Vtg MARX Tin Lithograph Service Station withWorking Elevator & Painted Accessories

This is a pressed-tin lithograph toy gas station/service center that was made by Louis Marx Toys in the Fifties. Measuring 26" X 14" X 11, it is suppose to represent a modern generic service station of the times.

Looking from the front, and moving from left to right, one can see an open area where perhaps general repair was done. Next is the office area, that shows through the replace rounded "glass", the products and parts for sale on the back walls. In front of the office, is the pump island with two pumps, and oil can display, water can, and battery tester. When new, all of these accessories were molded in one color and that was it. I've painted the accessories with craft paints and added decals where appropriate to enhance realism.

Moving past the office is the entrance to the automobile elevator, that with help of a lever at the top of the elevator, raises a vehicle to the roof top parking garage and service lift. We see next to the elevator entrance, an enclosed service bay that holds a surprise. When a vehicle that is parked inside, is ready to come out, a lever on the outside of the service bay, when pushed, causes a metal wall to push the vehicle out without having to reaching in and doing it manually. Keep in mind, it is done with springs/rubber bands so it comes out quite quickly. I guess that's why it's lettered "KEEP CLEAR" just in front of the opening.

At the end of the station is an open area where washing and waxing of vehicles was done. At the back, it is quite open. One can see in the forefront, the down ramp from the roof top parking area to ground level. Lithograph renderings show parts, motors and diagnostic equipment against the service walls; the inside office walls facing out; and at the far right, a bathroom. Up on the roof, is an area marked off for "Service Parking"; a "Keep Open" area in front of the exit for the elevator; at the back is a working plastic manual service lift.

A collector of 1:43 scale toy cars and trucks could display there collection, as I did, instead of sitting on a shelf or in a box. NOTE: cars and trucks in photographs are not included. In closing, the condition is not perfect, but considering its seventy years old and was played with by children, it isn't bad. The accessories that I have that you'll be getting, if they had tabs that were meant to go into holes at the base, and they got broken off, I glued magnets to the bottom as replacements. The sign at the corner of the base, I made.

The item "Vtg MARX Tin Lithograph Service Station withWorking Elevator & Painted Accessories" is in sale since Sunday, November 8, 2020. This item is in the category "Toys & Hobbies\Vintage & Antique Toys\Play Sets". The seller is "lakefxs" and is located in Liverpool, New York. This item can be shipped to United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Denmark, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czech republic, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Estonia, Australia, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus, Slovenia, Japan, Sweden, South Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, South africa, Thailand, Belgium, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Germany, Austria, Bahamas, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Saudi arabia, United arab emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Croatia, Malaysia, Chile, Colombia, Costa rica, Dominican republic, Panama, Trinidad and tobago, Guatemala, El salvador, Honduras, Jamaica, Antigua and barbuda, Aruba, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Saint kitts and nevis, Saint lucia, Montserrat, Turks and caicos islands, Barbados, Bangladesh, Bermuda, Brunei darussalam, Bolivia, Egypt, French guiana, Guernsey, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Iceland, Jersey, Jordan, Cambodia, Liechtenstein, Sri lanka, Luxembourg, Monaco, Macao, Martinique, Maldives, Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Reunion, Uruguay.

Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
Year: 50s
Vintage: Yes
Brand: Marx