An Artist's Signature

    Without question, the workers in the Marx Model Room were truly amazing artists.  However, even though they were artists, they were unable to sign their creations, or were they?  The Official Marx Toy Museum has had the pleasure of meeting with Rick Chamberlain.  Rick is the son of Floyd "Joe" Chamberlain who worked in the Marx Model Room from 1948 to 1974 designing and creating the toys for generations of children.  In addition to the many stories Rick was able to tell us about his father and his days at the Marx factory, Rick let us in on a few secrets...and that is, that even though there were not allowed to sign their work in the corner as a traditional artist would, they still had creative was to mark their creations.

"My dad lived on 303 10th Street in Glen Dale...and so anytime you see a toy that has "303" on it, well, there's a good chance that he was the artist that painted the lithograph on that piece or designed that truck and so forth...it was his way of marking what he had created..."

"Another way that dad would sign his artwork would be his initials...in his artwork of box designs,
he would paint his initials somewhere in the terrain "F" "C"...most people wouldn't even notice them because they blend in so well, but he knew they were there..."

    

The artwork for the Project Mercury box was actually marked with Joe's initials in two places.
Can you find both times he marked his F. C.?
Now go check out your Project Mercury box?

The Official Marx Toy Museum is proud to display the original hand painted artwork of Floyd "Joe" Chamberlain along with a number sketches, hand-carvings, prototypes, and photos.  Although Joe is no longer with us to tell the stories of his days at the Marx factories, his artwork and his toy creations will forever share with us is his remarkable creativity, amazing artistic talent, and refined skills as a Marx toy designers, artist, and model maker for over 25 years of toy production.  Generations of children thank him for all of his hard work...

Here's Another Example...

The Marx Two-Story Fire House Produced in 1954...

Below you see the signature of Floyd Chamberlain, a man who dedicated himself to the toy creation and production process
for over 25 years, who helped to create some of the most remarkable and most memorable toys in toy history...


What is truly remarkable, is that the Glen Dale facility was fortunate to have another dozen workers in the model room that had these outstanding ideas and exceptional skills to make it all possible.  Many of the employees lived in the Moundsville - Glen Dale area all of their life with their only training being certificate work and an apprenticeship at the Marx factory.  As Marx collectors and enthusiasts, we thank the many toy workers for their years of service to the Marx company.

If you find any markings in your sets, playset boxes, or metal trucks and cars...
don't hesitate to share them with The Official Marx Toy Museum,
so they may be shared with all who collect the Marx toys...