Marx Tin Lithographed Windup “Old Jalopy” Car *SOLD*

Marx Tin Lithographed Windup “Old Jalopy” Car

This is a tin, lithographed, windup “Old Jalopy” that was manufactured by Louis Marx & Company of New York City, New York.     

This is a Marx “Old Jalopy” pressed tin, colorful lithographed windup toy car. This is a working version of this toy, with beautiful lithographed artwork we have come to expect from Marx. This toy has a built-in key on the passenger side. The Marx logo appears on the roof.

Much of the Jalopy craze came from kids going off to school on a budget.  The recycled Ford Model T Jalopies were a great way to get there on the cheap.  It was a constant battle with maintenance, hence, a Jalopy!

The term Jalopy appears around 1924 and some historians tie it to either a New Orleans and/or Canadian reference to Jalapa, Mexico, and old junkers.  Countless worn-out and used cars produced in the U.S. made their way to Mexico and then were repaired and reused. The repaired cars become cheap transportation, and in Mexican slang, Jalapas. The term was Americanized into Jalopies or a Jalopy.

This is your typical old jalopy with its run-down appearance and wonky wheels. The Marx tin car is in good used condition. It is approximately 7″ long x 4″ wide x 4″ tall. Don’t miss out on this beautiful original Marx toy!

A brief history of Louis Marx & Company of New York City, New York:              

Louis Marx and Company was an American toy manufacturer in business from about 1919 to 1980 founded in New York City by Louis & David Marx. Its products were often imprinted with the slogan, “One of the many Marx toys, have you all of them?” Arguably, Marx was the most well-known toy companies through the late mid-20th century. Best known for their lithographed tin windup toys Marx was also one of the big four among American electric train manufacturers. Interestingly, Marx also successfully revived the Yo-Yo in 1928; it sold well even through the Depression.