1977 Louis Marx & Co., PB84 Auction Catalog of Factory Collection Tin Toys
Many collectors of Marx tin wind-up toys are familiar with the history of this great American toy company. Historical outlines from their early beginning days in the 1920's, through the company's eventual demise in the early 1980's are provided in Greenberg's Guide to Marx Toys, Volumes I, II and III. Now out of print, these three books are recognized as essential references for Marx toy enthusiasts. Maxine Pinsky, the author of all three volumes, states how in 1972 the Marx Company was sold to Quaker Oats for $51.3 million dollars. In 1975 under Quaker's ownership the Marx manufacturing plant in Erie, PA closed. It had been the heart of tin wind-up toy production for Marx. The Erisco Wire Company purchased the plant in 1976. Erisco arranged for all of the sample toys stored at Erie, consisting of both Marx and non-Marx toys to be sold in a series of auctions in 1977. A division of Sotheby's in New York City called Sotheyby Parke Bernet, or PB84 became the primary auction house responsible for dispersal of the factory collection of tin toys. The "84" of PB84 refers to the street address, 171 East 84th Street. Over a three day period, sale #599 as it was known, sold off part of American toy manufacturing history. Pinsky referenced many of the toys listed in the Greenberg guides accompanied by their "PB number" . This catalog is where those numbers originated. The actual corresponding lot numbers were not used, so to match up the catalog with Greenberg guides is not an easy task. Still, it provides an invaluable complimentary reference. Hundreds of toys were dispersed over 350 lots during the sell-off. A single lot contained as many as 23 separate toys, most with their original boxes, and all in unused mint condition. Prototypes and unlicensed toys were sold. Competition factory samples produced by Girard, Lehmann, Wyandotte, Distler, Hoge, Lionel, Arnold, Marklin, and many others all in new, unused condition were also sold. Whatever toys remained after the sale were hauled off to a landfill and buried. Original catalogs from this auction are indeed rare. This is only the 4th one I've found. A far cry from the full color, hardback toy auction catalogs of today, the PB84 catalog consisted of a small 5½" x 8½" soft cover 80 page book with stapled spine and yellow glossy covers. Black and photos taken at the auction house show individual lots of multiple toys on display shelves. Approximately 1/3 of the toys were photographed. Lot descriptions consisted of the manufacturer's catalog number, the actual toy name, and sometimes the year manufactured, and size. This information was provided only occasionally, or when the original box was available. Many, many lots were described only generically. For example, Lot 235 was "Twelve American and German Lithographed Tin Train carriages" or Lot 247 as "Sixteen Prototype and Production Spinning Toys". Unless a photograph accompanied the generic description, the actual toys sold are unknown. This example was someone's "working" copy. It's complete, but several pages are loose from the binding. Although an estimate value was included the owner rewrote these numbers in red ink next to ever lot description. Along side, the actual selling price was listed in green ink. X's, circles, and small notations were added. Several pages were taped back into position at the spine. A blank page in the back of the catalog for notes was well used by this bidder. Winning lots by this person were listed, as well as the price paid and the number of pieces per lot. This bidder won 25 lots which contained a total of 120 individual toys. The total spent was $2285. There was no buyer's premium. Adjusted for inflation this amount today would equal $8650. Size: 5½" x 8½". Sold: May, 2013
Price Sold: $ 22
