Dippy Dumper

The following description was taken from the Greenburg’s Guide to Marx Toys Vol 2. 

“Dippy Dumper: 1940. 8-3/4” long X 5-3/4 high. This car differs from all the previous eccentric cars in that the drivers are made of celluloid and the rear of the vehicle is a moveable dump cart.

The red Dippy Dumper has blue and white trim and red wheels with white edging. The toy has raised radiator design, a stamped Marx logo, and a barred windshield, all of which remain from earlier cars. White-lettered “Dippy Dumper” “Pat’s Pend’g” and “Made in the U.S.A.” are on the sides and the back of the dumper along with the Marx logo.

One version has Popeye driving, another, his arch-rival, Brutus. These celluloid characters are molded in one piece, except the arms. In other Popeye and Brutus toys, the arms are fastened through the body by a pin, which lets the arms move. But in the Dippy Dumper, the arms do not move because they are fastened to the steering wheel with wire. Thus, when the dumper moves, the figure can be raised with out falling from the toy. 

Popeye wears a sailor costume with a white cap. Brutus wears a navy cap, a flesh-colored sweater over a red shirt, and brown pants. “7/82” is on their backs with an unidentifiable logo. The boxing gloves on the figures hands indicate that they were used in Marx’s earlier toy, Popeye the Champ. Despite the fragility and the flammability of celluloid, Marx managed to make considerable use of these two figures bodies. They were used in the Funny Fighters (See next page) and Popeye Horse and Cart (see pg 73 vol. 1)

The patent for the Dippy Dumper, # 2175845, is dated October 10, 1939. Despite the popularity of the Popeye character, Brutus is shown in the patent drawing