Hello! I have four of them in the store, and several times each day customers tell me what fond memories they have of their childhood tin houses.
Pressed Tin Dollhouse by Marx Toys. Circa 1950's. PSAW collections.
Not all pressed tin dollhouses were made by Marx Toys but many were. Mine were. Louis Marx was a hugely successful toy manufacturer, who started his company in 1919. A German Jewish New Yorker, he went into business with his brother David with the company slogan "Give the customer more toy for less money."
The dollhouses weren't the major part of the Marx inventory, but for many women of a certain age, and no doubt some men as well, they are the products we remember best.
Metal Dollhouse Box, "completely furnished with unbreakable plastic furniture"
These houses are now highly collectible. When I started my collection I could pick them up at yard sales for a few dollars. Now they sell on eBay and Ruby Lane from about $75 to $300, depending on their condition, scarcity, and how much of the plastic furniture is left.
Modern Colonial Metal Doll House by Louis Marx & Co.
I know of several photographers who use the dollhouses as backdrops for rather bizarre doll antics. I don't have access to those pictures at the moment, but I might at some point. Meanwhile, here are some relatively non bizarre interior photos.
Marx tin dollhouse , furnished bedroom. Photo courtesy Michael and Sharon of www.yearsafter.com (a Ruby Lane shop) This house is sold.
Same dollhouse, this one is mine. Check out the logs in the fireplace.
Marx tin dollhouse Living Room with furniture. Photo courtesy of Sharon and Michael from www.yearsafter.com
Marx tin dollhouse, living room with white statue. Photo and statue by Liza Cowan.
Marx tin dollhouse. Micky Mouse kid's room. The Micky Mouse makes this one of the rarer and more expensive of the Marx series. PSAW collections.
Marx tin doll house. Headquarters US Army Trading Center. PSAW collections. Cowan photo.
So, if you are at a yard sale and see one of these houses for a reasonable amount of money, and if you can afford it, and if you love it, buy it. These things are not going to go down in value and they are great to have around.
some interesting related links:
www.mckendry.net
