34 PM
Awesome Creature line up! Hmmmm, seems I've seen a similar image before!?!?!
Can't recall who's Creature collection this was:
(http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh10/zombiehorror01/marxcreatures.jpg)
Looks like purple and Bronze (or is that one painted?) can now be added to the Marx color list.
Teal
Orange
Tan
Cream
Glow
Red
Blue
Black
Brick Red
Light Green
Lime
Burgandy Red
Dark Green
Purple
I would love for the UMA (Ok, specifically me!) to get a good hook up from South of the border on those Mexican Marx Monster reissues.
Very cool collection Phantom Creep. Would love to add a purple one.
ZombieHorror, that would be my collection.
BK
I was leaning towards that being your collection but when I searched posts to try to jog my memory I got all confused.....Must be time for more medication.
QuoteThe seller says it's smaller and has painted eyes
Odd, I have a Frank that's a black Marx clone but quite a bit smaller. Camera battery was croaking and squeezed only one side-by-side pic off, it's a poor image for comparison. It had been painted on when I got it, but compared to the 6" knockoff moldwise it's identical. Now there seems to be a Creature as well. Mine also has the trimmed down base (no nameplate). So is there an entire set of mini-Marx?
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3068/3032974361_2d5c91ec70_o.jpg)
That is a Mexican-produced rip-off of the Marx Frankenstein.
I guess they did not have access to the original molds, but wanted to get in on the action.
Aah minmexmarx
The beige Creature came out of New York. The guy had a company called Ram Hobbies. I used to deal with him a lot. He sold his remaining inventory on Ebay for a song and took a break from the business. Anyway, he amde the MARX set in beige and the plastic was paintable--acrylic paints adhered to it nicely. The dark blue ones came from Mexico in 1992 or 1993--Bill Brugeman sold them in his catalog back then and the lime green ones also came from Mexico--the rest of teh colors other than the Marx originals I'd not seen until you osted tjose glorius photos.
Most of the various colors that I've picked up came from Mexico. The large batch of beige and lime green ones that I bought years ago also came from Mexico.
If anybody on here has any extras of any of these (any monster or color), I'd be open to some trading for the beige and lime green ones I have.
I thought this would be of interest to some members of the UMA.
A Mexican seller on eBay is re-issuing some of the Marx toys (including the monsters) and offers this history of the Marx molds:
"On my regard and my associates, please let me introduce my self and the company in our behalf
After the sold of Marx Toys to the Quaker Oats Co. in 1972, the company was still in business till 1978 when was bought by the British Conglomerate Dunbee-Combex, they were out of business in 1980 when filed for bankruptcy.
In 1990, the legendary owner of the APE, bought the assets of the Marx Toys from the Chemical Bank and he sold the molds and patents to a Mexican Romantic Entrepreneur that also bought the Original molds form Plastimarx, the Mexican subsidiary of Marx Toys, so he completed the stock of all the Marx Toys best successfully items, having many unique molds that still exist in the world
Convinced of his dream, he could obtained the best part of the molds and many special conditions for have the best of Marx's molds and many single models of the Marx Toys History.
Today you can got a reissued figure with the same molds and techniques that once converted to Louis Marx in "The Toy King"
Before to start this particular business, I reached the market and saw a lot of internet sites that offer some other reissued products, with some kinds of notes about some "details" in the manufacture, something like scratches and other defections, it's caused by a bad manufacture from a bad mold, this is just because the original mold that they have was used by several years and is not in pretty good conditions, however when you buy an item produced by our molds, you can have the trust that all our items are made with the best molds that could exist in the world without any cuts or chew marks."
I have collected most of the color variations that the Frankenstein was produced in over the years. There are several very distinctly different shades of Blue, Green and Brown. At least two shades of Purple and Orange. And there are also Silver, Black, White and White (Glow version).
The only major colors I have NOT seen are Yellow (canary or dark) and a true Red (fire engine or pink). There is a very dark orange that usually photographs as red, but in person is very definitely Orange.
Interesting thread. I was wondering what collectors thought about the Mexican Marx figures as they related to their acceptance in the collecting world. It looks like any and all figures and color variations are collected. I have seen quite a few variations on ebay lately, but was a little hesitant to pick them up because of the "bootleg" title, not to mention some of the crazy prices.
So what do you feel is a ok price for the colorful re-issues. IMO $20 delivered is fair. I see some in the $40+ range and just think WTF is he smokin.
Quote from: Herr Vogel on December 27, 2009, 11:10:31 PM
Interesting thread. I was wondering what collectors thought about the Mexican Marx figures as they related to their acceptance in the collecting world. It looks like any and all figures and color variations are collected. I have seen quite a few variations on ebay lately, but was a little hesitant to pick them up because of the "bootleg" title, not to mention some of the crazy prices.
Except for the original Orange and Turquoise ( or Teal) 1963 issues, all of the various colors are later non-Marx issues.
Some of those later issues have the identifying Marx information removed from the molds' two indented circular areas on the bottoms of the figures. Others were produced with this information still intact. Even others were made with only the Marx name removed from one circle. Except for the smaller crude knock-offs, ALL were produced from the original Marx molds. Since Marx sold the molds, I think this makes the later reissued figures as legitimate as the 1963 issues. Their continued availability in various colors would seem to indicate that Universal has long since abandoned policing these nearly 47-year-old molds.
The white glow-in-the-dark individually carded figures made by Uncle Milton and the complete set of six beige figures in the monster painting set are fully licensed and the packaging displays Universal logos.
Some collectors seem to dislike these late-comers a great deal. Many of the same collectors welcome every new incarnation of the Aurora model stuck from the original molds. I did not own the original Marx toys as a kid and attach no nostalgic value to the vintage figures. Perhaps if I had, I would feel differently.
I like all of them equally as collectible monster figures. I like trying to nail down obscure colors. The sparsity of some colors suggest that they were produced in VERY limited numbers.
As to "value" - any toy is worth only what you are willing to pay for it. If some of the sale prices seem too high, it just means that more than one collector assigns a similar value to the item. Who knows how many second-high bidders are kicking themselves for not bidding "just a little bit more"?
I collect to satisfy my own itch. I find it more satisfying than collecting based on other peoples' values. I also try , (sometimes successfully), to refrain from advising others what they should collect. Each collection is an expression of the individual collector. If we all collected the same things for the same reasons, what would be point of having a gathering place like the UMA to share pictures, etc.?
Collecting is a funny game - and collectors are often a curious breed.
At least I know
I am.
The more I see these the more I want some of the crazier colors. There is no way tho I am paying $30+ for a cool colored bootleg when you can get an original 30+ years older for the same price.
Thanks for the response, Monsters For Sale. I do like the color variations and will probably pick some of them up as I find them. I appreciate the feedback from everybody.
I'm bumping this thread back to life. Lots of new members and I am still looking for these Mexican repros at a decent price. Franks/Creeches/Wolfman and Mummy only. No black/white/cream/silver or glow.
I was waiting for the Phantom Creep to offer these up but he has not been active in over a year. The few I have seen on Ebay are too much $ for what they are,IMHO.
Quote from: Wicked Lester on August 07, 2010, 03:07:02 PM
The few I have seen on Ebay are too much $ for what they are,IMHO.
I would love to find someone that could get these Mexican re-pops and offer them up for a decent price....
Quote from: The Phantom Creep on November 15, 2008, 07:26:24 PM
Man that's an awful lot to pay for those figures. With shipping that's almost $30 a piece!! :o
Here are 14 different colored Creatures:
(http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/6178/creatures01ty6.jpg)
(http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/7711/creatures02pa3.jpg)
(http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/8579/creatures03sl9.jpg)
Wow!Those are Beautiful!Love all the colors!
That rainbow line-up of Creature figures is amazing!
awe you guys are making me really want some marx monsters
Marx monsters were the very best of their time. Great childhood memories!
Picked up some of the silver Mexi-Marx (or just straight up Mexican boots) at NYCC for a great price from a really friendly old school toy dealer. Creature, Mummy, Hunchback, all with great detail. Getting a deal in New York is always an added thrill!
Those silver ones are probably the nicest of the re-pops.
Quote from: horror1o1 on October 09, 2012, 03:56:48 PM
awe you guys are making me really want some marx monsters
dittoooooooooooohhhhh :)
"Pumpkin" orange (not the common popscicle orange) and a muted dark blue are also original 1960s colors. I have a complete set of the pumpkin monsters- most of them I have had since the mid 1970s, and they are marked 15c or 19c on the bottom. "Marx" collectors used to refer to pumpkin as a "promotional" color, but obviously if they were priced, someone sold them. And the mute dk. blue Wolfman I have had since I was kid. Nothing like the usual/common bright blue.
Is the front one here what you're calling "pumpkin orange" and the second one what you're calling "popsicle orange"?
(http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/8510/creatures04id6.jpg)
???
The front one appears to be "popscicle orange", the common orange these are usually found in. The "pumpkin" color I am referring to is much more matte in value- like the skin of a pumpkin. Like you added matte yellow and matte white to orange. More "dull".