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Vintage Marx Spider-Man Mechanical Marvel Wind-Up Tricycle
Offered here is an original vintage Marx Mechanical Marvel Super Hero Tricycle featuring Spider-Man, manufactured in Japan for Louis Marx & Co. Inc.
The underside carries a 1968 Marvel copyright. The toy dates to approximately the late 1960s.Spider-Man toy was part of Marx’s Marvel superhero tricycle series, which also included Captain America and Thor.
The Captain America-style shield graphics on the bell and handlebars and Spider-Man web designs on the wheels are original series features. They are not mismatched replacement graphics.
Manufacturer markings
The underside is marked:
CAPTAIN AMERICA / THOR / SPIDER-MAN
© MCMLXVIII MARVEL COMICS GROUP T.M.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
MARX TOYS logo
LOUIS MARX & CO., INC.
MADE IN JAPAN
MCMLXVIII translates to 1968.
Construction
The toy is made from a combination of:
- Lithographed and painted tinplate
- Molded vinyl Spider-Man figure
- Yellow celluloid-style leg and foot components
- Steel handlebars, axles, key and mechanical parts
- Internal clockwork wind-up motor
Mechanical test
The toy has been tested.
- Wind-up key winds
- Clockwork motor engages
- Toy travels across a smooth surface
- Wheels turn
- Remaining yellow foot and pedal move
- Rear bell rings
The accompanying video demonstrates the toy moving and the bell operating.
One original yellow leg/foot and associated pedal component are missing. Because of this, the toy does not retain its complete original two-foot pedaling action and is not represented as complete or fully operating exactly as originally designed.
Present components
- Original molded Spider-Man figure
- Tinplate tricycle chassis
- Front wheel
- Two rear wheels
- Original web-pattern wheel graphics
- Wind-up key
- Rear shield-shaped bell
- Bell mechanism
- Wire handlebars
- Small shield graphic between handlebars
- Front fork and lithographed fairing
- One yellow leg/foot assembly
- One red pedal piece
- Remaining crank and mechanical linkage
- Original marked underside panel
Condition issues
Please examine every photograph closely. Notable condition issues include:
- One yellow leg/foot and pedal component missing
- Front fork/fairing tin bent and pulled outward
- Bent or displaced lower front edges and tabs
- Paint and lithograph loss
- Scratches and surface rubs
- Wear around the wheel rims
- Oxidation and darkening on exposed metal
- Wear to handlebars and wind-up key
- Wear and slight deformation to the small handlebar shield
- Paint wear and scuffing on the Spider-Man figure
- Wear around the eyes, torso, arms and blue lower-body paint
- Surface wear on the bell dome and chassis
- No original box, instructions or packaging
No obvious modern repainting, fresh glue or major restoration was identified from visual inspection.
Measurements
Approximately 4 inches tall × 4 inches long × 3 inches wide.
Included
You will receive:
- One original vintage Marx Spider-Man wind-up tricycle
- Exactly as shown in the photographs and video
Not included
- Original box
- Instructions
- Replacement foot
- Replacement pedal components
- Display stand
- Any other accessories
This is a vintage collectible intended for adult collectors and display. It is not being sold as a modern children’s toy. Mechanical performance of an unserviced toy more than five decades old cannot be guaranteed indefinitely.
Shipping
UPS Ground Advantage — buyer-paid calculated shipping. The item is wrapped in honeycomb paper with air pillows above, below, and around it. Additional paper is cushioned throughout the inside of the box.
The photographs and video show the exact item being sold and are part of the description. Please review them carefully before purchasing.
