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The following information was taken from the Greenberg’s Guide to Marx Toys Vol#2.
By 1930 Marx decided to expand its tractor toy line. In January of 1930 the company took a two-page ad in playthings magazine, which stated,
“We herby announce to the trade that we have received a license from the Wolverine Supply & Manufacturing Company [Pittsburg, Pennsylvania} under its Huth patent #1,334,539 for which we re paying substantial royalties.
“We are manufacturing and selling all of our climbing toys having traction belts under this license. Our customers of these toys are therefore protected under this patent.
We also announce that we have additional patents pending in the U.S. Patent Office on other features of these Climbing Traction Toys.”
The Announcement was signed by David Marx, the brother of Louis Marx. Illustrated on the bottom of the announcement were tractors climbing over books. The other page of the announcement concerned the new Marx Climbing Tanks.
Climbing Tractor: 1930. 8-1/4” long X 3-1/2” wide x 5-1/2” high. This tractor, similar to the one illustrated in the 1930 Playthings announcement with three exhausts on the side, was shown in catalogs. It comes in three different versions: first, as an aluminum tractor with detachable plow and steel chain for $1.65; second in a colored metal version(which some later ads stated was green) for 98 cents; and third, in a colored steel version for 83 cents.
One of the colored metal versions is red with blue wheels and has a mesh like grill. A farmer with a large brimmed hat drives the tractor. The Huth Patent number, described above is stamped on the toy.
The tractor comes in an illustrated *orange box showing a front view of the tractor and another view of the tractor going up a steep incline. Fancy large white lettering on the box reads, “Marx Tractor” and smaller lettering to the side says “Pulls, Climbs, Pushes”. (Similar lettering was used for the eccentric Coo Coo Car Toy and box.)
Advertise along with the colored metal Tractor, although it could be purchased separately, is a red- and blue-lithographed corrugated cardboard castle or fort. (it has also been seen in a red and green version. See previous post for information and pictures of the castle/ fort and its box.) The tractor was intended to storm the castle walls. The box front for this toy has “Toy Castle and Bridge” on a red background: the box back has an assembly diagram. Illustrated in the catalog are several tractors including the industrial tractor set, and the turnover tank.
The Toy Castle comes in four pieces: the center “Box”, two ramps and an undecorated top panel. The lithography on both sides of the castle consists of a red and tan stone pattern, trees, and several barred windows. The Marx logo appears on the window above the double doors. The doors on each side may be opened.
The tractor sold for 49 cents in the 1930 Montgomery Ward catalog.
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