Goblo The Gobbling Goose, 1929

In Greenberg’s Guide to Marx Toys vol. 1 there is not a listing for the Marx “GOBLO The Gobbling Goose.’ The box shows it was “Patented July 8, 1924” and there are references to it in the “Golden Goose” description:

            “The Golden Goose was first advertised in the 1929 Fall/Winter Sears catalog. The toy shown in the ad actually resembles a white goose called Goblo the Gobbling Goose made by the Girard Model Works as early as 1925. Before Marx had his own manufacturing facilities, other factories such as the Girard Model Works manufactured toys for him, which explains the similarities between the two geese. By 1931, some catalogs had corrected the ad illustration so that it resembled the Golden Goose toy.

            The 1924 patent for the toy, number 1,500,590, was submitted by Louis Marx, but probably not designed by him (See Patent Index). The patent refers to the movement of both toys. Girards Goblo did not lay eggs and this feature was added in a later Marx patent, number 1,783,511, which was filed March 15, 1929. The date of the later patent caoincides with the Golden Goose apperance in catalogs and would seem to indicate that the actual toy was produced in 1929. The 1924 date refers to the patent with the toys mechanism only. Although there are a number of differences between the two toys, the later patent drawing resembles the earlier Girard Goose. 

            Marx Golden Goose is ½” longer than the 9 “ long Goblo, Marx toy has jointed neck and straight tail with extra pieces strengthening the joints. The Marx toy has thicker legs which makes the toy harder to wind, additional lettering on the Marx Golden Goose reads Louis Marx and Company New York USA near the legs.”

I believe the “Goblo the Gobbling Goose” was made between 1924 & 1929. Marx most likely purchased a contract with Girard Model Works to make the toy with the Marx logo on it. This is not the first toy that Louis Marx has done this to.