1930 Marx, World War I Doughboy Tank in Original Box
Magnificent tin litho clockwork World War I style Doughboy tank. Although it was produced in six different variations until the mid-1950's this was the very first version of this popular toy. On top of that it comes complete with its very scarce original box. This beautifully designed tank is lithographed in contrasting colors of bright orange and deep blue. From the side its shape resembles an elongated diamond with rounded points. The edges are scalloped and lithoed brown with faux treads. It features a authentic looking doughboy infantryman with World War I style helmet with a gun that pops in and out of the hatch as the tank zigzags along. It's equipped with a start/stop lever on the side. The top two-gun turret turns and guns on the sides have wedge shaped mounts (as seen in the last Indiana Jones movie). It moves in an unusual way since the small rear wheel makes the tank turn randomly. Oh, and it works fantastically! This was one of Marx's best selling early toys. It originally retailed for 95¢ and was sold for only two years until another version was produced. The rarely seen box features a incredibly detailed line illustration of the tank coming over a ridge. The perspective drawn is looking up from the bottom of the tank! The soldier shoots out of the hatch towards the left. A tangle maze of barbed wire fence in front of a small pond lays off to the left side. The text was printed in a Germanic bold type which I've not seen on any other Marx toy. Size: 9½" long, 4¼" tall. Sold: Mar. 2005
Price Sold: $ 430
