Vintage 1930’s wind-up toy by the Marx Toy Company of New York, portraying the iconic comic character, “Popeye” the sailorman. He is depicted with Parrots in each hand inside of bird cages. His proverbial pipe is shown in his mouth. I point this out because it is often missing; in fact, after the 1980’s most depictions of Popeye are sans the pipe—-I guess the connection to tobacco a bad look for children. “Popeye” was created in 1929 by Ezzie Segar and introduced to us that same year by King Features comic strip.
To operate: wind up the attached clockwork key several times, place the toy on a flat surface and watch Popeye briskly walk across the floor (see attached video).
The condition of the toy is completely original and in excellent working order. The lithography is fully intact and in colors of red, blue, white, and flesh tones, with a lovely patina to the surface.
Dimensions: 8 1/2″ high x 3″ deep x 2 3/4″ wide
See my other listings of vintage toys.
Provenance: From a fine quality California collection of American and German tin clockwork and wind up toys; recently acquired.
Note: After 40 plus years of dealing and collecting toys, I am justly qualified to guarantee and present the authenticity of antique and vintage toys and children’s playthings; important considering the fakes and reproductions in the marketplace. My toys operate properly and are as stated and accurately described.
it would behoove an enterprising collector, dealer, or decorator to take advantage of the opportunity to buy as many of the vintage tin toys that I have listed for sale; it would create an immediate quality collection, as most of these toys came, either from a long time premium California collection or from my own shelves. It would take quite some time and effort to accumulate toys this clean, authentic, original, operable and in excellent condition.