Tan/Beige Marx/Universal MCMVXIII figures?

[Mike Scott]

Well, Mike, if you're a vampire, anyway!

Wrong streams, buy yeah, that too! 

[Hepcat]

I believe the "pumpkin orange" and "popsicle blue" colors are original '60s colors as evidenced by the pics from Bob's and Freddie's collections. Marx changed it's plastic to the semi-translucent version sometime in 1964 as evidenced by series 3 of the Nutty Mads. Prior to that the plastic was matte (flat) colored. Most common are the Marx Monsters in flat teal blue and "popsicle orange", because the blue ones were made in 1963 and the orange ones in 1964 and perhaps later into the '60s. There seems to be some rare "overlap" pieces from late 1963/early 1964 in the form of the "pumpkin orange" and "popsicle blue".

I think the production timeline must have gone something like this:

1. Marx was producing the teal blue Universal monsters in 1963 using the lead-based flat coloured plastic.

2. Marx was already considering switching to the brighter semi-translucent lead-free plastic for its figures though and so did a test run on Universal monster production. The test run was successful and therefore the resultant popsicle blue Universal monsters were sold by Marx through its normal distribution channels. I mean why not sell perfectly good production?

3. Given the success of the Nutty Mads in all the wild, weird and wonderful colours, Marx decided to make the Universal monsters in another bright colour. After all, Marx now knew that kids might buy the same figure again if it was in another colour. Hence the switch to orange in 1964.

4. But Marx hadn't yet used up its inventory of lead-based plastic. Therefore the orange figures were initially produced with pumpkin orange plastic.

5. When the old lead-based plastic stock was finished, Marx began producing the Universal monsters in popsicle orange using the lead-free plastic.

[Hepcat]

I believe the "pumpkin orange" and "popsicle blue" colors are original '60s colors as evidenced by the pics from Bob's and Freddie's collections. Marx changed it's plastic to the semi-translucent version sometime in 1964 as evidenced by series 3 of the Nutty Mads. Prior to that the plastic was matte (flat) colored. Most common are the Marx Monsters in flat teal blue and "popsicle orange", because the blue ones were made in 1963 and the orange ones in 1964 and perhaps later into the '60s. There seems to be some rare "overlap" pieces from late 1963/early 1964 in the form of the "pumpkin orange" and "popsicle blue".

This may have been the first use of the so-called "Heritage" type plastic that Marx used later with various playset pieces. I'm more familiar with the Marx Prehistoric sets and the first set made after 1963 was the #3398 from 1971 which used the Heritage plastic for the dinos and cavemen. The newer plastic was supposed to mold more efficiently and did not contain the lead-based paint in the older plastic mix. Most collectors preferred the older plastic for the variations in color (and the distinctive smell... *huff, huff*  ).

Here's a link to one of frankenstein73's posts in the other thread which pictures an unusual green Marx Phantom which also appears to be legitimately from the '60s. http://www.universalmonsterarmy.com/forum/index.php?topic=1070.msg424728#msg424728

The Uncle Milton figures are cool '90s reissues and because of the 1963 dates on the base bottoms they are often misrepresented and sold as original '60s pieces. I believe the flat green Marx Monsters to be from the '80s/'90s reissued by the Mexican Plasti-Marx company, even though the base bottoms are the same as the original '60s orange ones. Most Mexican repops just have blank base bottoms.

Does "Heritage plastic" then refer to the later lead-free semi-translucent plastic? You would think that the original lead-based plastic would merit the "heritage" modifier.

[horrorhunter]

Does "Heritage plastic" then refer to the later lead-free semi-translucent plastic? You would think that the original lead-based plastic would merit the "heritage" modifier.

I believe "Heritage" is just a nickname given to the slightly translucent plastic Marx used when they transitioned away from the flat colored lead-based plastic around 1964. It referred to some of the playsets which started using the new plastic pieces as components and the name started being associated with the new plastic. I'm not sure which playsets were considered "Heritage" because I only collect the Marx dinosaur playsets, but the info could be sleuthed out with some research.