Table of Contents   GoldMarx Figures

Medieval Ages

Modern Military

Ancient Warriors

Wild West

Return to Main Table of Contents

In the 1960s, Marx' Hong Kong and Taiwan offices produced a relatively small number of finely painted, 6-inch figues that are called Goldmarx.  These are not done in the usual slap-dash paint job that many Hong Kong figures received, but were carefully painted with some artistic flair.   For some of the figures, Marx used molds that produced its 6-inch figures.  In a few instances, Goldmarx figures were produced in poses not found elsewhere (see Rick Koch article in Plastic Figure and Playset Collector Issue 19).  GoldMarx figures are highly desireable among collectors today.  

Some of the figure groups were made in hard plastic and some in soft plastic.  Slightly recessed bases, as shown in the two photos below, and printing on the bottom of the base help to identify the figures as GoldMarx, and not a figure that has been painted by a collector.

Although small photos of eight of the Goldmarx sets are shown in the Question and Answer section of PFPC Issue 23, I have not been able to find a comprehensive listing of the various Goldmarx groups and figures.  However, Mark Hegeman, one of the most prolific collectors of such figures, has identifed 16 groups of GoldMarx figures.  He reports that the soft plastic figures have the same type of base as GoldMarx, but were no officially a part of the series.  Of interest, he also points out that a few of the GoldMarx Roman, British, Viking, and Egyptian figures have names on their bases, and these are sometimes the same name on the identical pose in the Warriors of the World series.

    Hard plastic                                    Soft Plastic
    Knights                                             Cowboys
    Vikings                                              Indians
    Egyptian warrior                               Scottish soldiers                               
    Roman warriors                                Chinese Communist soldiers
    British World War II soldiers           Israeli soldiers
    Canadian World War II soldiers       South African soldiers
    German World War II soldiers         Russian soldiers
    U.S. World War II soldiers
    Japanese World War II soldiers
   

Bottom of base on Hong Kong GoldMarx figure	Bottom of base on Taiwan GoldMarx figure

  Photos below are of Goldmarx figures I own or photos of figures others own and have allowed me to use here.

Medieval Times

Knights and vikings were among the few themes that were made.  They are very attractive figures and can often be seen up for auction on Ebay.  

Marx used their 6-inch molds for the Vikings, but made completely new molds for the 6-inch knights.  As shown below, they look nothing like the 6-inch versions, but they do resemble poses from the company's miniature Knights and Vikings Playset, which is in an approximately HO model train scale.

     Knights

     Vikings

A photo of all the Goldmarx Vikings can be seen on page 21 of Playset Magazine Issue 13.

      U. S. Marines

      British Soldiers

1.  Marching

      Scottish or Canadian (?) Soldiers

                                                      

      German Soldiers

Ancient Warriors

     Roman Warriors

According to Plastic Figure and Playset Collector magazine, Issue 23, page 5, Marx released two versions of its GoldMarx Romans.  One version had names for each figure printed on the bottom of the base, the same names as used for six of the WOW figures.  The other version had no names and a different painting scheme.

I have numbered them below as shown in Marx' 1964 dealer catalog, pictured in the PFPC magazine.  

1.  Throwing spear with shield raised Spear is molded separately and inserted into ring hand	2.  Standing with sword and oval shield
3.  Crouched with sword and whip	4.  Centurion with banner
5.  Advancing with sword raised and with rectangular shield and arm guard	6.  Crouched with sword and rectangular shield

     Egyptian Warriors

These figures are shown in the Q&A section of PFPC Issue 23.

1.  Standing with shield and club	2.  Standing with shield and sword

3.  Standing with shield and spear in left hand	4.  Standing with shield and spear in right hand Spear has been broken off

5.  Standing with bow and arrow Missing arrowhead	6.  Walking with bow and arrow

Wild West

Both the cowboy and Indian GoldMarx group included six figures.  While Marx used its 6-inch figure poses for the GoldMarx figures, at least two cowboys are not part of the 6-inch cowboy group.  These two are shownon the Wild West page on Larger Figures, and one is shown below in its GoldMarx form.  I have not seen all 12 of the cowboy and Indian poses, but to the best of my knowledge, the other ten poses are the same as poses in the company's 6-inch figure groups.  I do not know which poses would complete the group shown below, which are missing one cowboy and three Indians.

     Cowboys and Indians

GoldMarx wounded cowboy	GoldMarx cowboy with two pistols drawn Photo courtesy of Mark Hegeman
GoldMarx cowboy preparing to draw Photo courtesy of Mark Hegeman	GoldMarx cowboy fanning pistol Photo courtesy of Mark Hegeman
GoldMarx cowboy turning to right Photo courtesy of Mark Hegeman This pose was not part of the 6-inch cowboys produced in the U.S.  To the best of my knowledge, it was created in Mexico.  See Page 4 for a re-issue figure of this pose made in Italy.
Indian chief with right hand up Photo courtesy of Mark Hegeman	Indian standing, firing bow and arrow Photo courtesy of Mark Hegeman
GoldMarx Indian throwing spear Photo courtesy of Mark Hegeman

Contents of this web site may not be reproduced or duplicated for use on the Internet or for commercial purposes without permission by Eric Johns.