Marx Prototype E12 Pop Up Soldier Tank

Marx Prototype E-12 Tank with Popup Soldier.

According the Greenberg’s Guide to Marx Toys Vol#2 the production year for the 9-1/2” no. E 12 Tank was around 1942. 

I believe this example predates the production year, although it does not have the characteristic date and serial number painted on it anywhere. 

There are several factors that lead me to believe that this tank is a prototype. First the “pop-up” dough boy was never used in this style of tank at least I have never seen one in my 35 years of collecting Marx toys. Secondly the usual hook that is used on the back of the tank is absent and has been replaced with a horizontal loop. Consequently when this tank was purchased it was not working so I took the base off to see what was wrong. Luckily for me it was just dirty and had a string wrapped around the winding mechanism. Having the base off allowed me to see that the loop protruding from the rear of the tank was actually a piece of the housing holding the mechanism in place which allows the dough boy to pup up out of the hatch. After a good cleaning the base was securely put back on. 

The tank winds up has an on/off switch. When the tank is on it crawls forward making a loud sound like gears grinding although they are not. Then every foot or so it makes another sound like a gun firing and then the soldier pops out of the hatch for a few seconds then goes back down and the gun clicking sound stops. The two-side guns shoot sparks out.