Even if you’re not a toy collector, I’ll almost guarantee you’ve seen a Marx toy at some point in your life. Marx was one of the most successful American toy makers of all time. Spanning across most of the 20th century, his company produced scores of toys in almost all categories.
This particular toy, the Ballet Dancer, is quite unusual however. The piece is a bit of mystery, but seems to have a consensus of 1939/1940 being the date of introduction. It functions as a dolled up spinning top, or gyro toy. You use the rip cord to engage the internal weight and off she goes spinning on her “tip toes.”
