Marx

Louis Marx and Company was founded in New York City in 1919 by Louis and his brother David. They produced a large, diverse and hugely successful range of toys in tinplate and later in pressed steel and plastic, ranging from yo-yos to dolls' houses and including mechanical and constructional toys. By the 1950s Marx had three manufacturing plants in the USA and several in other countries including Japan and a UK plant in Swansea, Wales. Eventually, Marx was hit by competition from lower cost Asian toys, and in 1972 Louis sold the company to Quaker Oats who also owned Fisher-Price. Subsequently in 1976 the Marx division was sold off to Dunbee-Combex-Marx, already owners of the UK Marx subsidiary. They went into liquidation in 1980, bringing the Marx company story to an end, although the Marx name lives on as a brand used by indirectly related companies.