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June, 2019 The Antique Shoppe Page 33
MARX BALLERINA SPINNING TOP

BROUGHT “MAGICAL BEAUTY” INTO A YOUNG GIRL’S LIFE

By Larry LeMasters

LeMasters’ Antique News Service
Louis Marx founded At just under six inches tall, Prices vary greatly for these The original packaging
Marx Toy Company in 1919, these ballerina tops have bright dancing toys, but expect to pay box, in good condition, adds
following World War I, when paint and lithographed images. around $200 for a near-mint about $50 to the price of any
German toys were no longer The ballerina reveals long, Ballerina Spinning Top with Ballerina Spinning Top.
desirable to parents in the dancer’s legs, tapered to a toe- original box. And, if you are Marx was not the only toy
United States. By 1930, at point top that spins and twirls a novice, make certain any company to make spinning Vintage,
the beginning of the Great just like a ballerina executing Ballerina you buy comes with Ballerina toys. Also during authentic Marx,
Depression, toy companies a spinning pirouette. And the key to wind her up. Without the 1930s, Gebruder Einfalt of tin litho Ballerina
were facing financial ruin, all original Marx Ballerina the key, which I’ve seen on Germany, produced Gyroscope Spinning Top
but Louis Marx saw great Spinning Tops are marked eBay for $20, the ballerina is Dancing Spinning Tops, which valued at $190.
opportunity, making quality “PATENT PENDING.” just a dust collector. were ballerinas that were
but inexpensive toys for all
children. And, by the 1950s, the same height and look as
“Louis Marx & Co. became Vintage, Ballerina Spinning Marx’s tops. Brothers Georg
the ‘largest toy manufacturer circa 1930s, Top made by Louis and Johann Einfalt founded
in the world,’ with over one- Ballerina Marx & Co. in Gebruder Einfalt in 1922
third of all toys in the U.S. Spinning Toy the 1930s. This (later this company became
being Marx toys.” that is valued Ballerina was Technofix), and Einfalt’s
Marx has often been at $200. offered on early toys were erratic wind-
eBay for $300.
described as “an experienced up toys and spinning tops
businessman with the mind such as its dancing ballerinas.
of a child.” This description Einfalt only made Ballerinas
proves especially true with for a couple of years, but later
Marx’s “Ballerina Spinning the company found its niche
Top.” making racecars and trains for
The Ballerina Spinning Top boys. Today, Einfalt dancing
was a lithographed, tin toy for ballerina tops sell for about the
girls that twirled and spun, like same amount, around $200, as
a top, allowing young girls to Marx Ballerina Spinning Tops.
live, vicariously, as a ballerina Two Einfalt #244 New, tin Ballerina Spinning
in the worst economic times Gyroscope Tops are being made in
America has ever experienced. Ballerina Welby, India, as part of a
For young girls, having an Spinning Tops “Tin Treasure” series of
inexpensive ballerina dance that are reproduction toys. These are
for them brought magical valued at $400. cheaply made, inferior knock
beauty into an otherwise drab offs of what were once graceful
world. toys for young girls. Don’t be
Today, Ballerina Spinning fooled by one of these. The
Tops are highly sought after easiest field test to spot a new
collectibles by toy collectors, Indian knock off is these new
Marx collectors, and dancers, Ballerinas do not work with a
especially ballerinas. These key. To spin these Ballerinas,
spinning dancers were “Made one must run the rubber tip
in the USA,” which entices across the floor.
many collectors, and they were One sure way of having a
key activated, which made “priceless” Ballerina Spinning
them easy to use for Top is to search for one and
all ages of children Marx Ballerina/ collect it with your young
and collectors. Ballet Dancer daughter, allowing her to
“Just pull the key Spinning Top that occasionally take out the
and watch her spin!” sold at auction on collectible and spin it around
was just one of Marx’s liveauctioneers.com a tabletop. There are times
advertising jingles for $100. when memories are the most
used to sell Ballerina priceless collectible of all.
Spinning Tops. A
key came with the
Ballerina, and a girl
would insert the key
into the dancer’s skirt, Marx Ballerina New, Ballerina Spinning
and then quickly pull Spinning Top with Top made in Welby, India.
the key out, making original box and key; This repro Ballerina top
the toy spin. $300. values $17.