We are setting up a new feature call Plastic Figure Showcase in this post we will highlight various figures and accessories we have acquired or have seen. This Plastic Figure Showcase we will the Marx mule which is showing up in reissue on the market and how it compares to the Thomas Toy Mule. We look at the a Timpo figure converted to be the Lone Ranger and the original source for the conversion. Finally we look at the New Ray pond.
One of the hardest figures to find is the Marx 60mm mule with pack. Over the years I have only acquired one or two complete and twice that number of mules with out the pack. So when I saw the above reissue of that pose. I was not surprised to see it as I knew that Dinamicos of Mexico had reissued years ago in a playset. The playset was farm set that mixed various Marx parts including the Yogi Bear Jellystone Ranger’s cabin. when I brought the playsets I brought only a few of these sets. It seems someone is now selling the figure separately.
One thing that I noticed how similar the Marx Mule and the Thomas Toys Mule are. I would not called them copies of each other, but it is interesting that they both have their left front leg amd the position of the ears.
I look for the Thomas Toy mules as I have acquire several over the past year and I have sold them. I have acquire the Thomas Toy mules in three different colors, brown, tan and white. This last color I just acquire recently. I have not seen the figure with its cart or wagon.
The above photo is from Kent Sprecher showing the Thomas Toy Mule being ridden by the Thomas Toy driver with a Mexican sombrero
I like conversions as you can get poses you normally can not find. While Marx and Lone Star did nice Lone Ranger figures I like the this conversion that Joe Falce did for me years ago. I had forgot I had it until recently when we moved some furniture so we could get a new window and found it on the floor. I had thought I placed it in the collection.
I did not know if Joe had done any major changes to the Timpo figure which was the bases for the figure, then this past weekend I picked up the above figure that Joe used at the Maryland Toy Show. As you can see the poses with the two figures are the same. The only differences are the Lone Ranger Figure and the original figure the cowboy was painted in blue to be like the 50’s Lone Ranger Television show Joe also made a mask.
The final item is a New Ray hard plastic pond. I picked it up this past weekend. I do not know if it was part of a farm playset or it was original painted. Do you know?
New ray pond is for the farm large playset with three buildings animal, farmer and tractors in 1:32 scale-2003. My original painted has borders in green and brown, water blue.
I had never able to get the Thomas mule, but in my opinion the body always look much better and realist done to represent that of a donkey not a mule because have the neck and head much larger versus body in an odd shape as depicted, belly body is more fat and less detail tone too. Marx animal looks more alike a real Mule type ,two different species.
Marx one I got two white-cream originals from my Dad collection of a large plastic farm playset he had .Never seen any reissues that color before .Interesting the new mold joint circle spots in it not present in vintage.
Any how I love the Marx because the use for armies pack carrier animal. If ever got chance get plenty more reissues at good price will definitely do it.
I was able to get a mule without a pack in Texas a few years back. I considered it a great find. I definitely want to pick up some re-issues as I won’t mind painting them so much.
The New Ray pond was included with a number of the wild animal poses they did about 20 years ago.
Thomas Toys also sold their mule with their motorcycle rider wearing a Mexican sombrero. I have had them with soft plastic mules and vinyl riders/hats. The rider usually is flesh colored with pained pants and the hats red or blue. I also found one in a hard plastic bronze color. I will email a picture.
Kent
I got for Laurie one of the Thomas Toys Mexicans riding a mule about two years ago. I just don’t remember seeing the mule with a cart.
I have never seen the cart either. I’ll try to remember to email, Bill Hanlon. He is the Thomas expert and perhaps he has a picture he can share.
Have had great luck in finding Marx mules and the timmee one over the years both originals and reissues John Stengel has reissued the mule and pack