Meadow Brook Dairy Truck: Type 4 Circa 1940, first version.

The Meadow Brook Dairy truck is another variation in the type 4 class that Marx made using the pressed steel truck. Like the Baggage Truck and the Block truck previously photographed this truck has the red cardboard insert dye cut for two white glass milk jugs with the early Marx cardboard logo cap. This truck with insert was used in a number of variations and has been seen and cataloged pulling a trailer with additional milk jugs as well as other trailers with various inserts like the ice trailer that has a glass ice cube & tongs.

The second variation of this truck has a different chassis; the rear wheels are lack fenders like the Builders truck previously photographed.  

It is possible that this truck started out as a private label produced toy. While doing a little research I found that there is a nine-generation Meadow Brook Dairy farm in Wisconsin.  It is well documented that in the 1940’s Marx began to produce more private label toys using the type 4 chassis as well as the body for the “Ding Dong” van line and continued making private label vehicles well into the 1950’s (Cunningham Drug store example).  I have a very early 1920’s example of Marx producing such toys; see the “Read The Daily Mirror” newspaper toy previously documented.  It is also possible that the actual Meadowbrook Dairy was the inspiration for this toy and had little to know actual influence other than just the name. If you have information on this please contact me, I would be interested in knowing more.