The Golden Goose

The following was taken from Greenberg’s guide to Marx Toys Vol. 1

Golden Goose: 1929, 9-1/2” long.  As it implies The Golden Goose toy is metallic gold with red and black accents and large black feet. A cavity in its back carries five golden-painted eggs. The Golden Goose hops rapidly along laying eggs. Its body moves up and down while it seems to peck at the ground. 

The Golden Goose was first advertised in the 1929 Sears Fall/winter catalog. The toy shown in the ad actually resembles a white goose called Goblo the Gobbling Goose made in 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 illustrating so that it resembled the actual Golden Goose toy.

The 1924 patent for the toy, number 1,500,590, was submitted by Louis Marx, probably not designed by him. The patent refers to the movement of both toys. Girard’s Goblo did not lay eggs and this feature was added in a later patent number 1,783,511, which was filed March 15, 1929. The date of the later patent coincides with the Golden Goose’s appearance in the catalogs and would seem to indicate that the actual toy was produced in 1929. The 1924 dates 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’s Golden Goose is ½ longer than the 9” long Goblo. The Marx toy had a jointed neck and a straight tail, while Goblo’s neck is not jointed and his tail turns up in the end. An extra piece strengthens and joins the Marx toy’s thicker legs which makes the toy harder to wind. The Marx goose has a wider back piece in the foot. Both of the toys have the same hopping action, but Goblo cannot lay eggs. Both geese have the following lettering but in different places: “Patented July 8, 1924. Other patents pending.” Additional lettering on Marx’s Golden Goose reads “Louis Marx & Co., New York, U.S>A.” near the legs

A plastic goose which lays golden eggs is advertised in the 1950 Montgomery Ward Christmas catalog for 94 cents. The toy is not credited to Marx, but it appears to be the same as the Golden Goose and is advertised on the same page as some other Marx toys.

The Golden Goose is readily available, reasonably priced, and comes in a blue and yellow illustrated box. Several children are pictured admiring the goose, which is shown as large as the children.