Marx Toy Museum Growing

By ART LIMANN Staff Writer


MOUNDSVILLE—Francis Turner doesn’t have a problem sharing his toys with others as long as they remain in their display cases.

Turner, a toy collector whose focus is Marx Toy items, operates the Marx Toy Museum of Glen Dale, which is located at 915 Second St., in Moundsville. The museum is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

The toy museum is continuing to attract patrons and Turner reports, “we’re looking to expand.” The museum, which opened in 2001, offers collectors, antique dealers, children and those just wanting to relive their childhood, the opportunity to see and reflect back on toys produced during the glory years of Marx Toys.

“Our business increases every year. People like to see stuff they played with. We are getting a lot more tour buses now,” Turner explained. “I would like to expand to a bigger place. Moundsville has a lot to offer for a little town and buses will go to the old penitentiary, Grave Creek Mound Museum, and then come here.

“We are also getting in groups like students, Girl Scouts, and the Red Hat Ladies. We even had a motorcycle club come in. This year we have had more local people stop in then usual. They are finally getting in here,” he continued.

Turner opened the museum after putting a display of his Marx Toy collection in the Stifel Fine Arts Center in Wheeling for a short period of time. Most of the toys in the museum are part of his collection. He has been collecting the toys for more than 20 years.

“I buy, sell and collect,” Turner said. “In the toy business condition is everything. We’re very picky to get things perfect. I’m always looking to upgrade. I try to display toys in their original condition. If I get in a set that is better then the one we have, we’ll keep it and get rid of the other one. We try to have the best of the best.”

Turner travels all over the country in search of different toys and toys in better condition. However he notes, because of the toy production spanning seven decades, “you can never collect them all.” In fact the slogan “Marx Toys – Have you all of them?” is displayed above the door. The museum strives to represent every category of Marx Toy products.

Turner pointed out, “We have a lot of one-of-a-kind toys and we have a lot of figurines of famous people including Louis Marx himself.” The museum also features what Turner believes is the largest display of playset in the world numbering over 125. Some other sets, not on display, remain in boxes never opened.

Marx started making his own toys in 1919. Prior to that time some toys were made for Marx by others. The Glen Dale factory began operation in 1934 and did its largest amount of production in the 1950s after toys started to be made from plastic. At one time, about 2,500 were employed at the facility which could turn out as many as 7,000 Big Wheels in a day, according to Turner.

Toys from the 1920s, ’30s and ’40s are encased behind glass along one wall of the museum. Western toys are found in the “Dodge City” Western Room, while play service stations and vehicles produced by Marx are found in the Transportation Room.

Among the thousands of prized products on display are Monkey On a Stick, Marx Merry Makers, Popeye Jigger, Fort Apache, Giant Battle of the Blue & Gray, Farm playset, and Rock’em - Sock’em Robots. A play area also is available for children to try some of the toys.

Tapes of old movies and historical information are played continuously in different sections of the building. One historical tape shows Glen Dale workers in action making toys. “We’ve had people come in and watch the movie of Glen Dale and see their mothers at work. It’s pretty touching,” Turner smiled.

In addition to the rooms full of old toys the Marx Toy Museum also includes a 1950s soda fountain style gift shop featuring a Coca-Cola theme products and other refreshments. The business is a family affair with Turner’s son Jason, daughter Wendy and other family members assisting part-time along with two other employees.