Marx Lane
An Inventory of Marx Playset Figures and Accessories
Manufactured from 1951 to 1979

 
Six-Inch Figures
Contents of this web site may not be reproduced or duplicated for use on the Internet or for commercial purposes without permission by Eric Johns.



Table of Contents
 
Six-Inch Figures
Cartoon Figures
Man from UNCLE
Medieval Ages
Modern Military
Pre-historic Times
Space Exploration
Wild West
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6-Inch Figures

In the 1960s, Marx came out with several small groups of larger figures in many playset themes, about five to six inches tall.  The initial figures were sold in 1963, and production continued into the 1970s.  Manufactured first in the U.S., the 6-inch figures were later made at Marx facilities in Great Britain, Hong Kong, and Mexico. There were at least 18 groups of 6-inch figures.
 
Many of the 6-inch poses are similar to Marx figures in smaller scales; they are generally well-sculpted and finely detailed in soft plastic.  For the most part, figures were sold individually unpackaged, what collectors today call bin toys.  They were never sold in playsets, but in a few instances, some figures were sold with larger accessories, such as such as military vehicles or stagecoaches.  

The figures, which originally cost 10 or 20 cents, were somewhat popular, and many are plentiful today.  Common figures in very good condition will cost $15 to $25, but can be found is lesser condition at $5 or less.  Some of the scarcer themes -- such as French World War I soldiers and Scottish military figures -- will cost much more.

PFPC Issues 5 and 73 provide more extensive information on these figures.


Cartoon Figures


     Disney Figures

1.  Mickey Mouse 2.  Minnnie Mouse

3.  Goofy 4.  Donald Duck

5.  Pluto 6.  Bambi
7.  Snow White 8.  Dopey

9.  Peter Pan 10.  Tinkerbelle

11.  Pinocchio 12.  Jiminy Cricket



     Nutty Mad Figures







     Marvel Super Heroes

For a little more information on the Marvel Super Heroes, go to http://gobacktothepast.com/fabulous-find-14-marvel-marx-figures/

All photos below courtesy of Denis Rylev
1.  Thor 2.  The Hulk 3.  Iron Man
4.  Captain America 5.  Dare Devil 6.  Spiderman
All photos above courtesy of Denis Rylev


     Universal Movie Monsters

You can find a little more info on the monsters at http://www.jeffs60s.com/universal-plastic-monsters.php

All photos below courtesy of Denis Rylev
1.  Frankenstein 2.  Phantom of the Opera 3.  Creature from the Black Lagoon
4.  The Wolfman 5.  The Mummy 6.  The Hunchback of Notre Dame
All photos above courtesy of Denis Rylev


Man from U.N.C.L.E. - 6-inch scale

Although Marx produced only one police-related playset (The Untouchables), the company produced a set of twelve 6-inch, soft plastic figures in 1966 based on the popular spy television program "The Man from U.N.C.L.E."  The show was one of several in the mid-1960s that featured cold war undercover action involving U.S. and Russian secret agents.  The program ran from 1964 to 1968 and starred Robert Vaughn as the American Napoleon Solo and David McCallum as Russian Illya Kuyrakin, who were agents for the international espionage and law-enforcement agency U.N.C.L.E.  Leo Carroll played Alexander Waverly, head of the British office.

U.N.C.L.E.'s primary nemesis was the organization THRUSH, which hoped to take control of the entire world.  THRUSH and its agents believed in a 2-party system of masters and slaves, killed people left and right, and were worrisome enough for U.N.C.L.E to bring together countries with totally opposing ideas on governmental, economic, and social structures...such as the U.S. and Russia.

As shown and described in Playset Magazine Issue 17, the figures were sold both individually and -- unlike any other Marx 6-inch figures -- as part of a mail-order target set.


Most of the figures in the photos below are re-issues which I purchased from Classic Recasts in 2014.  They were made in Mexico and appear very well made in a hard plastic that has just a little bend in it.  Character figures have the original circular imprints on their bases; other figures have one circle, but nothing printed in it.  I do not care for the silver color of the re-issues --  -- but they would be a great project for you painters out there.

Figures are shown in approximately correct proportion to one another, but not to other figures on this page.


     U.N.C.L.E. character figures
1.  Napoleon Solo
2.  Illya Kuryakin 3.  Alexander Waverly Example of bottom of figure bases
The four photos above courtesy of collector James McDonald.

     THRUSH character figures
4.  THRUSH officer
re-issue
5.  THRUSH agent 1
re-issue
6.  THRUSH agent 2
re-issue

     Other Agents
Except for Pose 7, I have found no information to identify which agent shown below is on which side.  Pose 7 is clearly an U.N.C.L.E. agent, because he is holding the style of weapon used by U.N.C.L.E. agents.  Due to their more formal dress, I'd suggest Poses 8 and 9 are also U.N.C.L.E., but I really don't know.  If anyone out there can help, let me know!
7.  Standing with U.N.C.L.E. gun in left hand
re-issue
8.  Running with brief case
re-issue
9.  Standing with radio in right hand
re-issue

10.  Using pistol in right hand as club
re-issue
11.  Holding flashlight in right hand, pistol in left
re-issue
12.  Standing, pointing pistol forward
re-issue


Medieval Ages

   Knights

1.  Advancing with halbred 2.  Standing in on-guard stance with sword and shield

3.  Holding mace overhead 4.  Sword raised overhead in left hand

5.  Axe raised overhead in right hand 6.  Pointing, holding shield

     Vikings

1.  Holding sword, with winged helmet
Photo courtesy of Russian collector Denis
Rylev (Den71is@gmail.com) 
2.  Holding knife and club
Photo courtesy of Russian collector Denis Rylev
3.  Swinging axe
Photo courtesy of Russian collector Denis Rylev
4.  Blowing horn, with spear
Photo courtesy of Russian collector Denis Rylev
5.  Holding sword overhead
Photo courtesy of Russian collector Denis Rylev
6.  Holding spear downward and shield
Photo courtesy of Russian collector Denis Rylev


Modern Military

     U. S. Marines

1.  Throwing grenade
2.  Advancing, rifle in right hand
Missing end of rifle barrel

3.  Running with tommy gun, waving with right hand
4.  Shooting with rifle  

5.  Advancing with rifle at waist level  
6.  Hitting with rifle butt  

In addition to the standard six American foot soldiers above, Marx also made a few vehicles in this scale.  For these, drivers were necessary, and the photos below show two styles of them.  I welcome anyone to contribute more information and/or photos for any other drivers and also the vehicles they came with.

The two drivers below are very similar, but as shown, one has his helmet molded on and the other has a separate helmet that can be removed.  There are also other differences, such as the boots, the grenade, and the MP designation on the white figure's helmet.  In their seated positions, both are about 3-3/4 inches tall.  The boots on the white figure look strange to me, and I cannot help but wonder if perhaps he was meant to be from a country other than the USA.
Driver with helmet molded onto figure Driver with separate helmet without separate helmet
(Does that make sense?)
Driver holding separate helment Driver wearing separate helmet Separate helmet
(slightly enlarged to show detail)

     Russian Soldiers


1.  Throwing grenade
2.  Standing with rifle at waist
Photo courtesy of Russian collector Denis Rylev

3.  Running with machine gun
Photo courtesy of Russian collector Denis Rylev
4.  Shooting with rifle  
Photo courtesy of Russian collector Denis Rylev

5.  Officer with pistol and binoculars
Photo courtesy of Russian collector Denis Rylev
6.  Hitting with rifle butt  

     German Soldiers

            PL-1194

Photos below are courtesy of Russian collector Denis Rylev (Den71is@gmail.com).  I have adjusted them to be a bit lighter gray than they really are to help show the detail.  Why are there seven instead of six?  According to Denis, many people (i.e., parents) considered the "bayonetting downward" pose to be too violent, and Marx replaced it with another pose.
1.  Throwing grenade
2.  Waving, rifle slung on right shoulder

3.  Bayonetting downward
4.  Shooting with rifle  

5.  Advancing with rifle at waist level  
6.  Hitting with rifle butt  

7.  Running with machine gun

     British Soldiers

The British soldiers have the company's Swansea logo on the bottom of their base and are labeled as World War II soldiers.  However, I would agree with seller Tom Vida of Tiny Troops (from whom I bought the figure in the first photo below) that their helmets make them look more like World War I.  Notably, when comparing the figures to the U. S. Marines pictured above and other 6-inch Marx figures commonly found in the U. S., it is obvious from the details of the figures that a different sculptor created the British-made figures.
1.  Firing rifle
2.  Advancing with pistol
Photo courtesy of Russian collector Denis Rylev

3.  Running, rifle in right hand
Photo courtesy of Russian collector Denis Rylev
4.  Throwing grenade
Photo courtesy of Russian collector Denis Rylev 

5.  Advancing with rifle
Photo courtesy of Russian collector Denis Rylev
6.  With mine sweeper
Photo courtesy of Russian collector Denis Rylev

     French Soldiers (World War I)

According to Plastic Figure and Playset Collector Issue 5, these were manufactured in Great Britain in 1964 for the European market and are not often found in the U.S.  Like the British figures above, they have the company's Swansea logo on the bottom of their base.  Also, like the British figures, it is obvious from the details of the French figures that the set was created by a different sculptor than the one who made the U.S. Marines pictured above and other 6-inch Marx figures commonly found in the U.S.
1.  Firing rifle

2.  Clubbing with rifle
 Photo courtesy of Russian collector Denis Rylev

3.  Running
Photo courtesy of Russian collector Denis Rylev
4.  Calling to rear
Photo courtesy of Russian collector Denis Rylev 

5.  Kneeling with rifle
Photo courtesy of Russian collector Denis Rylev
6.  Kneeling with tommy gun
Photo courtesy of Russian collector Denis Rylev 

     Japanese Soldiers

1.  Holding binoculars, pointing
2.  Running with sword and pistol

3.  Advancing with rifle held forward
Photo courtesy of Denis Rylev
4.  Charging with machette
Photo courtesy of Denis Rylev 

5.  Firing rifle
Photo courtesy of Denis Rylev
6.  Throwing grenade
Photo courtesy of Denis Rylev 


     British Highlander Soldiers (Scots)

According to PFPC Issue 5, the bottom of the these figures are marked "1964, Made in Great Britain."  Similar in style to the British and French soldiers above, they are not often found in the U.S.  Photos below are courtesy of Russian collector Denis Rylev (Den71is@gmail.com).
1.  With sword and pistol 2.  Advancing with rifle, wearing kilt

3.  Advancing with rifle, wearing pants 4.  Kneeling with rifle

5.  Running with sword 6.  Running with rifle
All photos above courtesy of Russian collector Dennis Rylev
                                                                          

Pre-historic Times


1.  With spear 2.  Holding rock overhead
3.  With club and knife 4.  With axe
5.  Holding rock in right hand 6.  Swinging club
Poses 5 and 6 form what is sometimes suggested might be the earliest evidence of the game of baseball.


Space Exploration

PL-1500

Released in the late 1960s, these figures actually stand about 5-1/2 inches tall, slightly shorter than most of the company's 6-inch figures.  I have found them in white and light blue soft plastic.  If you look close, you will note that the figures all appear to be a representation of the same person!
1.  Walking with arms at sides 2.  Walking, case in left hand

3.  Standing, camera held at chest
Photo courtesy of Russian collector Denis Rylev
4.  Standing with round scoop and sample bag

5.  Standing with flag 6.  Standing with square scoop
Photo courtesy of Russian collector Denis Rylev



Wild West

     Cowboys   PL-1219
1.  Two pistols drawn 2.  Rifle ready to fire

3.  Fanning pistol 4.  Ready to draw

5.  With lasso 6.  Shot

     Indians

  PL-1217

1.  Chief with right hand up 2.  Shooting bow and arrow

3.  Running with club and spear 4.  Chief runnning with tomahawk and knife
5.  Throwing spear 6.  Running, turned to right

     U. S. Cavalry

  PL-1222


1.  Advancing with sword overhead
2.  Firing rifle

3.  Drawing pistol 4.  Clubbing with rifle

5.  Bugler 6.  Shot with arrow


     Pioneers

  PL-1225

The six pioneers are the most similar of the 6-inch figures to their smaller counterparts in 54mm and similar smaller scales.  In fact, Pose 1 below is almost identical to the generally-accepted Daniel Boone figure in the 54mm Boonesborough pioneers figure group, and the others are very similar to figures in the same group.  Of note, both Shot with Arrow poses (Pose 6) that I possess have a small circular bulge on their back that is very noticeable and could be a common molding fault.  However, according to The Vintage Toy Encyclopedia on the Internet, this is intended to be part of the amazing detail of the figure, showing "the arrowhead nearly breaking through" his back.
1.  Standing, cradling rifle in arms 2.   Advancing with knife and axe 

3.  Firing pistol 4.  Clubbing with rifle

5.  Running with rifle   6.  Shot with arrow




Contents of this web site may not be reproduced or duplicated for use on the Internet or for commercial purposes without permission by Eric Johns.